Mobile phone network Etisalat must stop sending text messages to customers warning of a Dh25 late-payment fee, the telecoms regulator has said.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority wrote in a tweet that it had told the company to "stop sending these messages".
Etisalat sent messages and emails to some customers stating that it would charge Dh25 if the bill was not paid in full before the due date.
“There will be a Dh25 late payment fee if you fail to pay on the due date which is the 15th of every month,” a customer care agent added.
The TRA wrote on Twitter: "The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority on Wednesday November 29, as soon as it learnt about Etisalat’s announcement on “late payment” fees, sent instructions to the telecommunications company to stop sending such messages."
قامت هيئة تنظيم قطاع الاتصالات يوم الأربعاء 29 نوفمبر فور علمها بقيام @etisalat بالاعلان عن تطبيق "رسوم تأخير" عن دفع الفواتير في موعد السداد بإرسال تعليمات لشركة اتصالات لوقف إرسال هذه الرسائل 1/2
— تدرا 🇦🇪 TDRA (@tdrauae) November 30, 2017
وتقديم المستندات التي خولتها لتطبيق هذه الرسوم الجديدة وبانتظار رد الشركة الرسمي لاتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة 2/2
— تدرا 🇦🇪 TDRA (@tdrauae) November 30, 2017
It said it "asked [Etisalat] to submit documents that authorised these new charges" and was waiting on a response.
