By Sachin Kumar
DOHA: Qatar’s telecom sector has seen around 13 percent rise in consumer complaints last year. The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), communication sector regulator in Qatar, received 1,135 complaints in 2015 compared to 1,006 complaints a year ago. Most of the complaints were relating to roaming bills, fixed line installation, data charges and network coverage.
“Complaints have risen because more people are coming in Qatar. We see it as our success because it also means that consumers are becoming more aware about their rights,” said Amel Salam Al Hanawi, Consumer Affairs Department Manager, CRA, talking to The Peninsula at a consumer awareness booth at City Center mall yesterday. CRA is hosting consumer awareness booth at City Center mall from yesterday until Tuesday, open from 10am to 9pm, to help people better understand their consumer rights and find out more how CRA can help address any concerns about their service provider.
The regulator is celebrating the World Consumer Rights Day, an annual occasion commemorating March 15, 1962, when the first definition of Consumer Rights was outlined. On this day, organisations come together across the globe to promote the basic rights of all consumers, and for demanding that those rights are respected and protected.
The booth is offering fun activities for the whole family such as a children’s corner, an interactive information wall and a complaint wall featuring different methods consumers can lodge a complaint.
“In all its activities, CRA seeks to ensure the provision of advanced, innovative and reliable ICT and postal services across Qatar. And above all, CRA ensures that benefits are passed on to the consumers of communication services,” said Al Hanawi. “I would like to invite all to come and join us to celebrate this day. We, at CRA, are here to help and have a commitment to give you, the consumers in Qatar, the power of choice. Already, we have a strong Consumer Protection Policy, and Advertising Code, and now we are finalising two Codes on Spam and Premium Rate Service,” Al Hanawi added.
The CRA team will also be conducting several awareness sessions and providing useful consumer tips at the CRA booth, with the objective of visitors leaving knowing that they have rights, and feeling con?dent to protect those rights. “This is the fourth year CRA is celebrating the World Consumer Rights Day and this year, the awareness campaign underscores the importance of CRA’s complaints resolution process as a key tool protect consumer rights and to ensure service providers fulfil their obligations,” said Al Hanawi. Consumers, who have an unresolved complaint or concerns about their communication service provider, can easily contact CRA’s Consumer Affairs Department through a variety of channels. A dedicated Consumer Telecom Hotline – 103 – has increasingly become the most used channel of contacting CRA besides its official Twitter account @CRAqatar. The Peninsula
