Do you check your telecom operators’ invoices every month? No? So maybe you’re paying for uncontracted digital services. Those who went through this and complained to the SAC (Customer Service) of the operators, heard, many times, the explanation that these services would be free. And that the price would be the same, with or without these extras. Does anyone out there believe this?
I don’t know of a company that offers free services or products. If they appear in the detailed bill, with individual and summed prices, how can the company argue that they cost the consumer nothing? The worst thing is that, in addition to charging what would not be due, telecoms make consumers waste precious time to cancel services.
The name of this is married sale, albeit disguised. Not by chance, last year, four out of ten complaints made to Anatel (National Telecommunications Agency) referred to account conflicts.
The question is very simple: if I hired broadband internet access, only this can be charged. The telecoms are not prohibited from offering me other services, of course, but this must be done with complete clarity, without any tricks.
This form of attack on consumer rights is very subtle, to make it difficult for those who do not have extensive knowledge about contracts to react. So, let’s be very didactic: a person hires a service for R$ 150, and then discovers that he pays R$ 100 for what he hired and R$ 50 for things he didn’t even imagine. The right thing would be to pay only R$ 100. If the real price is R$ 150, it should not be disguised by trinkets on the bill.
The invoice should include the total value of the contracted service, without subterfuge such as supposed discounts. And much less with the inclusion of what was not requested or authorized.
It is surprising that these problems are repeated, and that the regulatory agency does not use its authority to curb them. Frequent mistakes configure practices, not mistakes. They are ways to circumvent the will of customers, extracting more money from them.
Without this free digital services that accompany what was truly purchased by the consumer. When you identify a situation like this, contact the company, complain and report it to the nearest Procon. Also formalize your complaint on the consumer.gov platform and with Anatel.
I have over 8 years of experience in the news industry. I have worked for various news websites and have also written for a few news agencies. I mostly cover healthcare news, but I am also interested in other topics such as politics, business, and entertainment. In my free time, I enjoy writing fiction and spending time with my family and friends.
