Marcel Pizzuto, chairman, Consumer Affairs Council, Office for Fair Trading, Sta Venera
Avoid unwarranted costs on mobile calls
Various letters have been appearing in The Times highlighting problems which might crop up as a result of consumers changing their mobile telephone service provider but keeping their original number.
This situation could entail consumers in unwarranted costs especially in those cases where free calls are allowed when a consumer phones up a number which is serviced by his/her same provider.
The Consumer Affairs Council has recently held a meeting with the Malta Communications Authority to discuss possible ways to ameliorate the situation for the benefit of the consumers and various options were discussed which the MCA will be looking into.
Meanwhile, it is the right time to point out that a service exists whereby consumers can phone up freephone 180 or else send an SMS to 180 indicating the mobile number they wish to contact you so as to find out which is the service provider of that particular number.
Should consumers require further information, they are kindly requested to send an e-mail to CACouncil@gov.mt or else write to the Consumer Affairs Council, Office for Fair Trading, Cannon Road, StaVenera SVR1411.
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Anthony Debono
Nov 28th 2009, 19:19
This reminds me of when one calls a person who, unknowingly, is abroad. The receiving end (person abroad) bears the international call charge. Why?
Why not advise, through some IVR that the call will be roaming and hence the CALLER will be charged the international call? Then it's up to the caller to hang up or proceed with his/her call to the one abroad.
Marcel Pizzuto
Nov 28th 2009, 17:33
@ Peter Bonnici
Thank for your comment - your suggestion will be forwarded to MCA for its consideration.
Marcel Pizzuto
Jonathan Camilleri
Nov 28th 2009, 16:43
Up to a while ago I tried calling 180 from my prepaid (Go) number and the service was not available (not sure why), so I guess it is good that MCA is taking steps so that Go plc can make arrangements to be fair in this regard and demonstrate through PR that it is helping its customers save money on calls.
Phil Pryce
Nov 28th 2009, 14:52
Don't worry. One day Malta will catch up with the rest of the modern world and we will have special deals across networks, and not just within our own service provider. It might take time, but one day!!!
Peter Bonnici
Nov 28th 2009, 12:04
@ Marcel Pizzuto.
All thats needed in my view is that when calling a number which is on a different network (regardless of it having a similar prefix) the user is informed by a 'bleep' or on screen message from the provider that he/she is switching network. Therefore anyone under the impression that they are benefitting from free or cheap calls can either proceed or hang up.