LONDON-Orange, the United Kingdom’s third-largest mobile operator, announced it is offering a new prepaid package, called Just Talk, that makes clear all conditions and charges upfront and offers existing prepaid subscribers the option of switching to a contract tariff, while still being able to keep their current telephone number.
Simultaneous with the announcement, Orange chief executive Hans Snook called for the industry to end its practice of “misleading statements and small print catches.”
Snook noted that research has shown that 78 percent of those considering prepaid are doing so because they want to control costs, yet many don’t realize that prepaid can be the most expensive way to pay. He also said most prepaid vouchers have expiration dates, yet few customers count the cost of prepaid vouchers that expire, whether or not the calls that have been paid for have been made. “The industry is knowingly fleecing customers,” he said.
“Today Orange is launching a pre-pay service with a difference. No [expiration] dates on vouchers, no daily, monthly or yearly service charges. Every penny spent is on call charges. And those charges are down in price,” Snook said.
