Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 3) — Progressive groups Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and Bayan Muna urged telecommunications company Globe to consider removing its ₱50 penalty fee for late phone bill payments.
The Ayala-led company recently announced it will charge additional fees to postpaid subscribers who fail to settle their accounts on time.
\”Starting Dec. 1, 2023, a ₱50 fee will be charged to your account for payments made after your due date,\” Globe said in an advisory sent to its subscribers.
\”We encourage you to pay on time to keep your services active,\” it added.
Globe said in a statement on Friday only its postpaid subscribers, who comprise less than 5% of its customer base, will be affected by the policy.
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro argued that the penalty will cause inconvenience as internet and mobile phone use is now considered a necessity.
\”It is a public utility that should be primarily for the public good and not mainly for profit,\” the lawmaker stressed.
She also said the telecom giant’s services remain unstable.
\”Kapag sila pumapalpak at madalas itong mangyari ay sorry na lang pero kapag subscriber ang mahuhuli ng konti sa bayad ay may multa agad,\” she added.
[Translation: When they fail, and it happens often, they only say sorry, but when the subscriber is a little late for payment, they are immediately fined.]
Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmeranes also opposed Globe’s additional fee while Filipinos are still struggling from rising prices of goods and services.
READ: PH inflation quickens anew to 6.1% in September
\”Sumosobra naman na ata ang pagkaganid sa tubo ng Globe Telecom maski hirap na hirap na ang mga Pilipino sa taas ng bilihin ngayon,\” he said. \”Di pa ba sapat ang kinita nilang ₱175 bilyon noong 2022?\”
[Translation: Globe Telecom appears to be getting too greedy for profit even though Filipinos are still struggling with the high prices. Is the ₱175 billion they earned in 2022 not enough?]
Globe pointed out that it has long deferred charging late fees even though this is included in its terms and conditions of its postpaid subscription agreement.
“With today’s business environment when other sectors and even the government are charging late payment fees, an example is the LTO (Land Transportation Office), we believe that the telco sector may follow suit,” it added.
