New laws for mobiles and web

New laws governing mobile telephone and internet contracts come into force this month after pressure from consumer groups.

People with 24-month mobile phone contracts will be able to quit them after the 13th month.

The companies will not be able to reclaim any more than 25% of the remaining contract from them.

No phone contracts can be drawn up longer than 24 months and operators must have a 12-month option.

Cancellation of a contract should take no longer than ten days, where some companies currently have a two-month cancellation period.

Throughout the period of the contract, monthly invoices will state explicitly how much of the contract remains.

For internet and telephone contracts where a deposit has been taken for equipment such as modems, the cost of this must be refunded in less than ten days after cancellation of a contract.

The cost of calling internet and telephone companies’ call centres will be capped, and they will not be able to charge for time spent waiting for an operator.

The cost of calling 118 (directory enquiries) will also be capped at just over one euro. Operators will have to advise callers of higher-than-normal rates if they are transferred to the number they are seeking.

Photo: Flickr Stuart Frisby