Taiwan's top three telecom companies recently launched unlimited 4G data packages for NT$499 for a limited period. This has resulted in huge crowds at telecom stores, a torrent of consumer complaints, and overworked employees. The National Communications Commission says the telecom companies are not doing anything to resolve the so called "499 Chaos" and asked company representatives to come in and explain themselves.
The signup period for unlimited NT$499 4G plans is over in two days, and a line starts forming outside this telecom store at 6 a.m. By 9 a.m., the crowd has swelled to well over 200.
If it takes them over five minutes to finish up with every customer… (The wait will be over four hours.) Yes. That's not ideal. A lot of times, you can just sign up online. Is this hunger marketing?'
Impatient customers take their frustration out on store staff, while other customers get mad at customers who lose their temper.
I feel bad for the staff. They're in a difficult position and people keep yelling at them.
Chunghwa Telecom was the first to announce an unlimited NT$499 data plan, and its competitors quickly followed suit. Telecom company staff have been forced to work overtime daily since and are exhausted.
The longer you've been a customer, the higher your penalty. What kind of logic is that? This is unreasonable. The penalty starts declining when you're halfway through your contract. So, the NT$8,000 amount being reported online is probably the highest possible penalty.
On the 14th, the National Communications Commission summoned reps from the three companies for statements. The NCC is investigating the three companies for corporate malfeasance, subpar customer service, and consumer and labor rights violations. The companies could face fines of up to NT$3 million.