Press Room
CWTA Code of Conduct - just smoke and mirrors, says Option Consommateurs
Montréal, September 1st, 2009 –
Option Consommateurs considers the Code of Conduct announced today by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications (CWTA) to amount to little more than a collection of platitudes. It does not meet the needs of Canadians and does nothing to remove the major irritants in wireless communications.
Option consommateurs deplores the lack of commitment on the part of service providers and believes that the Code most often requires companies to provide only the barest minimum when it comes to their obligation to disclose information to customers. Several standards contained in the Code fall short of those proposed in Bill 60 to modify the Loi sur la protection du consommateur (Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act).
The Code, which was adopted on August 13, 2009, raises a number of questions: Was it developed in consultation with consumer groups? Who will oversee the Code of Conduct? In short, it does not resolve the problems most frequently raised by consumers, namely early termination fees and length of contract. It is worth noting that the cellular telephone sector was the second largest source of complaints received by the Office de la protection du consommateur (Consumer Protection Bureau) in 2008.
Option Consommateurs also learned today that a cellular telephone package calculator developed by Industry Canada will unfortunately not be put on line to help Canadians. This tool would have enabled consumers to compare prices and services offered by various cellular suppliers and to make an informed choice even before going out to buy. We invite the Canadian government to make this essential tool available to the public soon.
Option Consommateurs is ready to assist the industry to improve its practices.
About Option Consommateurs
Option Consommateurs is a not-for-profit association founded in 1983 with the mission to defend and promote consumer rights. To this end, it is involved in about thirty class action suits. It is also deeply involved in the fields of energy, agri-food, financial services and business practices.
Information:
In French:
Julie Gagnon
Conseillère aux communications
Option consommateurs
514 598-7288, poste 226
Cell. : 514 777-6133
gagnon@option-consommateurs.org
In English:
Anu Bose, PhD
Head, Ottawa Office
Option consommateurs
613-244-2111
Cell: 613-293-6828
Option consommateurs deplores the lack of commitment on the part of service providers and believes that the Code most often requires companies to provide only the barest minimum when it comes to their obligation to disclose information to customers. Several standards contained in the Code fall short of those proposed in Bill 60 to modify the Loi sur la protection du consommateur (Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act).
The Code, which was adopted on August 13, 2009, raises a number of questions: Was it developed in consultation with consumer groups? Who will oversee the Code of Conduct? In short, it does not resolve the problems most frequently raised by consumers, namely early termination fees and length of contract. It is worth noting that the cellular telephone sector was the second largest source of complaints received by the Office de la protection du consommateur (Consumer Protection Bureau) in 2008.
Option Consommateurs also learned today that a cellular telephone package calculator developed by Industry Canada will unfortunately not be put on line to help Canadians. This tool would have enabled consumers to compare prices and services offered by various cellular suppliers and to make an informed choice even before going out to buy. We invite the Canadian government to make this essential tool available to the public soon.
Option Consommateurs is ready to assist the industry to improve its practices.
About Option Consommateurs
Option Consommateurs is a not-for-profit association founded in 1983 with the mission to defend and promote consumer rights. To this end, it is involved in about thirty class action suits. It is also deeply involved in the fields of energy, agri-food, financial services and business practices.
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Information:
In French:
Julie Gagnon
Conseillère aux communications
Option consommateurs
514 598-7288, poste 226
Cell. : 514 777-6133
gagnon@option-consommateurs.org
In English:
Anu Bose, PhD
Head, Ottawa Office
Option consommateurs
613-244-2111
Cell: 613-293-6828
