Signing a contract entails entering into a commitment. Contracts are made of terms and conditions which, once accepted by the consumer, have to be observed.
Very often, we do not even bother to read what we are entering into when signing a contract. Mobile phone contracts are no exception. When entering such contracts we are more concerned with the gifts or our new phone than the commitments we are binding ourselves to.
This leads us to a situation where we remain blissfully unaware of the terms and conditions we signed until a problem crops up. At this point it would be useless to protest by saying we either did not have the time to read the conditions of the contract or that we did not imagine it might contain certain clauses.
Before signing up for a mobile phone service it is advisable to look out for certain terms and conditions. We should, first of all, make sure we know for how long we are committing ourselves and how much we will have to pay each month.
With regard to payment, it is important to remember that the amount agreed on should be paid even if we do not use the phone. It is also important to find out whether we have to pay a penalty if we change our mind and want to get out of the contract before it expires. There is usually a penalty.
We should also look out for penalties that might apply if payments are not made within the stipulated timeframe.
How the mobile phone contract can be renewed is another matter worth considering. Some contracts are renewed automatically. This basically means that if we do not inform the company by a specific date that we intend to terminate the contract, or that we do not want to renew it, then the contract is automatically renewed for another period of time.
It is fundamental to know about such clauses, especially if we are not completely happy with the service we are getting and do not wish to renew the contract once it expires.
Close attention should also be given to the rates we will pay for using the service. Besides knowing what the call rates are, we should also make sure we understand how our calls will be calculated.
Under a typical contract, calls up to a certain amount are included as part of the monthly fee. When calls made exceed this value, they may be charged at a rate set out in our contract. Different call rates may apply for peak, off-peak, and calls to numbers on other networks.
Terms and conditions may, over time, be changed by the service provider. Should, however, the service provider decide to effect specific changes, the company is legally bound to inform its clients about such changes and give them a 30-day period of notice during which consumers may opt to terminate the contract without incurring any penalties.
As consumers, we also have the right to terminate a contract if the service provider fails to give us what we have agreed on or imposes conditions that are either unfair or that we were not informed about at the time of signing the contract.
When problems with service providers crop up, we should first complain with the company in question and try to reach an amicable solution. If no solution is reached within a reasonable period of time, the next step is to file a complaint with the Consumer and Competition Department for mediation.
customer@timesofmalta.com
odette.vella@gov.mt
Ms Vella is senior information