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Bill wants expiration of prepaid mobile phone credits removed
A bill has been introduced to prohibit telecommunications companies in the CNMI from imposing an expiration date on unused prepaid credits of mobile phone users.
Introduced by Sen. Teresita A. Santos (R-Rota), Senate Bill 19-05 also seeks to compel telecommunications carriers to roll over the remaining balance to mobile users until the credits have been used up.
The bill said customers who purchase cellular prepaid cards are compelled to use the credits purchased within 30 days.
Failure to use the amount purchased by the expiration period will result in the forfeiture of the credits, which is a financial loss to customers, the bill states.
The bill notes that “mobile phone users who can only afford a cellular prepaid plan should not be forced to use all credits prior to the expiration date nor should they be penalized for having a remaining balance by the expiration date.”
A prepaid cellular plan allows a mobile phone user to purchase credits, depending on his or her usage or budget. For many, a prepaid plan allows them to “customize” their cellular phone use.
In contrast, a postpaid plan means a mobile phone user will pay a fixed amount on a regular basis for the cellular service. The convenience of the postpaid plan is that the mobile user need not “load” his or her mobile phone anytime it runs out of credit.
Santos, in a phone interview, said she has gotten feedback from prepaid mobile phone users who have expressed dismay over the expiration date of prepaid credits.
The lawmaker said there are no plans yet to meet with telecommunications carriers and it will be up to the specific Senate committee if such a meeting will be initiated.
SB 19-05 was one of the new bills discussed in the first regular session of the Senate of the 19th Legislature on Wednesday.
