ictQATAR, the telecommunications regulatory authority, has proposed a single bill for all post-paid telecommunications services provided by the same service provider. This is part of the final proposal on telecommunication billing issued by ictQATAR yesterday for final comments from all interested parties. The service providers will also be required to provide electronic access to billing information and this must be quick, simple and easy, according to the proposal. “These guidelines are intended to ensure that consumers of post paid telecommunications services have the tools they need to understand their bills, identify and dispute billing errors and avoid being charged for services for which they have not subscribed,” said an official statement issued yesterday. The final proposal has taken into account comments received from 68 different parties who responded to ictQATAR’s initial consultation published in August 2008. Other key elements in the final proposal include: -All customers of postpaid telecommunications services, including those with disabilities, will be entitled to a billing invoice free of charge in an accessible format. - All charges appearing on a bill must be itemised and include the method of calculation. -Service providers must notify customers at least two working days in advance of any planned disconnection -Service providers must provide a toll free billing number by which customers may dispute charges over the phone instead of having to go to a customer service center. -Customers will not be liable to pay for charges that under dispute while the dispute is still on-going. All interested parties may submit their comments on the final proposal by February 26. The comments can be sent by email to [email protected]. Parties who choose to submit comments by post or courier may do so at the following address, along with an electronic version, preferably in a CD format, in addition to a hard copy. Regulatory Policy and Economic Affairs Department, Regulatory Authority ictQATAR, Al Mirqab Tower, Corniche Road, P.O. Box 23264, Doha, Qatar http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local%5FNews&subsection=Qatar+News&month=January2009&file=Local_News2009012533918.xml

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