Points to Consider in Tariff Selection
The prevalence and usage of electronic communication services, particularly mobile services, are rapidly increasing in our country, just as they are around the world. It is observed that the variety and number of tariffs set by mobile network operators in our country for different consumer usage profiles are increasing, making it difficult for consumers to make the right tariff selection for themselves. It is evident that there cannot be a single tariff that is the best choice for all consumers in meeting mobile electronic communication needs, and that consumers must determine their tariff selections according to their own usage habits and quantities.
Consumers' needs for different types of electronic communication services on an individual basis may vary; some make more voice and/or video calls, some use short message services more, while some consumers also benefit from mobile broadband data services in addition to these. At this point, it is seen that consumers need to first determine which services they use, how frequently, and in what quantities when selecting their tariffs.
In addition, the distinction between prepaid or postpaid lines in the selected subscription is also important. While budget management for mobile electronic communication services is easier in prepaid subscriptions, usage may be restricted due to the depletion of credit loaded onto subscribers' lines, or they may not be able to benefit from tariffs offered to postpaid subscribers at attractive prices. Consumers who exceed a certain usage amount may be able to benefit from more affordable tariff options by switching to a postpaid line.
For both fixed and mobile phone services, consumers who know their needs and determine their usage profile can make more accurate decisions when selecting the tariff they will use, preventing them from paying extra for a package exceeding their usage or paying high overage fees if they choose a small package for usage that is actually higher. Information on past usage quantities obtained from pages on the service provider's website specific to the subscriber's usage information or from customer services will assist consumers in more accurately determining their usage profile and making better tariff selections in this context.
On the other hand, the conditions and durations of subscription contracts for the selected tariff or campaign are also important. In this regard, carefully reading the contract before signing and paying attention to commitment periods in cases of mutual commitments can reduce potential problems later. If a contract with a duration commitment is made, attention should be paid to the amount of penalties and sanctions that will be applied if the consumer leaves the tariff before the end of the period.
In addition, one of the issues that consumers should consider under current practices is billing periods. Operators can set their tariffs with different billing periods for different services (voice, SMS, data, etc.) and call directions (within-network, to other operators, international). Consumers paying attention to these billing periods and selecting tariffs with the most suitable billing periods according to their usage profiles can gain an advantage. In addition, under the regulations made by our Authority, mobile network operators are required to offer a tariff with second-based billing periods for both prepaid and postpaid lines, and consumers who wish can benefit from these tariffs. For consumers receiving fixed phone services, Türk Telekom offers a tariff option with second-based billing.
