Armenia’s State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC) today fined ArmenTel 30 million AMD for applying a differentiated rate schedule for its internet users without prior notification.

 The SCEPC issued the fine after reviewing a complaint lodged by the Alias Company.

Alias workers had subscribed to ArmenTel’s “Exclusive Business” plan as advertised on the ArmenTel website. When they got their internet bill, the workers were surprised to see that they had been charged at a much higher rate.

ArmenTel had justified the higher rate by arguing that it was a special promotion and subscribers were obliged to fill out additional paperwork, which the Alias staffers failed to do.

In effect, the SCEPC found that ArmenTel has misled the Alias subscribers and had not informed them of the difference between the two plans.