The affected clauses on fees and expenses as well as restrictions on warranty claims may no longer be used by the two companies in the future. This will create "more clarity in the fee jungle," according to the AK. A1 points out that most of the clauses were no longer applied in practice.

The settlement mainly concerned fee, charge, and reminder fee clauses as well as formal requirements for contract terminations and restrictions on warranty claims. According to the AK, clauses of the two companies included, among other things, high default interest or additional fees for paying the bill via payment slip. A1 also had a clause for a reconnection fee of 30 euros to reactivate blocked connections.

A1: Most Clauses Were No Longer Used

A1 stated upon APA request that most clauses were no longer used in practice. "Most clauses had no practical application and the fees mentioned were not charged," it says in a statement. "A1 has improved transparency with the settlement and sees hardly any actual impact on customers."

The settlement covers a total of 29 clauses at A1 and six clauses at Drei. The dispute over service charges is not affected, as court proceedings are still ongoing. According to the settlement, the said clauses or similar clauses may no longer be used - this also applies to old contracts. The settlement has already been implemented, Drei informed upon APA request.

AK: Claims for Refunds Possible

The AK recommends that customers check their billing for inadmissible expenses. "Consumers may have claims for refunds if fees, charges, or expenses were charged to them based on the clauses," writes the AK. Consumers should contact the respective company directly with any claims.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.