The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has requested corrections from four major mobile phone companies, etc., saying that inappropriate acts such as refusing to sell smartphones to customers who do not have a communication line contract at a mobile phone sales agent have been confirmed. I did.
In order to ensure a fair competitive environment, mobile phone contracts are required by law to separate communication charges from terminal charges.
However, when the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications investigated the distributors of NTT DoCoMo, KDDI, Softbank, and Rakuten Mobile, it was confirmed that 9.8% of the stores surveyed violated the law or were suspected of violating the law.
Specifically, they refused to sell smartphones to customers who did not subscribe to their own communication line, or offered a discount on the terminal price exceeding the upper limit of 20,000 yen on condition that they signed a communication line contract. about it.
Therefore, on the 15th, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications requested four major mobile phone companies and industry groups of distributors to make corrections.
In this, he points out that "it may significantly hinder the promotion of fair competition and the protection of the interests of users," and instruct the sales agent to prevent inappropriate acts. I am seeking.