[ad_1]
The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) informed operators on Thursday (9) that cutting off service to delinquent customers is prohibited by court decision while the pandemic lasts.
The agency follows a decision of the 12th São Paulo Federal Civil Court, which also determined that the operators restore, within 24 hours, the services that have already been cut due to non-compliance. The decision is valid for landline and cell phone operators throughout Brazil and for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to telephony, piped gas service cannot be canceled due to lack of payments. The decision also applies to energy and water services in the state of São Paulo, which also cannot be interrupted.
Judge Natália Luchini responded to the request for injunction from the Consumer Protection Institute (Idecon) against Anatel, the National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) and the Regulatory Agency for Sanitation and Energy of the state of São Paulo ( Arsesp) and prohibited and interrupted services.
Luchini understood that, due to social isolation, many people are unable to work and therefore have an income, making it difficult to pay for essential expenses.
In the decision, the judge also said that many people do not have access or do not know how to make payments over the Internet, and traveling to bank branches to pay debts is not recommended.
“There is no doubt that the supply of electricity, water, telephone and gas does not need to be explained in terms of its essential nature, including the suspension of these services may aggravate the pandemic or even make measures such as social distance unfeasible, with the Competent bodies responsible for guaranteeing supply in general, given the situation the country is going through ”.
[ad_2]
