There is no shortage of choice when it comes to 3G mobile service plans on sale in the market.
The Consumer Council has found at least 17 of such plans provided by a handful of four network operators.
Indeed consumers are baffled by the plethora of choices that often they are unable to evaluate with any certainty the value for money of an offer.
With this in mind, the Consumer Council has conducted a survey that focuses on the price and service of 17 3G mobile plans.
All except one which was on a free trial, were tariff plans ranging in monthly fees from $128 to $598, a vast difference of nearly sixfold.
Not surprisingly, the plans varied ostensibly in the combination of usage and types of services that are included in each package, notably, video calls, text/multimedia/video content downloads, channel programmes i.e. entertainment, news, exclusive TV channels.
It's not an easy choice for any consumer. Often consumers are persuaded into purchasing a plan which they later regret, rightly or wrongly, for one reason or another.
Consumer complaints received by the Council have been on a rising trend - from 109 cases in 2004 to 280 cases last year. In the first quarter of this year there were already 126 cases with complaints relating largely to price disputes (64), quality of service (34) and sales practices (19).
To avoid unnecessary disputes and complaints, consumers are urged to heed the following advice and choose carefully before committing to one:
- Most of the 3G plans bind users to fixed-term contracts. Consumers who wish to terminate the contracts early, by switching to a new service provider or service plan, may have to pay penalty.
- They should check whether there will be auto-renewal of the contract, and whether the new contract carries different terms and fees.
- Keep copies of contracts signed. Note down the expiration date, and the notification period required for termination. They should give ample notification to the service provider and complete any required procedure by the time specified by the contract.
- Some service providers may offer special plans to consumers whose contracts are about to end. Those specials may carry terms, items and usage different from the current contracts. Consumers should make sure that they fully understand the offer before they sign.
- Consumers may check with the service providers to take advantage of any special offers to certain groups, such as new customers and those switching from other service providers, and rebate for referrals, etc.
- Consumers should seek to know more about the functions of their handsets and their compatibility with the 3G networks they intend to subscribe.
- Last but not least, always remember: your choice is on the line.
Meanwhile, the Consumer Council has tested 10 models of cordless phones, with eight of them operating in 1.8 GHz (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications, DECT) and two in 5.8 GHz frequency band.
The rating took into a wide range of items including the assessment of communication quality, coverage, battery performance, ease of use, versatility, safety and durability. Four models were awarded 4 stars on a 5-point rating scale, five models scored 3? stars, and one got 3 stars.
A feature found in most samples shows GAP (Generic Access Profile) compatibility between handsets and base stations from different manufacturers. This means if phones are GAP compatible, handsets from one manufacturer can be assigned to the base station of another, allowing consumers to buy additional handsets from different manufacturers.
The test observes that the price of cordless phones is closely related to the number of advanced features, design of the appearance and size of the handset. Consumers will do well to strike a balance in their purchase decision.
Consumers are advised to purchase cordless phones which bear an authorized label designated by the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA), although the label is voluntary.
Under the Telecommunications (Cordless Telecommunications Apparatus)(exemption from Licensing) Order, only phones meeting technical specifications of OFTA are allowed to be used in Hong Kong. It is an offence to possess, use or sell cordless phones not complying with the technical specifications - as they may cause interference to authorized radio services.
The Consumer Council reserves all its right (including copyright) in respect of CHOICE Magazine and Online CHOICE ( https://echoice.consumer.org.hk/ ).