In the coming days, you may be left without internet … if you don’t pay

Exceptional consumer protection measures have expired! From June 30, the prohibition for telecom operators to suspend the provision of services for non-payment ends.

ANACOM warns that the general rules for disabling electronic communications services will return.

If Internet is not available ... it could be a payment problem!

Exceptional consumer protection measures end on June 30th. This means that operators can simply turn off communications services such as Internet access or voice communications.

From the same date, customers will no longer be able to request suspension or termination of contracts without penalty for unemployment or loss of income household income is equal to or greater than 20% of the income in the previous month.

ANACOM believes that e-communications companies recognize the importance of these services for all citizens in the age we live in, and that they will work with their customers to find solutions to avoid service interruptions and family over-indebtedness. they face economic hardships or constraints associated with COVID-19 infection.

From July 1, 2021, the general rules provided for situations of suspension of the provision of services due to non-payment and cancellation of services will be applied in full, while the possibility of suspending contracts at the initiative of consumers is not provided for by law.

If consumers do not pay for electronic communications services from that date, the operator can suspend them even if they are unemployed, lost family income or contracting COVID-19 disease, provided that they comply with the following rules:

• send a written notice to the consumer within 10 days after the date of payment of the invoice;
• provide an additional period of 30 days for the payment of the amounts due;
• separately indicate in the notification the consequences of non-payment - suspension or cancellation of the service;
• inform in advance about the means available to the consumer in order to avoid consequencesnon-payment.

After 30 days of suspension of the service without paying the entire amount due by the consumer or the absence of a written payment agreement with the supplier, the service is canceled and, if the loyalty period continues, there may be a place to pay the contractual penalty for non-compliance.

Read too ...