ictQATAR consultation on Credit Limit Application

ictQATAR today published a consultation on a proposal to force Service Providers to apply Customer Credit Limits in all cases in order to prevent “Bill Shock”. This Instruction introduces measures designed to prevent “bill shock” for customers of telecommunications services. They are primarily intended to require Service Providers to: 

• keep to the customer’s credit limit;
• notify customers of their credit allowance before their credit limit expires;
• cease the practice of imposing additional charges, which exceed the customer’s credit limit without their express consent.

It follows numerous complaints received by ictQATAR from customers regarding unexpected bills and the lack of sufficient notice on the credit allowance status. Customers were often not aware of the charging arrangements and how charges accrue, particularly when using roaming services. This is a growing concern especially as the take-up smartphones has increased rapidly in recent years.

The consultation document is available at this link.