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The mobile operators in Armenia have been sending different promotional SMS messages to their customers very often recently. Panorama.am asked “Consumer Rights Protection” NGO Chairman Abgar Yeghoyan how much that violates the rights of consumers.

“It is undoubtedly a violation of consumer right since customers must consent to it by an agreement that they are willing to receive such promotional information,” Yeghoyan told Panorama.am. In his words, customers have two basic rights – to receive and choose information. “Both rights are violated in this case because you are not in a position to choose – to receive or not,” the chairman said also saying his organization has developed amendments to the draft Law on Promotion which will also regulate this problem. “This issue has not been regulated yet but the companies must develop procedures at least for themselves. In some cases, customers are children. He/she may follow the messages and create financial problems in the family or inadequate information may be sent to underage children,” NGO chairman said.

Panorama.am tried to find out the answer from mobile operators, as well. They assure that there is one solution: customers may require switching off delivery of messages at all.