The Federal Network Agency has once again countered a case of large-scale number abuse with a comprehensive package of measures. It ordered the disconnection of a (0) 900 number due to number spam, prohibited the company from carrying out illegal telephone advertising, imposed a ban on billing and collection and prohibited the business model used. Penalties were threatened in case of non-compliance.
Matthias Kurth, President of the Federal Network Agency, shows his determination in the fight against companies that deliberately misuse telephone numbers to make economic profits at the expense of consumers. "We protect consumers and take unrelenting action against such organised misuse of telephone numbers. The Telecommunications Act has given us tools to combat the misuse of telephone numbers. We are making full use of these instruments. There must be no loopholes for companies that want to circumvent clear rules through technical manipulation. Misuse of telephone numbers and trickery must not be the basis for business models. This can also only be in the interest of legitimate providers in the value-added services market."
The telecommunications company affected by the Federal Network Agency's measure had called consumers by means of telephone computers and informed them via an automatic announcement that they had won a prize. In order to receive more detailed information about the prize, the called persons were asked to press a certain key on their telephone set. They were then transferred to the number (0) 900 3 101 655, which was associated with increased charges. This even happened to people who had set up a block for (0) 900 numbers. The Federal Network Agency has now completely banned this practice by the company.
"In such lotteries, only the companies that organise such telephone lotteries and charge via expensive numbers win. Our measure should therefore also be understood as a clear signal to consumers and companies that the Federal Network Agency will take tough action against the illegal use of numbers and circumvention of blocking options," Kurth continued.
Affected consumers can contact the Federal Network Agency by phone at 0291 9955-206, by e-mail atunterrufnummernmissbrauch@bnetza.de, or by mail at the following addresses:
Federal Network Agency
Nördeltstr. 5
59872 Meschede
or
Federal Network Agency
Schütt 13
67433 Neustadt
Source: Press release of the Federal Network Agency of 16.01.2008, Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway Press Office, Tulpenfeld 4,53113 Bonn, www.bundesnetzagentur.de
If you have any questions on this topic, please do not hesitate to contact Goldberg Rechtsanwälte.
Goldberg Attorneys at Law, Wuppertal-Solingen 2008
Attorney at Law Michael Ullrich, LL.M.(Information Law)
m.ullrich@goldberg.de
