05.12.2024 10:40
An important decision that affects millions of consumers has been made by the court. The 3rd Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation ruled that the fees charged by the Turkcell GSM operator under the name of 'service fee' during credit card bill payments from subscribers are unlawful.
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CHP Bursa Deputy and PM Member Orhan Sarıbal announced at a press conference held in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) that the Court of Cassation has made a decision in favor of consumers regarding communication fee payments.
"IT AFFECTS MILLIONS OF CONSUMERS"
Speaking at the press conference held in TBMM and evaluating the issue, Sarıbal stated, "An application that has caused consumer grievances in our country for years has come to an end with a judicial decision. The 3rd Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation ruled that the fees collected by the Turkcell GSM operator from subscribers under the name of 'service fee' during credit card bill payments are unlawful. This decision is an important ruling that affects millions of consumers. The fee, which was charged at 1.5 TL from each subscriber at the time the lawsuit was filed, has now reached 5 TL. The data we have shows that the operator company has generated a monthly income of up to 200 million TL due to this application. The Court of Cassation has ruled that the collection of such service fees is contrary to the law. Despite this decision, Turkcell cannot continue to collect this fee from millions of its subscribers," he said.
"REFUNDS ARE NECESSARY"
Sarıbal expressed that the fees charged should be refunded, stating, "Millions of consumers across Turkey have been subjected to a kind of robbery scheme for years. Today, the decision of the 3rd Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation, which puts an end to this unlawful practice, is a victory won against this organized attack on the hard-earned money of the people. In this period where the public is economically suffocated and struggling to make ends meet, the exorbitant profits of GSM operators and the unlawful practices of large companies are unacceptable. We advocate for the necessary legal arrangements to be made for the refund of the fees charged to our citizens who have been harmed by this practice, for the relevant companies to be held accountable, and for the unjust profits to be recovered. I would like to thank the Consumers Protection Association, which raises the voice of consumers, and everyone who has contributed to this struggle," he said.
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