Antitrust:ICA: penalty of 2,875,000 euros to Enegan for billing electricity and gas charges not due by users

30 giugno 2020

The Authority has concluded the proceedings filed against Enegan, by ascertaining the adoption by the abovementioned company of an incorrect practice in the context of the supply of electric power and gas services, consisting both in the billing of various cost items and cancellation penalties not payable by users, and the omission of relevant and transparent information about the nature of these charges.

In particular, in the event of a contractual withdrawal, Enegan charged the users with charges by way of recovery of the activation costs which represented, conversely, penalties for leaving the contract, which the Company only reversed on bills following repeated customer complaints.

The company also proceeded to bill users with further charges that were determined incorrectly (administrative charges), or not provided for in the contracts signed (equalising charges), or in contrast with the regulations in force (postal charges).

In other cases, Enegan unilaterally changed the economic terms and conditions of the contracts, without sending a prior notice, thus preventing its customers from withdrawal from the supply contract without charge, in case of non-acceptance of the economic changes.

The issuing of invoices inclusive of such incorrect charges generated a great number of complaints from users that Enegan considered to be well founded in most cases. In fact, in accepting the complaints, it acknowledged that the disputed charges were "not due" and caused by dysfunctions or anomalies in the billing system, up to proceed with the related reversal.

However, before the end of proceedings Enegan took important measures in favour of consumersaimed at changing its billing policy, in particular by eliminating the clauses which, in the event of users’s withdrawal, allowed the Company to bill additional charges (penalties) or revoke any discounts and benefits granted to the customer during the contractual phase.

In consideration of the seriousness of the conduct, the Authority imposed a fine of 2,875,000 euros on Enegan.

Archivio news

 

News dello studio

mag3

03/05/2024

Lotta contro le contraffazioni commesse online

Lotta contro i reati e ingerenza nei diritti fondamentali: un'autorita` pubblica nazionale incaricata della lotta contro le contraffazioni commesse online puo` accedere ai dati identificativi a

mag3

03/05/2024

Tabulati Telefonici

Secondo la legge italiana, il delitto di furto aggravato fa parte dei reati che giustificano l’acquisizione di tabulati telefonici presso il fornitore di servizi di comunicazione elettronica,

mag3

03/05/2024

Tlc: il Garante sanziona un dealer per attivazione illecita di sim e abbonamenti

Una società che gestisce due negozi di telefonia dovrà pagare una multa di 150mila euro per aver attivato illecitamente Sim, abbonamenti e addebiti per l’acquisto di cellulari

News Giuridiche

mag3

03/05/2024

Borse di studio per i tirocini svolti negli uffici giudiziari nel 2023

Stanziate risorse per 7.147.931 euro: domande