Telecommunications Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 November 2022

Thursday, 10 November 2022

Questions (173)

Emer Higgins

Question:

173. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the circumstance where those looking to switch broadband, landline or television provider end up paying for a couple of weeks to both providers in the crossover transition period, unlike when switching mobile, gas or electricity providers; if he will raise this with the Commission for Communications Regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55944/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

Providing telecommunication services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg), as independent regulator. As Minister I have no role or statutory function in the matter raised in the Question.

ComReg has responsibility to ensure that customers are not being overcharged. In the event that an end-user is being incorrectly billed for the provision of two services simultaneously they should contact ComReg for assistance to resolve the issue. Further advice can be found on the ComReg website www.comreg.ie.

I understand that ComReg Consumer Care has assisted a number of consumers who have been incorrectly billed for the provision of two services simultaneously. The ComReg Consumer Care Quarterly Statistics Reports set out the nature and number of complaints in this respect (under the following categories):

- Been billed more than the agreed amount

- Switching/number portability – delay in switching

- Billed after cancellation

- Billed for a service not received

- Contract termination issues – cancellation procedures Further details of the latest report are available at www.comreg.ie/publication/comreg-consumer-care-statistics-report-q3-2022.