tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post2872179982865937375..comments2024-03-20T22:57:03.923+00:00Comments on Dean Bubley's Disruptive Wireless: Handset subsidy.... or loan?Dean Bubleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719150957239368264noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-12823523625391374102009-06-10T23:01:24.592+01:002009-06-10T23:01:24.592+01:00As a very very belated follow-up to this, I've...As a very very belated follow-up to this, I've finally got around to asking the OFT (I originally asked the FSA, who told me it wasn't their bag).<br /><br />The OFT were very helpful, and sent back a detailed e-mail explaining under which circumstances mobile phone contracts were (at least in part) and weren't caught by the Consumer Credit Act.<br /><br />I've sent back a couple of further queries, one requesting permission to reproduce the content of the e-mail, the other to ask if mobile phone resellers and operators should, in line with other forms of consumer credit regulated by the Act, be obliged to detail what proportion of the monthly charges constitute a loan repayment, and how much effective interest is paid on it (as well as, potentially, allow the subsidy to be paid up-front, thus avoid any form of credit).<br /><br />I'll post a link when I get some deeper answers that I can put up somewhere.Mohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14746288077683677723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-21587323052875000802007-12-20T14:57:00.000+00:002007-12-20T14:57:00.000+00:00Ah, judging from the syntax, this will be the same...Ah, judging from the syntax, this will be the same Mr Anonymous who seems quite happy that mobile operators mislead their investors with regard to subscriber numbers.<BR/><BR/>I'm sure your sense of financial ethics extends to adequate disclosure of other relevant metrics.<BR/><BR/>You'll notice that the whole post is positioned as a question, and not a rhetorical one - you're quite right, I don't know how this works, which is why I asked. <BR/><BR/>You don't get the whole 2-way nature thing about blogs, do you? (Yes, that one was rhetorical).<BR/><BR/>Any future content-free comments of this type will be deleted. Happy Xmas.Dean Bubleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05719150957239368264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-5045538678190918922007-12-20T12:15:00.000+00:002007-12-20T12:15:00.000+00:00Do any of you actually work in the mobile industry...Do any of you actually work in the mobile industry?<BR/><BR/>Wonderful display of ignorance above.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-83483398173034409542007-12-20T11:52:00.000+00:002007-12-20T11:52:00.000+00:00I wonder how the subsidies are report on the opera...I wonder how the subsidies are report on the operators balance sheet? If they are not funding it out of cashflow are they using the money market or similar mechanism to fund the subsidy. If they are then it is possible that the current credit crunch could make the subsidisation of mobile phones too costly.<BR/><BR/>Which could lead either to reduction in the amount of subsidisation provided by the operators or even the complete removal of subsidisation.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01590822202131654298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-61511296890197282342007-12-19T23:05:00.000+00:002007-12-19T23:05:00.000+00:00As a followup… I've asked the FSA what their offic...As a followup… I've asked the FSA what their official position on this is. I'm not expecting much of a helpful response, in all honesty, but I have a few MPs and MSPs I could ask.<BR/><BR/>On balance, I think if they <I>are</I> loans in all but name, consumers are very likely being shafted, and given the various debt crises that have been erupting over the past couple of years, it seems to be something that the Powers That Be would be keen to avoid.Mohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086174607811617514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-75711509438181556212007-12-19T22:58:00.000+00:002007-12-19T22:58:00.000+00:00Very good point!Very good point!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17500930.post-39920497551409010622007-12-19T21:18:00.000+00:002007-12-19T21:18:00.000+00:00More importantly, if it does constitute financing,...More importantly, if it does constitute financing, why isn't it governed by the Consumer Credit Act and regulated by the FSA?Mohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086174607811617514noreply@blogger.com