The theory, and in many cases, experience, has demonstrated that competition benefits consumers of any product or service by improving quality, prices, and options.
Let us recall that, due to historical conditioning, we were led to believe that state monopolies were the most convenient and protective for all citizens, despite compromised needs and services and a lack of real willingness to satisfy them by the monopoly. Whether we like it or not, this tends to be the operational mode of all monopolistic service providers worldwide.
This week, the state of “effective competition” was finally declared, where the market can regulate prices according to supply and demand. Despite concerns that some may have about this declaration, it is an opportunity for users to exercise their power to reward or penalize telecommunications service providers.
Number portability is the primary tool to punish operators who do not adequately meet user needs, and the regulator must measure the quality of operators and prevent conditions from deteriorating amid the “price war.” The regulator also needs to provide users with all necessary information so that they can, now empowered, behave more dynamically.
Let’s examine how number portability works and how you can become an empowered user:
- Number portability is a right for all users, allowing them to keep their phone number while switching telecommunications operators.
- It is a free process, although you must have cleared any debts with the previous operator before changing companies.
- It takes approximately 48 hours and can be requested from any operator of your choice.
- You can request number portability up to 5 times a year.
Some may question the adhesion contracts with minimum terms of 1 or 2 years, as well as penalties for early termination:
Sutel has declared clauses in these contracts that are absolutely null and allows minimum terms only if you receive a device (such as a cellphone). In the case of early withdrawal, the only payment required is the monthly amortization of the device’s cost for the remaining months of the contract. This would be the supposed “fine” or “penalty” they can charge you, but let’s be sensible—this is the cost of the device you purchased, as indicated in the monthly invoice. It’s also important to check after this period that they are not continuing to charge you the same amount for the device once the minimum term is fulfilled.
Do not let the wool be pulled over your eyes! In case they prevent you from changing operators or want to charge you amounts you consider abusive, you can turn to Sutel online, through the website, by phone, or in person and report the operator preventing you from exercising your free right of choice.