Maltese mobile operators use Euro to stiff customers with 7% price increase

Link: maltaStar.com

Texting ‘Happy New Year” to family and friends at the stroke of midnight on 1 January 2008 cost us more this year – through the ‘Fair’ conversion of tariffs to the new currency, Vodafone and Go hiked their prices by 7%.
 
The two leading mobile service providers used to charge Lm0.02c for every SMS sent. But as Malta converted to Euro last Tuesday, the two companies converted the price of a text message to €0.05. This figure was calculated in line with the national Euro changeover regulations, and technically, is not illegal.

Gahhh. It’s a rounding error, you see. That’s how they were able to do it. Ridiculous.

But then, I’m always the arse in the corner banging the ‘Texting is stupidly expensive’ drum whilst most consumers simply don’t care… it’s a smart update by the mobile operators that will no doubt look good on the balance sheets next quarter.