To promote competition in the mobile phone market, the Japan Fair Trade Commission has pointed out that a system in which distributors are evaluated based on the number of contracts for high-priced rate plans is not desirable for users to select the optimal plan. However, we are requesting inspections and improvements from major mobile phone companies.
The Japan Fair Trade Commission conducted interviews and questionnaire surveys on the status of transactions between major mobile phone companies and distributors and the actual situation of discounts on handsets, and compiled a report.
According to this, a major mobile phone company pays a commission to the sales agent according to the number of contracts and other achievements, but the agent needs such a plan because the evaluation will be lowered unless a contract for a high-priced plan is taken. There was a voice saying that it had to be sold to users who did not.
For this reason, the report points out that it is not desirable for users to choose the best plan.
In addition, considering that even though the terminal and the communication line can be discounted without purchasing or contracting with the same mobile company, the current situation is not actively informed to the users. It is said that it will lead to the retention of users and may cause a problem under the Antimonopoly Act.
Regarding these points, the Fair Trade Commission has decided to request inspections and improvements from the three major mobile phone companies.
Naohiko Komuro, Chief of the Coordination Division of the Japan Fair Trade Commission, said, "We will continue to pay close attention to trends in the mobile phone market and take strict measures against violations."