HAKOM: Mobile Phones May Be Paid-Off in Instalments

ZAGREB, 12 June 2014 – Because of unclear and sometimes contradictory information that appears in the media concerning the faith of mobile phones after termination of contract, HAKOM deemed it necessary to give the following explanation:
 
All three operators offer to their users a possibility to buy a mobile phone when concluding a subscription contract, usually at a lower price. If the contract for a public communications service is terminated, without the early termination fee, and the mobile phone has not been paid in full but is being paid off in instalments, the user must still be allowed to continue with payments in accordance with the original payment plan. One-off payment of the mobile phone is possible only if the user decides to do so himself or herself and cannot be imposed as the only option.The operator whose contract is terminated must allow the user, upon his/her request, to use the device on other networks without a fee within 15 days (unlocking of the device).
 
If they wish to terminate the contract for a certain tariff model, users may agree with the operator to switch to another tariff model (including the pre-paid service model) or they may submit a number portability request to transfer their number to another operator’s network, which implies the termination of the existing contract. HAKOM stated that a number will be permanently lost only if the user decides to stop using mobile services entirely, that is, if the user terminates the contract and does not conclude a new contract, for another tariff, that will allow him or her to continue using that number.
 

 

HAKOM (www.hakom.hr) - Croatian Post and Electronic Communications Agency – ensures preconditions for a fair market competition, stable growth and environment for innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market. HAKOM protects users’ interests and the possibility of choice among various communications and postal services at affordable prices, defines sustainable competitive conditions for operators and service providers under fair conditions for return on investment, and provides support to economic growth, public services and the quality of life in the Republic of Croatia by using modern technologies. HAKOM’ strategic goals are: to promote regulation of the electronic communications and postal services market, to support growth of investments and innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market, to provide efficient use of limited resources, to accelerate the growth of broadband products and services, to provide affordable offers of communications and postal services, to provide protection and informing of users, to build an efficient and comprehensive information system, to define and implement efficient processes, and to acquire multi-disciplinary competencies in market regulation.