Didn’t pay for your TV, internet and voice services? You could be on the debtor list (and these are the consequences) – Executive Summary

If you have not paid for the contracted TV, Internet and voice services, be aware that your personal data may be included in the debtor database, in accordance with Article 126 of the Electronic Communications Law. This database is intended to identify defaulting consumers and prevent the contracting of new services until the debts are settled.

Your data will only be included in this list if the debt owed to the telecom operators is equal to or greater than €164 (20% of the national minimum wage, which is €820 in 2024) and there is no payment plan in place. Inclusion is not made if the debt is disputed, or if there is a complaint or dispute over the invoice. This information is stated in the current contracts of NOS, Vodafone and MEO (NOWO does not participate).

This information must be included in your communications contract. The company is obliged to notify at least five days in advance of the possibility of its data being included in the debtor database. During this period, the customer can settle the debt or prove that it does not exist. After inclusion, the company must inform the customer of the fact within five days. In cases of improper inclusion, the law guarantees the right to compensation.

Telecommunications companies participating in this database must provide information on debt contracts. This data is used exclusively to prevent new services from being contracted until the debt is settled. If the data is included, the customer may face difficulties in contracting new telecommunications services until the debt is settled.

However, there are exceptions:

• Protesting the refusal to pay bills due to alleged non-compliance with the contract by the operator. This applies, for example, to problems with the contracted Internet service. In the event of systematic interruptions in the service or a regular decrease in the speed of the Internet service compared to what was contracted, the customer can justify a breach of the contract by the operator;
• If the customer has disputed the debt or complained or objected to the invoices submitted.

When disconnecting your pay TV service, check if the coaxial cable (RF) connection has been reconnected. Otherwise, you may not be able to access the DTT signal, which will hinder the reception of open channels.