From Front page of DR1
Consumer protest at high cell rates
Using e-mail and social media campaigns, consumer groups are seeking to mobilize nationwide support for a protest aimed at cell phone providers Claro (Codetel), Orange, Tricom and Viva for the high rates they charge consumers in the DR.
The case presented is that in the US you can get 2,000 free minutes for only US$52.20. This is beyond what the normal user can talk in a month. The note says that in the DR, the usage of those minutes would cost RD$7,000 (around US$194). The message is that the US has low cell phone costs because consumers protested by not using the service.
Cell phone service providers, companies. Cigular, T-Mobile, Sprint PCS, Verizon Wireless | PhoneDog good link for compares in the US.
Have no idea of plan rates here in the DR as I use Prepaid Orange, I also when in the US use prepaid T-mobile. plan rates are also determined by where in the USA you live, not sure where they are finding the $52 per month but in some areas thats high. international rates from the US to here are very high. From here to the US in most cases the same as national. And in most cases these low plan rates are for a minimum of 2 year contract, with any upgrades generating a new contract. don't know if that this the same here.
Their the idea that not using the service caused the lower prices is incorrect. The lower pricing was a result of the companies competing for a customer base, and regulation. Mobil service is much cheaper for the companies than traditional wireline.
Prepaid rates are much cheaper here than they are there, and you don't pay for received call air time. If they do start charging for received call air time that will at least cut down on the beeper calls (one ring means call me back I don't have minutes). Prepaid accounts for some where in the vicinity of 80% of mobil usage here in the DR.
They also need to look at the amount of taxes charged. Here you are paying 16% ITBI, 10% service, and in some cases an additional 2% tax for phone service. These are not charges of the phone company's they are only the collection agency. Most areas of the USA do not have such ridicules tax rates yet.
Consumer protest at high cell rates
Using e-mail and social media campaigns, consumer groups are seeking to mobilize nationwide support for a protest aimed at cell phone providers Claro (Codetel), Orange, Tricom and Viva for the high rates they charge consumers in the DR.
The case presented is that in the US you can get 2,000 free minutes for only US$52.20. This is beyond what the normal user can talk in a month. The note says that in the DR, the usage of those minutes would cost RD$7,000 (around US$194). The message is that the US has low cell phone costs because consumers protested by not using the service.
Cell phone service providers, companies. Cigular, T-Mobile, Sprint PCS, Verizon Wireless | PhoneDog good link for compares in the US.
Have no idea of plan rates here in the DR as I use Prepaid Orange, I also when in the US use prepaid T-mobile. plan rates are also determined by where in the USA you live, not sure where they are finding the $52 per month but in some areas thats high. international rates from the US to here are very high. From here to the US in most cases the same as national. And in most cases these low plan rates are for a minimum of 2 year contract, with any upgrades generating a new contract. don't know if that this the same here.
Their the idea that not using the service caused the lower prices is incorrect. The lower pricing was a result of the companies competing for a customer base, and regulation. Mobil service is much cheaper for the companies than traditional wireline.
Prepaid rates are much cheaper here than they are there, and you don't pay for received call air time. If they do start charging for received call air time that will at least cut down on the beeper calls (one ring means call me back I don't have minutes). Prepaid accounts for some where in the vicinity of 80% of mobil usage here in the DR.
They also need to look at the amount of taxes charged. Here you are paying 16% ITBI, 10% service, and in some cases an additional 2% tax for phone service. These are not charges of the phone company's they are only the collection agency. Most areas of the USA do not have such ridicules tax rates yet.
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