Cellular handset rip-off exposed

[Creag]

http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/telecoms/2009/0908191100.asp?A=MAW&S=Mobile%20and%20Wireless%20Technology&T=Section&O=SL

Some quotes from the article:

Contract subscribers could be over-paying for handsets, while the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) hides behind a set of regulations that have been postponed indefinitely.

During an investigation by ITWeb, it emerged that more than a million South African contract subscribers could be paying too much, as the handset subsidies remain unclear.

However, following court action by Vodacom, preventing the regulations from being implemented, the authority postponed implementation. As of this morning, implementation is still pending.

It is alleged that operators are not informing contract customers that they will continue to pay the same amount on their contracts when the initial 24-month contract period lapses. This causes customers to unwittingly continue to pay for a handset that has already been paid off.

Read the article, it's worth it. I found it astounding. It's not rocket-science but one just doesn't think that this sort of practice would be allowed to continue unchallenged by the so-called protectors of this industry. Where is ICASA in all of this. I get the impression they are sitting on their hands?

 

[chris2.0]

Another non-win from a toothless (and increasingly brainless) ICASA...