ČESKÝ TELECOM ONCE AGAIN WARNS ITS CUSTOMERS OF FRAUDULENT SALES REPRESENTATIVES
7.3.2006
Once again, ČESKÝ TELECOM would like to warn customers of the dishonest practices of fraudulent sales representatives who claim to be selling telecommunications services. There are even those who, under these pretences, attempt to get cash payments from customers. "To this day over 2000 of our customers have turned to us to describe their negative experiences with the conduct of sales representatives working for other operators as well as other dishonest individuals. They have familiarised us with the fraudulent practices that they have been using in an attempt to deceive," states Martin Žabka, the company’s Press Spokesman.
These practices may develop all the way to a fraudulent meeting with a deceived subscriber. "In our opinion, when such sales representatives abuse ČESKÝ TELECOM’s name during meetings with customers it is in violation of the regulations of commercial competition and based on the judgments of organs active in criminal proceedings, such meetings are in fact punishable by law," adds Mr. Žabka.
ČESKÝ TELECOM would like to warn all consumers to exercise caution before allowing strangers into their homes. "Every sales representative working for ČESKÝ TELECOM or its partner firms has an identification card and certificate with an employee number, and the employee’s name and photograph," says Mr. Žabka. ČESKÝ TELECOM also operates a toll-free information line on 800 130 027, through which anyone can confirm whether their visitor really works for the company, or is a fraud posing as an official company representative, before entering into negotiations.
Through these measures ČESKÝ TELECOM is trying to protect its customers and make their communication with the firm more transparent. The operator also recommends that customers ask for the identification of all visitors who claim to be working for it. The company further warns that its business representatives never ask for or take cash payments.
Samples of the identification cards and certificates can be seen at the ČESKÝ TELECOM web site.
Martin Zabka
Spokesperson
ČESKÝ TELECOM, a. s., member of the Telefónica Group is the leading telecommunications company in the Czech Republic. Through its subsidiary company Eurotel Praha, spol. s r.o., it also has a significant presence in the Czech mobile services market. Further information about the firm and the services it offers is available at www.telecom.cz, which was rated as BestWeb 2003 in the WebTop100 survey.
Signum Temporis has consistently awarded ČESKÝ TELECOM for being one of the domestic capital market's most transparent firms in terms of providing information. Based on an open vote of specialists, members of the press and a nine-member committee, ČESKÝ TELECOM placed first in 2003, just as it did in 2001.
ČESKÝ TELECOM ranks among the most prominent firms on the Czech capital market in terms of capitalization and trading volumes. Its shares are also traded on the London Stock Exchange in the form of GDRs. ČESKÝ TELECOM's credit rating is the highest a Czech corporation can receive from top international rating agencies.
About Telefónica
Telefónica is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world in terms of market capitalisation. Its activities are centered mainly on the fixed and mobile telephony businesses with broadband as the key tool for the development of both.
The company has a significant presence in 19 countries and a customer base that amounts more than 180 million accesses around the world. Telefónica has a strong presence in Latin America, where the company focuses an important part of its growth strategy.
Telefónica is a 100% listed company, with more than 1.5 million direct shareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4,921,130,397 ordinary shares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, New York, Lima, Buenos Aires and São Paulo.
