TPSA fined half million zlotys for monopolistic practices

The Competition and Consumer Protection Office (UOKiK) fined Telekomunikacja Polska S.A. (TPSA) zl. 500,000 for monopolistic practices in Poznan and Szczecin. TPSA told customers it was impossible to transfer phone numbers when they moved. The company was however willing to do so if customers agreed to join a so-called contractors group and contribute money to build the telephone network. This meant, customers would be charged between zl. 650-zl. 850. UOKiK ruled that TPSA cannot ignore the terms of a contract just because the network is non-existent. It said the company is obliged to create the network and inform customers about the plans. Customers would then be able to decide whether they wanted to wait for the number to be transferred or cancel the contract. "We were punished for over zealousness, as we proposed installing phones in places in which there were no investments. We only asked customers to sign on to the contractors groups," said TPSA spokesman Piotr Gawron. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 22)