Consumers are currently increasingly being persuaded to sign contracts at their front door, reports the Hamburg consumer advice center. The expansion of the fiber optic network in the Hanseatic city serves as a pretext. Hamburg residents have recently complained to the consumer advice center in particular about so-called Telekom doorstep rangers.

Expensive high-speed internet without required infrastructure

“Telephone providers seem to be using the planned fiber optic expansion in the city as an opportunity to sell consumers expensive data and service packages. It is often still unclear whether and when fiber optic cables will be laid on site,” explains Julia Rehberg from the Hamburg Consumer Center. In many cases, those affected cannot take advantage of the services provided by the contracts because either there is no fiber optic cable in the ground yet or the cables in the house are not designed for fast data transmission. “The necessary infrastructure is missing to benefit from the expensive high-speed packages,” says Rehberg. However, every newly concluded contract usually has a minimum term of two years. Monthly termination is only possible after the 24 months have expired.

Think about the contract offer calmly

The consumer advice center advises that consumers should keep a cool head when representatives visit their front door. In everyday life, many people don't need more than the bandwidth they already have for data transmission. However, the telephone companies' trained sales professionals deliberately took advantage of the surprise effect to spontaneously conclude fiber optic contracts. According to Rehberg, anyone who lives in an apartment building should first clarify whether the fiber optic cable is actually laid into the apartment.

“If the necessary infrastructure is available and the high bandwidth of fiber optics is actually needed, it is still advisable not to sign the contract for high-speed Internet immediately,” says Rehberg. “First request information material and sleep on it for at least one night,” advises the consumer advocate. You should also obtain offers from other telecommunications companies.

“First request information material and sleep on it for at least one night”

Julia Rehberg, Hamburg Consumer Center

Use the right of withdrawal of 14 days

Anyone who has hastily agreed to an overpriced contract can cancel it within 14 days of concluding the contract. For this purpose, a declaration to the contractual partner is sufficient, for reasons of proof by registered letter.

Note: More information about door-to-door shops can be found on the Hamburg Consumer Center website

Source:

Hamburg Consumer Center
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