Channel Island phone customers contract security

Andrew Riseley said it should protect people on fixed term contracts

Phone customers in the Channel Islands could get protection from price changes mid-way through a contract under plans by the regulator.

Andrew Riseley from the Channel Islands Competition Regulatory Authority (CICRA) said complaints against operators prompted the change.

He said people entering a telecom contract for 12 or 24 months should not expect it to change.

A number of options are being proposed as part of the consultation.

Mr Riseley said operators were currently free to make alterations, including price increases, to fixed-term contracts and Channel Islands consumers were not covered by any consumer protection legislation.

He said the preferred option was to add a new condition to operators' licences, regulating the way they can make variations to fixed-term contracts.

"Fixed-term contracts should provide certainty about the services customers will receive and the associated monthly cost," Mr Riseley said.