tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10077106.post-44631636133258395052009-07-05T07:22:00.000+08:002009-07-05T07:23:08.396+08:00<div style="text-align: justify;">By: Jeffrey C. Tiangco - Journal online</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">THERE should be no expiration date on prepaid cellphone loads.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thus said Kabataan Party-list group in the wake of mounting complaints of “vanishing loads” from consumers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The group said they welcome the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) new order compelling telecommunication firms to triple the shelf life of prepaid cell phone loads. The NTC issued the directive last Friday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kabataan, however, insisted that NTC should scrap the expiration of prepaid load altogether.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Increasing the shelf life of prepaid load is not enough to address the concerns of millions of subscribers. The rationale behind prepaid expiration dates is that telcos are dictating how consumers should use their purchased load for them to be able to rake in more profits,” the group said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Kapag may expiration kasi, mas mapapadalas ang pagbili ng load. Binili na ’yan ng consumer, it is their prerogative if they opt na tipirin ang load to last according to their budget. Hindi naman ito katulad ng pagkain or medicine na mapapanis o masisira kapag hindi nagamit agad,” they added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Citing a research from consumer advocacy group TxtPower, the group said telecommunication companies have been guilty of “dagdag-bawas” for years now.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Earlier, TxtPower filed a complaint due to telcos network inaccessibility that included sending and receiving messages problems, busy network on call attempts, lack of network coverage, expiring and disappearing load credits.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Consumers are burdened with high charges for mobile services, mysterious vanishing of prepaid load, and unwanted text ads and ringtones,” the group said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They added that recent survey also recorded 28 percent of the complaints deals on dropped calls and 7 percent on inaccurate billing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Earlier, the youth party-list group launched a public service announcement in YouTube entitled, “Nawalang load? May magagawa ka!” The video may be viewed at http://tiny.cc/M47Vj as it urged cellphone users to send in their complaints to the NTC, TxtPower and Kabataan office at the Batasan Pambansa Building in Quezon City.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Consumers may also text in their complaints to the TxtPower hotline 09071134503 or log on to http://apps.facebook.com/causes/posts/233606, or coordinate directly with Kabataan by sending an email to cong.mongpalatino@gmail.com</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We encourage cellphone users to exercise their right to complain and at the same time aid in the sufficient documentation of these cases. Complaints from subscribers can be used for future legislation and probe regarding the matter,” the group said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">IT added that the Kabataan has initiated for holding of congressional inquiry after filling House Resolution 1237 to investigate the case of vanishing loads.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“It is high time that telcos address the numerous cases of ‘dagdag-bawas’ and for the NTC to impose stricter measures on abusive cellular phone service providers,” it added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">= = =</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Telecom firms must return favor to public</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">By: Ryan Ponce Pacpaco</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">SPEAKER Prospero “Boy” Nograles, Jr. yesterday urged telecommunication companies to take pro-consumer steps that would make their services more affordable to their clients. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“This is a welcome news especially now that Filipino consumers are hard pressed to get more value for their hard earned money. That’s why Congress is continuously trying to find ways to make basic necessities -- such as telecommunications -- more affordable to consumers,” he said. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nograles said telecommunication companies should return the favor to their clients instead of questioning the National Telecommunications Commission’s order extending the expiration period of prepaid loads. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He cited as an example “Call All Landline” being offered by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company which gives customers an affordable option on voice calls. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“This Call All program of the PLDT is just one of the many innovative steps that can make life easier for millions of Filipinos whether they are from the slums or from the ritzy mansions of Forbes Park. Affordable text and voice calls are great social equalizers and I’m glad that one of our telecoms is taking great strides to make it happen,” said Nograles. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino said prepaid loads should not have expiration dates amid complaints of “vanishing loads” from consumers. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The NTC the other day ordered mobile phone firms to triple the shelf life of prepaid loads. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Palatino urged the Commission to scrap the expiration of prepaid load altogether. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Increasing the shelf life of prepaid load is not enough to address the concerns of millions of subscribers. The rationale behind prepaid expiration dates is that telecoms are dictating how consumers should use their purchased load for them to be able to rake in more profits,” said Palatino.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10077106-4463163613325839505?l=telecom-board.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>OlongapoCity Zambalesnoreply@blogger.com0