#Telco refunds

Internet and telecommunications subscribers in the Philippines may soon receive automatic refunds for prolonged service outages, following the passage of House Bill No. Refunds must be applied automatically by service providers, following standards set by regulators. 2092, which will require telcos and internet service providers (ISPs) to give refunds for service outages and interruptions. Cited under the bill, public telco entities and internet service providers must provide a refund credit to a customer or adjust a customer’s bill who has experienced a service outage or disruption for an aggregate period of 24 hours or more within a month on a pro-rated basis. ISPs and public telco entities concerned must not require customers to take any action to receive a refund credit or bill adjustment. However, Secretary Honasan stated the DICT acknowledges the challenges that telcos and ISPs experience in the roll-out of their services in the country. The said policy is expected to broaden the base of common towers and will speed up the deployment of the Internet across the Philippines as it allows and encourages telcos and Internet service providers to share cell towers. Sentator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada suggests internet service providers (ISPs) and telecommunication companies to process automatic refunds should they experience service interruptions. Read more in our articles including "Here’s How Automatic Refunds for Internet Outages Will Work Under the Proposed Law" and "DICT backs senate bill mandating telcos, ISPs to give refunds for downtimes".