Danielle Panabaker Steven Strait

Tim Tim and Vodafone and Vodafone fined Antitrust, consumers are demanding the class action

Dr. Laura Bianchi
Dr. Lara Ricci

The Authority for Competition and Market has imposed a fine of € 500 thousand, evenly distributed, the telecommunications company TIM and Vodafone. Antitrust in the viewfinder, in particular, there are changes to contracts that, in a totally one-sided, the two operators have applied to consumers that they had not received enough information about it. The measures taken by the Authority for the competition and the market followed by a number of reports submitted by consumer associations, which, by analyzing the changes that have invested the pricing plans of users, have estimated increases ranging between 49 and 83 €.

operators, for their part, have repeatedly stressed that it had informed its users with the utmost transparency and well in advance by sending SMS to alert its users of changes in tariffs. According to the Antitrust Authority, the two operators would have to proceed to providing our customers with the information necessary for an informed choice and to exercise any right of termination, as required by the Code of electronic communications. TIM and Vodafone were activated to provide greater visibility to contractual changes, but the deployment of forces did not appear sufficient to the Guarantor.
According to the AGCM
TIM would spread to their consumer disclosure and omission ambiguous about the features of the reshaping of the service plan and the rights granted to you. " It is a practice deemed serious by the Authority that, in addition to recall how the movement has invested a substantial number of consumers from diverse socio-demographic characteristics, said that "the requirement of completeness and clarity of the information conveyed is particularly compelling, and this also because of asymmetric information faced by consumers in relation to phone operators, due to both the proliferation of promotions and rates as the provision of services under increasingly sophisticated the purely technical aspect. "

The same penalty was provided for Vodafone, which" has made a change in the overall operation of the tariff plans, called from the simplification, since August of 2008, a period of spreading ' SMS, an adverse change in economic conditions applied to consumers, "communicating to their users via SMS, characterized, in the opinion of the Authority, by" an ambiguous content and omission regarding the information on the nature of the operation in progress and to rights granted to the user, such as to prevent the customer concerned to take a subsequent conscious decision. "In the SMS is not mentioned the right of withdrawal, nor the cost 16 euro cents to the charge, or the charging units in advance for a period of 60 seconds and specifies the AGCM, the campaigns were not enough in the press and via the Internet. The Ombudsman identified the behavior of an unfair commercial practice and therefore also on Vodafone hangs a fine of 500 thousand euro.
The Authority considers that, in both cases, workers have helped to create a way of "generalized distrust", thus slowing the growth and evolution of the market.

Both Vodafone and Telecom Italy reserves the right to appeal the decision of the Authority, in an attempt to prove the correctness of his conduct, but the President believes that the analysis of the Authority AGCM is proportionate: "We felt it was an appropriate penalty. What is the appropriate maximum penalty."

Consumers, for their part, welcomed the intervention of the Ombudsman, while stressing that the sanction imposed on the two operators is in no way act as a deterrent, or compensate the citizen. The measure taken by the AGCM
demonstrates the urgent need to introduce class actions in our country because without such a tool consumers can not initiate an action for damages collective aimed at restitution of unjustly figures collected by telephone companies. The establishment of compensation collective would fit perfectly in such cases where, for such unfair trade practices, the fine is meaningful formal and does not return the thousands of users the figures collected by the operators automatically, without consumers had no opportunity to be informed and to choose .

Consumers League believes that the maximum penalty is always too little respect to the illegal business that has matured in his time: it amounts to the two telecom companies agree to pay as much lower than in the business who have already received and that are unlikely to be returned. Consumers League, also believes that the fine should € 500 000 go directly to consumers as a down payment of compensation.

For further information you can call the numbers on the Consumers League of Perugia 075.5004969 - 075.5000949 - Via Sicilia n. 55/57 (Perugia).

Consumers League of Perugia
President Mr. Damiano Marinelli

Milena Velba - Single Party 1

RC Cars: competition and rights at risk Consumer Loan

Dr. Laura Bianchi
Dr. Lara Ricci

Associations Consumers these days have joined forces to protest against the attempt to undermine the freedoms and protections achieved the insurance industry. Accused are 12.1 and 12.2 the amendments to the DDL No 1195, under discussion at the tenth Committee on Industry, Commerce and Tourism of the Senate, providing for the repeal of the prohibition of exclusivity clauses in agency relations and the right to cancel the annual contracts of insurance of deferred, as set forth by the Law n . And No. 248/2006 40/2007, represents a serious threat to freedom of professional development of insurance intermediary and freedom of choice to the user, with a serious obstacle to real competition and consumer protection.

liberalizing reforms adopted in the previous legislature, former Minister Bersani, have proved essential to begin to open the insurance market to greater competition between companies, whereas such competition has reduced prices of RC Cars 2.7 to 7% in 2008 (President's own admission of 'ANIA, Fabio Cercone).
addition to the reduction of RC Cars of the reforms has generated other positive effects such as plurimandato agency, which offers the opportunity to compare products of different companies to choose or even to change the contract at no additional cost, triggering a competitive process in the price and quality products and insurance services.

If the amendments were approved 12.1 and 12.2 in the DDL No 1195 are at risk some liberties that citizens have acquired after a long time will also have a negative impact on competition and consumer protection by depriving citizens of the benefits in recent years by the Bersani Decree. By approving these amendments, Italy goes back to the lobby and justify the powers that be in an industry where competition has often left much to be desired.
Consumers League points out that the reduction in the price level of policies is only possible in a competitive environment where the consumer has a wide choice and without conditions.

For further information you can call the numbers on the Consumers League of Perugia 075.5004969 - 075.5000949 - Via Sicilia n. 55/57 (Perugia).

Consumers League of Perugia
President Mr. Damiano Marinelli

Fischer Pro Number One 2004

Italian Post: with "Prontissimo" does not serve the current account

Dr. Laura Bianchi
Dr. Lara Ricci

"Prontissimo "The loan is designed by the Italian Post group for people without a bank account or an account BancoPosta and allows for rapidly from 1,500 to 6,000 euro, repayable easily by direct debit or postal order for a period ranging from 24 to 60 months.

order to achieve this fast loan You need to have the Italian home, aged between 18 and 70 years, and work in a dependent, independent or atypical, "Prontissimo is also payable to those who perceive their retirement.

If you decide to take advantage of "Prontissimo" you must go to one of the many post offices, scattered throughout the country, bringing with him: an identity document valid, the tax code and the last paycheck; unless you are an employee or similar, simply present the coupon if the board has retired or the latest model presented only if you exercise activities self-employed.

Interestingly, "Prontissimo" does not include any cost of investigation, there are, in fact, no payment for the communication, nor for the collection of installments, with the exception of costs relating to the payment of the installment to the newsletter if you choose this formula. No expense is also provided in the event of early repayment of the loan.

Consumers League reminds all those interested to learn more about the characteristics of "Prontissimo" 800.00.33.22 contact the hotline or the website www.poste.it, where you can view the information sheet and conditions General loan "Prontissimo, payment of which is subject to evaluation by the Compass Group SpA

For further information you can call the numbers on the Consumers League of Perugia 075.5004969 - 075.5000949 - Via Sicilia n. 55/57 (Perugia).

Consumers League of Perugia
President Mr. Damiano Marinelli

Phenobarbital Panic Disorder

Soon the e-book against the expensive books

Dr. Laura Bianchi
Dr. Lara Ricci

After controversy erupted last September because of the expensive books and the recent investigations of the Authority, the objectives main identified by the circular issued recently by the Ministry of Education, University and Research are the containment of costs for textbooks, lighter backpacks, and books downloaded from the Internet.

Undoubtedly the most sensational news that relates to your e-books, as books in electronic format could allow a substantial savings on the expenditure that families support each year to buy school books for children.
With this move they expect many changes on the choice of textbooks by teachers of the schools of all levels for the next school year: in addition to the traditional printed book, the schools will be able to choose texts can be downloaded in whole or in part from the Internet. The choices also can not be changed for at least 5 years in primary school and 6 in the secondary. It remains, however, the opportunity for publishers to integrate text with appendices updated, if necessary with regard to changes in the curriculum.

To encourage families, limiting the costs, schools can continue to use the free loan and rental of textbooks, a choice that is considered by more and more families with a view to a considerable saving .
Regarding the adoption of the texts, there are two valid dates by which schools should make public lists of books by April 15, 2009 for the classes of lower secondary school level (middle school) and by the end of May 2009 for all classes of primary school (elementary school) and secondary level (high school ). For all classes where there are pupils with visual impairment, however, the adoption must be made before March 31, 2009.

It 'important to remember that the textbooks are free for all pupils in primary schools and provides library services through the delivery of coupons, while middle school students and the first two years of high school, belonging to poor families , it is possible to request grants and reimbursements partial of the expenditure incurred for the purchase of books.

In this sense, they were assigned to the municipalities of the financial resources of € 103,291,000 for the reimbursement to families and € 154,937,070 for scholarships to students in compulsory education.
Also we learn that the circular will shortly be put in place another order, setting out the technical and technological characteristics of textbooks and spending limits for each class of secondary school and second grade.

Consumers League reports that, with regard to e-books and the Internet, you can find from now on the net, many tools to save money since there are, various sites, as Barattolibri.com, where students can exchange their books or sites like Studenti.it, which provide a detailed list of markets for used textbooks. E 'can also use sites like Testiusati.com Comprovendolibri.it who sell and even up to 20 thousand texts.

For further information you can call the numbers on the Consumers League of Perugia 075.5004969 - 075.5000949 - Via Sicilia n. 55/57 (Perugia).

Consumers League of Perugia
President Mr. Damiano Marinelli

How Can I Check For My State Of Missouri Refund

enlighten me less!

Dr. Laura Bianchi

Dr. Lara Ricci



The Consumers League of Perugia has begun a program of information to create a new culture of consumerism, critical and sensitive approach to enable families to save energy using appliances through a series useful suggestions that, besides bringing benefits to the family budget, they also help to go green. The watchword of this program is for energy efficiency. The Consumers' League campaign also aims to inform citizens about the benefits and tax benefits related to the use of energy through domestic energy bonus, the one on restructuring for efficiency efficiency of buildings and for the replacement of the boiler. The ultimate objective of the Association is to ensure that within the home is not burning unnecessary power.
Several techniques are suitable to reduce consumption of energy needed for the performance of various human activities. The savings can be achieved either by changing the processes so that there is less waste and using technology to transform energy from one form to another more efficiently. One common example is the replacement of incandescent bulbs with fluorescent ones, which emit light energy several times higher than the first equivalent energy consumed. Even in heating of buildings there are tricks, more or less simple, to save energy, such as the use of thermostatic valves, the use of programmable thermostats and other more challenging, replacing outdated fixtures, the old boilers with boilers condensation and heat insulation of the walls. According
Consumers League points out that the reduction of consumption with efficient use of household appliances, involves not only protecting the environment, but also a real reduction in bills of at least € 110 per annum in a typical household. The campaign focuses on energy conservation is aimed at modifying behavior to make more efficient energy use in the selection of suppliers of gas and electric utilities, purchase and use of appliances. To save money on your electricity bill is crucial to know how to choose the right appliances especially considering the fact that in the long run, prices do nothing but increase. To this end, it is important to read the energy label accompanying the appliances, choosing those with the lowest consumption (energy class A and A + +): Faced with a slightly higher initial cost, in fact, the appliance has a considerable savings in consumption. For example, from a refrigerator to an A class C + + you get an average savings of 60/70 € / year while the transition from Class A to the G + + this can save on the bill of the order of € 120-150 per year.
Interestingly, in this sense, it reveals the portal Topten (www.eurotopten.it), which allows you to compare the various types of appliances in our homes and offices, classifying them according to price, energy efficiency and to ' environmental impact.
remember that February 13, 2009 will return the big day, sponsored by Caterpillar, the international mobilization in the name of saving "M'illumino less" after the success of previous editions, the Cirri Solibello and ask listeners to show again that there is a huge, free and used in field of clean energy: saving. The invitation to all is to turn off lights and unnecessary electrical appliances February 13, 2009 starting at 18.
Consumers League calls on all its members to travel to its headquarters to pick up free energy efficient light bulb ... started by a small step for yourself and for nature!


For further information you can call the numbers on the Consumers League of Perugia 075.5004969 - 075.5000949 - Via Sicilia n. 55/57 (Perugia).

Perugia
Consumers League President: Mr. Damian Marinelli

Pole Vault Workout Exercise

credit fraud, a growing phenomenon

Dr. Laura Bianchi
Dr. Lara Ricci

The credit fraud or criminal activity aimed at obtaining credit or goods with the intent not to repay the financing or not to pay, are dramatically increasing and will probably continue to increase in coming years , considering that in 2007 their number has reached 22,500, an amount of EUR 112 million, with strong growth (+ 32%) compared to 2006, where the number of cases has stopped at 17,000.

about these scams, implemented both through the removal or cloning of credit cards, what with identity theft or personal data, are considered particularly strong growth in the share of fraud regarding credit cards and loans Personal . Undoubtedly the most frequently used type of fraud is on purpose loans (76.26% of the total), although those on credit cards rose by 58% in 2007 to reach 12% of the total. The most affected are men, 80% of cases, aged between 31 and 40 years, although there is a growing percentage of teens who became involved in 2007 was 27.8%; the significant fact is that unfortunately most of the defrauded victims discover they have been cheated only after a month of this fraud.

is no doubt that these scams are due to a very prudent and responsible use of electronic means of payment by consumers, it also considered the fact that the retrieval of personal data has become pretty easy by using new technologies to harness the ingenuity of the people, while the banks do not have access to sufficient means of checking identification of customers.

Credit institutions, by themselves, are facing this problem with a lag, just think about the cloning of the ATM just some banking groups have moved, by inserting a microchip inside the card while other institutions have not taken this decision, continuing to expose their customers to ATMs ready dangers of cloning.

Consumers League points out that, as a citizen to be careful and vigilant, the risk is always there because, to be cheated, simply go to shopping in a supermarket where, previously, the POS has been tampered with by criminal hackers. The danger of being drained as soon as the salary or pension paid in the current account is a real tragedy for consumers, especially in these times, when you consider the fact that in most cases, also pass many months to get refunds because of quibbles bureaucratic, antiquated procedures, disinformation and lack of interest of employees who work in the bank.

to combat such fraud action is needed at 360 °, this can enhance repression, information, laws more effective and safest technologies. Cooperation is needed between national and European law enforcement agencies (for the prevention and suppression, which goes from strength to strength), institutions (for the adoption of effective rules), consumer associations (for the information) company (for the development of ever more secure). Consumers, for their part, must strive to protect your personal data through behaviors responsible. In this regard Consumers League offers a series of tips on how to defend themselves against credit fraud :

• Do not respond to any email asking you to enter credit card information in a form or page websites (phishing ).

· Chop, to make your data unreadable, payment receipts or any document from which you can infer ( trashing ).

· Check the movements of their card when buying online, because the coordinates Payment may be intercepted by some hacker ( sniffing).

• Do not call the emergency phone numbers sent via sms to block the card, but only those made in writing by the issuer at the time of activation: the numbers via sms hide fake call center used to steal card data ( vishing ).

For further information you can call the numbers on the Consumers League of Perugia 075.5004969 - 075.5000949 - Via Sicilia n. 55/57 (Perugia).

Consumers League of Perugia
President Mr. Damiano Marinelli