Telecommunications service providers may sometimes offer you a free trial of other additional services for a specified period of time, e.g. free Wi-Fi access, free IDD minutes, etc. You may find such free-trial offers useful, as you may try out and better understand the features of the services before you actually subscribe to the services.

Nevertheless, you should note that such free-trial offers may only last for a short period of time (normally one to three months) after which you may need to pay for the continued use of the services if you do not cancel the services with your service providers. Different services providers may have their own arrangements on free-trial services and consumers are advised to ask more when such service is offered.

Under the Industry Code of Practice for Telecommunications Service Contracts ("Industry Code"), consumers will be better protected in respect of the arrangements on free-trial services, where.-

  1. Consumers shall have the choice whether to accept and use a free-trial service;
  2. Where the free-trial service may become chargeable after the free-trial period expires, the service provider shall explain to the customer any arrangements for opting out when the free-trial service is offered; and
  3. The opt-out arrangement must not put the customers to inconvenience and involve their incurring any cost.

You should ask the service providers how their service contracts comply with the above requirements. You should also make reference to the Industry Code, wherever necessary, so as to understand better the enhanced protection you can enjoy. Please refer to paragraph 4.4 of the Industry Code.

Remark

The Industry Code is a voluntary scheme of the industry and has been implemented by all major fixed and mobile network operators. Consumers should note that the Industry Code only applies to (a) new telecommunications service contracts provided by the participating service providers starting from July 2011; and (b) personal or residential users. Moreover, some of the protections offered by the Industry Code do not apply under certain conditions. Consumers should seek clarifications from service providers when in doubt, or where necessary, refer to the relevant parts of the Industry Code.

Please visit this page for the full text of the Industry Code and the list of service providers who have adopted it.

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