OfCom News and Why It Has Operators Pushing For Greater Clarity

Customer complaints about the price increases seen on their contracts have finally been addressed. Ofcom now requires operators to offer greater clarity in contracts about the potential that exists for price increases. These rises in prices are usually left for the customer to meet, as operators are often unwilling to shelter the costs as that would impeded on their profit margins. However, forcing customers to dig deeper each time because they are bound by contracts will be a thing of the past, as they have been given the right to refuse it.

Ofcom has stated that customers will have the right of cancelling a contract, should they be subjected to price increases that were not initially addressed when they bound themselves to the agreements. The customers not only have the freedom of walking away from a contract, but they can do so without penalty, should they feel that a price increase is unacceptable. This presents a new conundrum to operators who are greatly pushing for clarity in contracts to avoid this from happening.

While these regulations have not been set in stone yet, they are geared towards consumer protection, which is sometimes missing in the telecoms industry. Broadband and phone users will have greater control over their contracts should these laws be implemented. The road ahead is much more difficult for operators, who will have a tough balancing act to carry out. They are allowed the liberty of increasing phone and broadband prices, but they are not allowed to compel the consumer to agree with the increases.