Senator Nancy Binay has called for the suspension of the P50.00 fee telecommunications companies charge subscribers for the delivery of their billing statements.
In a letter to National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba, Binay requested the commission to stop indefinitely the collection of the fee.
“This is to request your good office for the indefinite suspension of the P50.00 being charged to postpaid subscribers by telecommunication companies regarding their paperless billing on the ground that it is against R.A. 7394 otherwise known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines,” Binay said.
“Under article 2 of R.A. 7394, it is the duty of the State to protect the interest of the consumer, promote his general welfare and to establish standards of conduct for business and industry,” said Binay.
She said the state shall implement measures to achieve the protection against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts and practices.
The senator also urged credit card companies to refrain from charging their customers a fee for paper billing.
“We also received reports that credit card companies charged their customers who want paper billing. I hope they should stop this first while we are looking if this is in consonance with the Consumer Act,” she said.
Binay filed Senate Resolution No. 521 calling for an investigation into the additional P50 charged to subscribers who refused to go paperless.
She added that it would be better for telcos to incentivize their consumers to go paperless instead of penalizing those who would want to receive a paper bill.
She said the credit card companies should check that instead of charging consumers, they should instead give incentives in the form of a rebate.