water companies, electricity, telecommunications and other utilities are trying to charge thousands of euros of invoices for consumption of more than six months which, not being illegal, can be locked by consumers. The alert is the Deco that in the last 16 months received 3861 consumer complaints on this issue.
In a statement, Deco explained that “the right to receive the price of the service provided shall lapse six months after its delivery.” But to catch this charge, which is not illegal, consumers will have to oppose the payment, “expressly invoking the prescription and requesting the annulment of the required values.”
The invocation prescription must be carried out before payment of the invoice, because it is made after the payment there is no possibility of recovering the money, he explained to PUBLIC Ana Ferreira, Deco lawyer.
The prescription must be invoked by the contract holder together the company in writing by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt, getting copy of the letter and keeping the shipping records.
Ana Ferreira points out that the prescription of debt can also be invoked in proceedings court in debt recovery.
The Deco available on its website, a standard letter that can be used to request the prescription of debt and offers a mediation service with companies providing services to the termination of such conflicts. The mediation service is free for members and has a cost of 10 euros for non-members.
Ana Ferreira safeguard that mediation Deco can only be made before the entry into court collection procedures of debts .
In addition to individualized support, the consumer protection association ensures that “will continue to monitor the situation, endeavoring towards the correct information to consumers, so that they exercise their rights in an appropriate and timely manner “.
Telecommunications leading complaints
complaints related to prescribed consumption, which according to Deco arrive, in some cases,” to overcome a year, “are transverse to all companies providing essential public services, but there is a clear emphasis on telecommunications companies, electricity and water.
According to the numbers sent to PUBLIC, the 3861 complaints over 2014 and until April of this year, 67.9% ie 2 624 complaints are related to telecommunications companies. The more businesses concerned are the In and PT Comunicações.
The second highest number of complaints is associated with the supply of electricity and gas (of 951) and, just as in telecommunications, most companies targeted are the largest providers of these services, EDP and Galp.
There are also 184 complaints relating to the collection of overdue amounts in water services, but in this case does not discriminate Deco the most target groups, attending the many management companies this service.
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