ANACOM has decided to revoke registrations granted to five audiotext companies, which are therefore barred from further provision of these services. At issue are practices that harm consumer interests, arising from repeated breaches of applicable legislation by the companies involved, as detected in various investigative actions undertaken by ANACOM.
The companies were using the numbers they had been assigned for televoting and polling services in a scheme that misled people and which involved the user making calls to value-added Audiotext numbers - these calls could be lengthy and result in very significant costs, harming consumers.
Generally people were being contacted and told that, to participate in a poll, they should call a 607 number, whereby they might win a prize for participation. Upon making this call, people incurred significant costs, given that these calls were charged at rates per minute which are far higher than the call charges for fixed or mobile numbers. In many cases callers did not receive a prize.
In the investigations that led to its draft decision, ANACOM found that the companies involved were not fulfilling all their obligations as regards the disclosure of information: that they were providing a value added service; on the applicable price per minute; and a beep that signals the passing of each minute, so that people are able to judge the price they are paying on the call.
