Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission to Ensure Consumer Protection

By: Zain Nabi  |   January 29th, 2013   |   News

In the light of getting more and more complaints about wireless services in the country, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is preparing to take strict steps to ensure consumer protection while binding the service providers to state their messages, terms and conditions and rates more clearly. CRTC is also willing to impose new rules for unlocking smartphones along with placing caps on roaming fees.

 

Over 27 million consumers use wireless services in Canada and CRTC’s decision to impose new rules has been taken owing to an increase in the complaints from the consumers over the course of last four years.

 

According to The Globe And Mail, consumer advocates are pretty much satisfied with the draft CRTC has prepared to impose the new rules. Their opinions have been considered and included in the draft, which also contains a provision asking the service providers to inform the users when they reach 50 per cent, 80 per cent and 100 per cent of their usage limits before charging extra payment.

 

Meanwhile, a few companies have expressed reservations with respect to the contract tenure the service providers offer to consumers. Since the draft is not finalised yet, all views are being considered. Once it is prepared, it will be presented before the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS). The CCTS is authorised to issue any verdict including stopping any service provider from practising certain services, ordering them to apologies to customers for any wrongdoing; and impose a fine of up to $5,000.