Uproar over Globe’s rate hike for unlimited texting
Consumer advocacy group TXTPower today criticized Globe Telecom over the 100 percent rate increase for its unlimited texting product offering and emailed a complaint to the National Telecommunications demanding a public hearing on the issue.
In newspaper advertisements published today, Globe Telecom announced that four-day Unlitxt now costs P80.00, compared to the previous charge of P50.00 for five days of the old Unlimitxt.
“This is tantamount to a 100 percent rate hike,” said Anthony Ian Cruz, TXTPower spokesperson and co-convenor.
“We filed the complaint on behalf of those who texted us to decry the sudden and warrantless rate hike. We view this as a step backward for the telecom industry. The fast pace of technology should result in cheaper telecom services making this new rate hike questionable,” said Cruz.
TXTPower furnished media with its two-page complaint which the group emailed through the NTC email addresses ospac@ntc.gov.ph and ntc@ntc.gov.ph, adding that “no one was answering NTC phones to enable us to confirm receipt of the complaint.”
“We note that no prior announcement was made by Globe. The company just imposed the rate hike without regard to the rights of subscribers and consumers,” said Cruz.
The Feb. 1 Globe Telecom advertisement announced that the Unlimitxt has been replaced by four unlimited texting variants. “But the bottom line is that Globe Telecom treacherously raised rates — after proclaiming Unlimitxt as a permanent service and after cornering huge profits last year,” said Cruz.
TXTPower also contended that Globe Unlimitxt and rival Sun Cellular’s 24/7 Text Unlimited “proved once and for all that text messages actually do not cost P1.00 each. The telcos resort to arbitrary pricing to the detriment of consumers.”
Formed in 2001, TXTPower is a broad organization of consumer advocates convened by students, tech experts and professionals.
Comments (No comments)
What do you think?
You must be logged in to post a comment.