TRANSPARENCY IN MOBILE PHONE RETAILING

Early day motion 683, tabled 3 May 2000 by Brian White (Labour). Signed by 57 members.

That this House congratulates the Government on the success of the DTI's campaign to protect the consumer from 'rip off' Britain; notes the recent survey by Taylor Nelson Sofres, which has found that high street mobile phone operators are selling inappropriate and expensive mobile phone packages to consumers; believes that high street retailers are influenced by the commission they receive from operators for selling mobile packages with year long contracts; therefore supports Virgin Mobile's industry-wide transparency campaign; calls upon the Department of Trade and Industry and Oftel to regulate the advice given by independent high street mobile retailers; and further recommends that such retailers make clear to customers any formal links they have with a mobile operator and what commission they receive from operators.

Signatures by party: Labour 46, Liberal Democrat 4, Labour/Co-operative 3, UUP 2, Plaid Cymru 1, UKUP 1.