Polish Sejm starts work on telecom consumer protection reforms

The Polish Sejm is beginning work on a draft amendment of the Telecommunications Act that is expected to improve consumer protection against unfair practices and abuses associated with premium rate services and enhance the public warning system in case of natural disasters.

Other proposed changes in the legislation include the introduction of a new form of signing subscriber contracts, the so-called documentary form. That means that subscribers will be able to sign a contract not only in written form at the operator's customer service centre, but also remotely via telephone, email or SMS with a qualified electronic signature.

The draft also assumes the introduction of electronic reporting by operators and making the system of penalties more flexible.