Customer Right
The National Telecommunications Authority maintains that ‘The Consumer is always right’ and that it is incumbent on the overall service providers to respect and uphold the rights of the consumer. The Commission therefore accords every consumer of telecommunications services the following entitlements, rights and privileges, irrespective of their status in life.
THE RIGHT TO BE INFORMED
Consumers must be provided with factual, timely and comprehensive information about products, services and anticipated obstructions in services, in a clear, accurate and understandable form, avoiding all misleading information contained in advertisements and public notices. Service providers are therefore required to assist consumers in making rational choices and decisions based on information provided by the service provider. A failure on the part of the service providers to comply with attributes of this right, shall amount to a breach of consumer’s right to disclosure of all relevant information pertaining to products, services and operations.
THE RIGHT TO SAFETY
Consumers must be protected by service providers against the marketing of wholesome, poisonous, sub-standard, and toxic or defective goods/services provided by service providers. The Authority considers such practices as unacceptable, and shall impose adequate sanctions and penalties for such or similar conduct by service operators.
THE RIGHT TO CHOICE
Consumers shall be provided with access to information on a variety of products and services available within the portfolio of service providers, and at competitive prices within the tariffs cap and floor and promotions approved by the Authority that offer options on products and services that exist for the different segments of subscribers in the market. In accordance with the fundamental principles of a free market system, consumers have the right to choose between options without coercion or harassment by service providers.
THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD
Consumers have the right to be heard through appropriate procedures and mechanisms established by individual service providers. Accordingly, service providers are required to ensure that consumers are given adequate opportunities to lodge grievances, express their opinions, register complaints, and propose suggestions for improving the quality of services delivered to users of telecommunications services.
THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY
Consumers must be protected from the inappropriate use of information gathered by service providers in the course of providing telecommunications service. It is required of service providers to protect the privacy of the financial, personal and other confidential information on consumers, and the Authority shall impose sanctions and penalties to ensure that service providers respect this right.
IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THESE RIGHTS ARE UPHELD, THE AUTHORITY MAINTAINS ACTIVE DIALOGUE THROUGH ITS “CONSUMER PARLIAMENT” FORUM WHICH SITS NATIONWIDE AS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS BY WHICH CONSUMERS’ CONCERNS AND PROBLEMS ARE HEARD AND ADDRESSED.