EP candidate lauds Vodafone on time window decision
Nationalist MEP candidate Roberta Metsola Tedesco Triccas has praised Vodafone for having, she said, lifted time window restrictions on top-up cards.
Speaking at a press conference outside the operator's offices in Valley Road, Msida, she said Vodafone Malta removed time-windows on pre-paid cards last week after a meeting with her regarding the ‘Ban Time Windows’ campaign she began in March on www.bantimewindows.org.
She urged other companies to do the same, while applauding Melita Mobile for having launched its service without the restriction.
She said the imposition of time windows was an "unjust” practice that negatively affected consumers and competition in the mobile phone telephony sector.
“I believe that it is extremely unjust that consumers lose their credit simply because their time window had lapsed. In effect they are paying for a service they are not getting."
She explained that Vodafone had adopted a system whereby anyone on their pre-paid tariff would only have to make one chargeable call or message a year in order not to lose any of their credit. She described this decision as “great news and a decision that should be applauded”.
“It is with great satisfaction that in less than two months of this campaign one of Malta’s biggest operators has taken this important step to remove time windows. This is a victory for Maltese and Gozitan consumers who are benefitting from strong competition in this sector." She said that prior to the press conference she had sent letters to Vodafone and Melita congratulating them on their decision. She said that she also wrote to all other operators in Malta – namely Go Mobile, RedTouch Fone and Bay Mobile calling on them to follow suit and also remove time windows.
The 30-year-old lawyer, explained how part of her campaign for a seat in the European Parliament was dedicated to consumer-related issues.
"If I am chosen to be one of Malta's representatives in the European Parliament this 6th of June one of my roles would be to help ensure that every Maltese and Gozitan will fully benefit from all their rights and opportunities as European consumers", she concluded.
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p.grima
Apr 25th 2009, 01:37
Well done Roberta, thank you and keep it up.
Why do some people have to be so pessimistic even about a good thing?
Paul Micallef
Apr 24th 2009, 08:51
Hope GO follows Vodafone.
Now if only operators reduce data rates, people will log online (with mobile) more often with their mobile phones, to access sites such as Times, Facebook etc.
Ramon Casha
Apr 24th 2009, 08:20
As soon as Melita announced it would not have time windows, I phoned Vodafone and asked them whether they were going to do the same, adding that I was considering switching over to Melita based on this difference alone.
RMTT alone cannot do this. Consumers need to inform their providers that this is an important issue to them.
John Grima
Apr 23rd 2009, 23:21
Well done Ms Metsola Tedesco Triccas. This is quite an achievement and thanks to you I am sure that all mobile phone users will benefit as the unwritten rules of competition will require the other operators to follow suit.
Now how about starting a campaign to stop retailers giving time restricted credit notes, yet another bad commercial practice in Malta which needs to be stopped.
David R. Cassar
Apr 23rd 2009, 23:12
Prosit Roberta.... together with Simon she has to be the most effective choice as MEP.
Charles Sammut
Apr 23rd 2009, 23:02
Roberta MTT should now start a "Fill a Pothole" campaign. That should keep her busy for the rest of her life.
Joe Vella (Mellieha.)
Apr 23rd 2009, 22:59
@ Edward Fenech
Certanily not at the same place that Joseph Muscat, John Attared Montalto, Louis Grech, and recently Mr. Beddingfirld have been.
Edward Fenech
Apr 23rd 2009, 21:40
excuse me....where were you in the last 5 years?
Edric Micallef Figallo
Apr 23rd 2009, 21:39
Well done, after all whether we like it or not we are all consumers in this world, this is to our benefit.
jesmond zammit
Apr 23rd 2009, 21:36
why now?
Marco Spiteri
Apr 23rd 2009, 21:23
Well done Roberta keep it up!!!
Mario Micallef
Apr 23rd 2009, 21:17
about time that Go Mobile follows suit...seeing that normally all the 3 operators do the same things when it comes to giving offers...what one must acknowledge is that last week Melita finally went on a per second billing from the first second...i expect the others to do so..as I see the amount we pay for a call in peak time is too big...and by the way Im a Go Mobile subscriber and Im not doing any cheap advertisement...thanks