TRAI issues rules for clear communication of tariff plans, terms by telcos

TRAI issues rules for clear communication of tariff plans, terms by telcos
The consumer-oriented move assumes significance as telecom subscribers often grapple with issues like lack of data , unclear or hard to seek out plan details – a situation that affects subscribers’ ability to form proper choices.

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Tightening the principles for telcos, Telecom regulatory agency of India (TRAI) on Friday issued directions on tariff publication and tariff advertisements.
Telecom regulator TRAI on Friday issued a fresh set of rules for publication and advertisement of tariff plans by telcos, during a bid to spice up transparency in mobile offers and to assist subscribers make informed decisions.

The consumer-oriented move assumes significance as telecom subscribers often grapple with issues like lack of data , unclear or hard to seek out plan details – a situation that affects subscribers’ ability to form proper choices.

Tightening the principles for telcos, Telecom regulatory agency of India (TRAI) on Friday issued directions on tariff publication and tariff advertisements.

“…it has been observed that existing measures adopted by telecom service providers aren’t transparent as they ought to be which a number of the telecom service providers aren’t prominently highlighting additional terms and conditions and also are collating the terms and conditions applicable to varied tariffs on one web-page which the relevant information either gets lost within the maze of detail or becomes ambiguous and incomprehensible to consumers,” TRAI directive said.

Overhauling the regulatory requirements during this regard, TRAI has now directed telcos to publish, topographic point wise – within 15 days – each tariff plan for postpaid and prepaid subscribers, and offer full information to subscribers at customer care centres, points of sales, shops and websites, and apps with requisite disclosures.

The “essential disclosures”, mandated in TRAI’s directive, include information on units/volume of voice, data and SMS, and its rates, limits of usage rates and speeds beyond entitled use.

Telcos also will need to transparently inform subscribers about upfront cost alongwith details like advance rentals, deposits, connection fee for postpaid services also as top up, tariffs vouchers et al. .

TRAI asserted that “clear, unambiguous and straightforward to understand” disclosure also has got to be made on the validity period of tariff plan and last date of bill payment. Other details that need to be transparently communicated to subscribers are specific inclusions made within the tariff plan.

Telcos are now also required to supply complete details of all charges which will be levied on consumers for usage of the said product, TRAI also asked telcos to disclose all promised service parameters like data speeds in clear terms. Even details of ‘Fair Usage Plan’ will need to be communicated clearly.

The regulator has also spelt out essential disclosures that need to be made just in case of Special Tariff Vouchers, Combo Vouchers and Add on Packs, on similar lines.

TRAI said it had initiated the exercise in sight of the changes in composition of tariff plans, over a period of your time , which led to the likelihood that buyers could also be facing situations of lack of data , unclear or hard to seek out details — affecting their ability to form an informed choice.

“…the authority, after due consideration of comments received from stakeholders, has received a conclusion that the prevailing regulatory measures concerning publication of tariff plans got to be revised,” it said.

Telcos are asked to undergo TRAI a compliance report within 15 days. they’re going to even have to make sure continued compliance by way of self-certificate by the 7th of the month after each quarter-end.

On tariff advertisements, TRAI has directed telcos to prominently highlight additional terms and conditions and also provide a link to the norms for every of the offering, while disseminating tariff-related information, within subsequent 15 days.

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