But hello Yallo!? Not a “lifetime discount”

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What attractive offers! Network operators are trying to drive customers away from each other with aggressive special offers. Sometimes there are price reductions of 70 percent valid for life. Who would not want that?

But hello Yallo! The low-cost Sunrise subsidiary made a cheeky offer. Internet, cable TV and Wi-Fi are available for CHF 14.95. Of course, Yallo wants to win new customers with this. “The discount continues as long as you are a customer with this product,” Yallo promises in the ad.

Spicy: Customers were recently informed that Yallo prices will be increased. Because of inflation. And for a franc a month. The subscription fee in question is 15.95 francs. Readers also get in touch with Blick. They reported that they will soon be spending 25.95 francs a month on cell phone subscriptions – a Black Friday offer of 24.95 francs.

Inflation is supported

“As a result of the rising costs caused by inflation, we will increase all our mobile and internet subscription prices. This will increase the price of your monthly subscription by one franc from July 1, 2023,” says the Blick-owned Yallo customer letter.

It doesn’t sound very pleasant. And yet. If you get a subscription at 16, stick to Yallo, and turn 86, the contract fix will cost you 840 francs. That’s not all: It certainly shouldn’t be the last increase. Yallo reports: “We adjust terms and conditions in addition to inflation. On this basis, service prices can be adjusted once a year to reflect inflation. The national consumer price index acts as a reference.»

“Limits on deception”

Complaints have already been received by consumer protection in connection with ads with a special lifetime price. “It’s unsatisfactory for Yallo to take the view that monthly fees will go up and the discount will stay the same,” says Daniela Mauchle, 37, chief legal officer of the Consumer Protection Foundation. But if you look closely, Yallo is talking about a lifetime discount, not a price that stays the same for life.

“Such an approach is misleading in our opinion. A court has to decide whether this is really a violation of the law against unfair competition (UWG), » says Mauchle. And: “We advise consumers not to be swayed by terrible advertising claims, for example, to compare offers and subscription prices on Junglekompass.ch.”

«Customers no longer understand the world»

Telecom expert Ralph Beyeler (44) of the Moneyland comparison service knows: “Yallo, as well as providers like Swisscom’s subsidiary Wingo, have been writing about lifetime discounts for some time now. In the past, the term lifetime reward was used.” For the customer, the difference is hardly noticeable.

«If providers advertise a lifetime discount, many customers will find that this price is valid forever. If the price suddenly goes up, they no longer understand the world,” says Beyeler. “Personally, I find the increase unfair.” His advice: “If you compare, you can easily avoid price increases due to inflation.”

«Lifetime discount will not change»

What does Yallo say? “We have several promotions that offer lifetime discounts on the list price,” says spokesperson Séverine de Rougemont. Customers will benefit from a significantly lower tariff over the long term. The recurring monthly fee will be increased by one franc for all Yallo mobile and Internet subscriptions. “The discount given during a promotion remains unchanged and is deducted from the new monthly base rate,” he explains.

Then comes the crux of the matter: “The lifetime discount for customers means that the lifetime discount won’t change if the base monthly fee for the subscription increases.”

Source :Blick