OTTAWA – March 15th marks World Consumer Rights Day, and Consumers International is highlighting the problems and challenges faced by mobile consumers across the world through this year’s theme “Fix Our Phone Rights!”. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) reminds Canadians that on December 2nd, 2013, the mandatory Wireless Code – which spells out rules on cell phone services, from cancellation fees, to unlocking, to caps on additional data and roaming fees – came into effect across Canada for all Canadians. PIAC played a key role in spurring its creation and development and is thrilled to see it come into place to protect Canadian consumers. We celebrate the implementation of the Wireless Code for World Consumer Rights Day 2014.
Today, we continue to advocate for consumers in telecommunications, broadcasting, privacy, competition, and financial services. We recently formally filed our views for a federal government consultation on a consumer protection code for banking services . We are representing consumers in ongoing Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission proceedings on wholesale wireless and internet markets and on a renewed approach to regulating television in Canada. We have also filed applications on discriminatory practices in mobile TV, free wireless calls for Canadians calling helplines and crisis lines, and consumer privacy rights against behavioural advertising.
World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) is an annual occasion for celebration and solidarity within the international consumer movement organized by Consumers International. WCRD was first observed on March 15, 1983, and has since become an important occasion for mobilizing citizen action. Consumers International is the world federation of consumer groups serving as an independent and authoritative global voice for consumers.
PIAC is a non-profit organization that provides legal and research services on behalf of consumer interests, and, in particular, vulnerable consumer interests, concerning the provision of important public services.
For more information please contact:
Jonathan Bishop
Research & Parliamentary Affairs Analyst
Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)
(613) 562-4002 ext. 23
jbishop@piac.ca
www.piac.ca