Indignant Bulgarian Consumers Rise against Mobile Phone Operators

Society | January 20, 2011, Thursday // 14:18
Bulgaria: Indignant Bulgarian Consumers Rise against Mobile Phone Operators A banner of the protesters shows the three mobile phone operators - M-Tel, Globul, Vivacom - shutting up the state Communications Regulation Commission. Photo by BGNES

Only 70 persons rallied in Sofia to protest what they see as unfair and unfavorable practices of the Bulgarian mobile phone and telecommunications companies.

The protest was organized by two consumer rights structures – the Associations of Telecommunications and Internet Users and Active Consumers Association.

The rally was much smaller than expected as over 1200 people had supported the cause in Facebook. The procession started at the St. Alexander Nevsky cathedral and culminated at the building of the Communications Regulation Commission.

The protesters declared themselves against several business practices of the Bulgarian mobile phone companies – M-Tel, Globul, and Vivacom. They are set to send petitions to the Cabinet, the European Commission and the European Parliament.

These include the automatic extension of subscription contracts, and large sanctions when contracts are terminated.

The two consumer associations insist on the creation of an ethical code of the mobile phone operations and new legislation to create a consumer board to "discipline" the companies.

They also slammed M-Tel, Globul, and Vivacom for sending automatic Text Messages with promotions and offers at any time of the day or night.

The protesters further demanding the resignation of the head of the Communications Regulation Commission Veselin Bozhkov because the Commission, in their view, has totally failed to do its job.

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Tags: consumer, Active Consumers Association, Vivacom, Globul, M-Tel, Mtel, consumer rights, telecommunications, telecom, Communications Regulation Commission, CRC, Veselin Bozhkov, Veselin Bojkov

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