Telecoms to report to FTC monthend on unlimited-plans probe
Published:Friday | September 27, 2019 | 12:23 AM
Jamaica’s large telecoms have until the end of September to explain their unlimited plans that have been the subject of complaints by consumers, who decry the restrictions.
The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) is investigating the complaints as possible cases of misleading advertisement, but says the timeline for wrapping up the probe is uncertain.
“It’s difficult to say because right now, we are waiting on a response from Digicel and Flow,” said FTC Executive Director David Miller. “We gave them until the end of September to respond and then we do our internal work, which may be as short as two weeks but it could be as long as two months, depending on their response,” he said.
The FTC said the complaints from the public concern the unlimited calling, text and data plans being advertised by telecommunications providers.
“Consumers are induced by the advertised offerings of ‘unlimited’, as they believe that upon purchase they will gain the use of unrestricted calling for the duration of their plan,” the FTC said in a notice on its website.
“Specifically, consumers believe that ‘unlimited’ is used by the telecommunications service providers in its ordinary and usual meaning of ‘not limited or restricted in terms of number, quantity, or extent’,” added the FTC.
“However, while using these plans, consumers discover that the unlimited calling plans are capped and that they are prohibited from making calls even though the plans have not yet expired. Based on the complaints, consumers become aware of the restrictions only after the restrictions are effected,” the commission said.
Asked for comment, Flow Jamaica said it has noted the concerns of the FTC and looks forward to engaging with the competition watchdog on the issue, while Digicel said it was aware of the probe and awaits the findings.
The probe will treat advertisements promoting calling plans “which are capped or otherwise qualified, and which are referred to as ‘unlimited’ or any other word which may convey a similar meaning, as being misleading or likely to mislead the public,” the FTC said. “These complaints will be vigorously pursued as breaches of the Fair Competition Act,” the agency said.