New regulations to control commercial SMS messages in Spain

New regulations to control commercial SMS messages in Spain
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By h.b. - Nov 28, 2009 - 11:39 AM
The first digits of the number used will determine the cost of the service

EFE archive

New regulations to control abuses in the sending of SMS text messages have entered into force in Spain. Now a maximum price of 6 € has been established and the first digits of the number will determine the cost involved.

Text numbers will be of four of five digits, depending on the service.
Five figure numbers which begin in 25, 27, 29, and 280, which are used by charities cost 1.2 € or less.
Five figure numbers which begin with 35, 37 or 39 will cost between 1.2 € and 6 €.
Six figure numbers which start with 795, 797, and 799 will be subscription services with the cost of each message received to be 1.2 € or less.
Six figure numbers which start with 995, 997, or 999 are destined to adult services and will be charged at a maximum price of 6 €.

The new rules end the practice of consumers having to send two or more consecutive messages in order to subscribe to a service as this practice abuses the idea of a maximum price.

Operators of such services now have the obligation to guarantee the right of disconnection to users when requested. All bills must itemize the SMS messages sent or received, and when a user subscribes to a service he or she has to be informed exactly of the cost and also the name of the company offering the service.
On adult services and those which cost more than 1.2 €, a warning text must be sent to the customer before they are contracted.

Companies which do not meet these conditions now face losing the number and service if complaints presented to the supervisory commission are found to be valid.

Despite the changes the consumers’ group, FACUA, thinks the regulations don’t go far enough and more controls could have been placed on price, advertising and the disconnection of such services. They also say in subscription services clients are not given an idea as to how many messages they will receive, and that this can increase their bill considerably.

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