ON March 15, 1962, US president John F Kennedy gave an address to the US Congress in which he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights.
He was the first world leader to do so, and the consumer movement now marks March 15 every year as a means of raising global awareness about consumer rights. World Consumer Rights Day was established on March 15, 1983 to promote consumer rights around the world.
Today, consumers and consumer bodies across the globe are celebrating World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) to promote consumer rights.
This year, the theme for this global event is “Fix Our Phone Rights”.
Like elsewhere in the world, Fiji, too has joined the mobile telephony revolution and for many of us, mobile phones have become almost indispensable — a necessity.
To mark WCRD, Consumers International (CI) will be launching a new consumer agenda for fair mobile services.
The agenda sets out the issues that most affect consumers including the need for access to a reliable service, the security of their data and fair contracts and billing.
CI will submit the agenda to the World Telecommunications Development Conference, held by the International Telecommunications Union, where CI will be calling on phone regulators and companies to take action to stop these issues undermining the success of this new technology.
Here, at home, the Consumer Council of Fiji is calling on consumers in Fiji to highlight the consumer issues that are undermining and frustrating the success of mobile phone services.
Importance of phone rights
The Telecommunications Authority of Fiji (TAF) estimates mobile cellular subscriptions in 2012 to be 822,000 and subscriptions per 100 inhabitants to be at 92.35.
Based on TAF’s figures, Fiji’s mobile cellular subscriptions have grown by a staggering 814 per cent during the 10-year period of 2002 to 2012.
According to TAF, 20 per cent of subscribers have dual subscriptions where customers have subscribed to two or more operators to take advantage of short-term promotions in the absence of number portability.
Mobile services have not just enabled consumers to talk and text, but it has transformed into mini computers giving access to information and services that are crucial to our livelihoods.
They are not just convenient, but increasingly important tools that help to empower citizens and consumers. Having access to mobile connectivity is a necessity.
However, with the success of mobile telecommunications, consumers are confronted with number of challenges and concerns that have gravely afflicted their rights. The quality, reliability, accessibility, fairness, and even integrity of mobile services have come increasingly under the council’s spotlight.
Consumers feel ripped-off, misled, and ignored by those eager to charge them for their unreliable phone services.
There is a need to drastically improve services, terms and conditions, contracts and data protection for mobile phone customers in Fiji and around the world.
* This is a regular contribution from the Consumer Council of Fiji. Email: mediaofficer@consumersfiji.org for feedback.
