E-Plus Blocks Rebtel Access Numbers In Germany September 16th, 2009  

Dear Rebtel friends,

Once again an operator has decided to block our local numbers for calling. Thanks to all users who were quick to inform us about the problem.

This time it’s the third largest operator in Germany E-Plus. We have contacted E-Plus and asked for an explanation on why they are stopping their own customers from calling a standard local number.

However the reason why E-Plus wants to stop Rebtel is of course the very high margins on their international calling. But it’s a short-sighted way of stopping any threats to their diminishing margins. Their actions violate not only the EU-regulations but are also a breach of E-Plus customers’ contracts. With their rates, lockins and hidden charges they can be 1000% more expensive than Rebtel. Please feel free to compare our rates to their rates..

If you are as upset as we are about this please consider sending an e-mail to the E-Plus support.

To summarize, we are sorry this happened. It shouldn’t have to. Enough said is that it has happened many times before but with over 3 million users Rebtel is currently not being blocked by any operator in the world. Except E-Plus. The reason why we are never blocked is something E-Plus is about to experience when their users start contacting them.

Please follow the latest developments and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section on this post or follow us on Twitter.

Lastly, if you would be so kind, please help us raise awareness about this problem by digging this post on Digg, retweeting it or perhaps posting it to your Facebook profile.

Thank you and take care!

More:
http://www.eplus.de/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-Plus

Update: The person that handle these types of anti-competitive issues in the European Commission is called Viviane Reding. Viviane is the Commissioner for Information Society and Media and we should all make her aware of what is going on. If you have a few minutes to spare, please send her an email on viviane.reding@ec.europa.eu and let her know how you feel.

By: alexander drewniak Tags: , , , ,

  • Nicolas
    I agree with Klauswoerner. That could be in you interest to write such template mails that we can send to our carrier.
  • Klauswoerner
    Dear Rebtel team,
    it would be great and considerate if you would draft some standard email template for both the EU commission and E-Plus in order to makes this easier for your customers and get a big impact.
    Other than that what is your policy regarding refunding unused REBTEL credit. Unfortunately your service does not provide any value once my provider is blocking your numbers and moving to another provider is hopefully something you do not expect in the first place.
    Thanks
  • i liked the article ...,
  • Erica
    I just wrote to Miss. Reding. But maybe it would me helpfull to have a contact to a german gouvernanc-member?
  • warren
    hey, what is going on with this topic. Am I the only one not been able to use rebtel from an eplus line. Does any body know what I can do?
  • warren
    Here is a very rough translation of the answer I got from the eplus service chat;

    Ladies and Gentlemen,


    Thank you for your use of our online consulting. Enclosed you will receive the counseling as requested minutes of the meeting held.



    22. September 2009



    Your advisor 14:00:33: Hello and welcome to your chat BASE! My name is Sarah Brown, how can I help you?

    14:00:39: hello

    14:01:03: it is about the closure of a landline number

    14:01:12: I can not get on base

    14:01:27 Your consultant: phone number to which is it?

    14:01:48: 030896778202

    14:02:51 Your consultant: this number is not blocked by us, it is possible that the provider number of calls from the mobile sector is blocked

    14:03:17: Offered

    14:03:21:??

    14:03:51: that I have a very different answer than I got nearly 1 hour in the shop ...

    14:04:25 Your advisor: I can not, unfortunately for them, if the shop has a different answer. We can not lock fixed network number

    14:04:50: and there hießt that "eplus has blocked this number because we are in negotiation with the provider

    14:05:22: I understand, but unfortunately the shop only has given me to continue what has been said, the hotline of the shop

    14:05:31 My agent: it knows the shop probably more than we

    14:05:49 Your advisor: I can not unlock but the landline number

    14:05:56 My agent: Is there anything else I can do for them?

    14:06:07: yes

    14:06:52: Please, to whom I can contact about that? in this question.

    14:07:33 Your advisor: they have yet to get answer one. We can not unlock this landline number as they will get from anyone else auskunft one

    14:07:55: To you it is clear that this is a violation of our contract

    14:08:24: I would be happy if the problem could be resolved. That need not be. I pay my bills, please give me the agreed performance.

    14:08:51 My agent: it is not a violation of the treaty if the provider of the landline number, it does not wish to be called from the mobile sector

    14:09:22 Your advisor: a violation of the treaty, it would be if we block their phone numbers, but not if another provider which locks anrufe

    14:09:40 My agent: Is there anything else I can do for them?

    14:10:50: I can assure him that the provider has not blocked. It can clearly heßt when I call to prepay the transfers are not permitted

    14:10:56 My agent: when we make complaints because they alleged breach should contact their shop

    14:11:40: but with him, unfortunately I'm not continue in this topic. then I had to know myself how I come to help

    14:11:57: I wish them and their team manager ein schönen tag

    14:12:08 Your advisor: thank you, I wish them a pleasant day

    what to do next???
  • SC
    Oh my goodness not again ! Disgustingly greedy service providers, ughh !
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