Summer is coming, and Bouygues Telecom has decided to offer you... a surprise fee for leaving your mobile plan. Because nothing motivates you anymore... leave only a small coin in the machine before leaving.
Bouygues Telecom is shaking up the market by becoming the first French operator to charge a "termination fee" of 5 euros on its no-commitment mobile plans. An unprecedented decision, discreetly announced in an email buried under holiday advice and the weather. Enough to dampen the enthusiasm of customers tempted by the competition.
Until now, canceling your mobile plan in France was simple and free, thanks to the Chatel Law. But Bouygues is breaking the rules by applying these fees from August 30, even for no-commitment offers. The only exception: customers can still leave without charge until the end of August, citing the change in general conditions. After that, it will be 5 euros adjust to take the plunge.
A strategy that stands out in an aggressively competitive landscape
The stroke of genius? Slipping the information into fifth position of an email focused on vacations. Between tips for saving money abroad and a reminder about the customer area, the 5 euro tax appears as a footnote. A calculated "oversight," according to observers, to minimize the waves.
This maneuver comes on top of a recent increase in fiber termination fees (69 euros at Bouygues). But on mobile, the operator is innovating in terms of customer friction. Competitors (Sosh, RED, Free) do not apply such fees… for now. Risk of follow-up? Possible, if the trend takes off.
However, Bouygues has been a hit so far with its €23.99 fiber box, attracting customers attracted by its price-quality ratio. A success that makes this decision to tax departures all the more surprising. As if the operator wanted to spoil its own momentum by complicating cancellation.
While new customers will have to pay to leave, existing ones remain (for the moment) in limbo. Bouygues has not clarified whether the measure will apply retroactively. But the vagueness leaves a threat hanging: what if, tomorrow, all B&You subscribers had to open their wallets to change operators?
The ball is now in the competitors' court. Will they follow suit, transforming cancellation into a new source of revenue? Or take advantage of the opportunity to attract disgruntled customers? In the meantime, customers have until August 30 to cancel for free. After that, it will be €5 to pay, in addition to the price of the SIM card.
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