Changes in telephone company agreements have arrived, and the fault lies with the new law. In recent weeks, notices have appeared via email or SMS from mobile operators about specific changes under the General Telecommunications Law No. 11/2022.
If this hasn’t crossed your screen yet, it is worth checking your inbox. You might have received this notice on your latest bill or months ago when the Government approved the Act and it was published in the Official State Gazette. If it wasn’t sent yet, it will be, because every telecom provider is required to adjust its contracts to comply with the law and to inform customers about these updates.
So, what exactly do these changes entail? Here is an overview.
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Changes and permanence of telephone companies’ contracts
The majority of changes under the law concern the maximum contract duration, which is set at 24 months. After this period, the contract can be renewed automatically or terminated under certain conditions. The new framework allows operators to provide one month’s notice for termination, but most customers may prefer to stay with their current plan rather than switch abruptly.
Nevertheless, the exact changes will vary by operator, and there are instances where additional items may be introduced in a sly or subtle fashion.
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In September, Movistar notified its customers by SMS or email of upcoming changes effective from October 29. Some updates touched the privacy policy and data protection, but the key note remains the shift to a maximum contract duration of 24 months with potential auto-renewals. A longer commitment is now framed within a deterministic time window rather than a perpetual agreement.
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These changes also affect customers who obtained a mobile phone at zero cost per month as part of the plan. The same applies to O2: at the end of the 24-month cycle, customers have the option to end their contract without penalty, and that remains the case for most subscribers.
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Orange alerted clients that the new law came into force and outlined changes to terms as of October 30. The notice highlights the maximum 24-month period and the possibility of extending only if the customer does not object. When it comes to the notice month allowed by law, Orange states that the reminder must be sent two days in advance to be valid.
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Vodafone has been a focal point for debate among customers regarding these changes. The operator allows termination at no extra cost and reiterates a one-month advance notice, plus the 24-month cap. In addition, the company may adjust customer terms based on the CPI index, and if explicit consent is given, changes to privacy policies may allow Vodafone Group companies to notify customers about offers.