Italy antitrust body fines phone firms for call charges

Italy antitrust body fines phone firms for call charges

ROME, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Italy's antitrust watchdog has fined Telecom Italia (TLIT.MI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and 12 other telephone companies a total of 2.4 million euros after consumers were charged for calls they did not knowingly make.

Hundreds of consumers were charged for international satellite-based calls or calls to special numbers after viruses installed so-called "diallers" on their computers while they surfed the Internet, the agency said in a statement.

Telecom Italia, which supplies network services, did not have direct or immediate responsibility for the unauthorised charges but knew of the "diallers," the agency said.

It said the company, which was fined 325,000 euros, did not adopt measures to protect consumers or inform them.

Telecom Italia, Italy's largest operator, denied the agency's charges and said it would contest them before a regional court.

"Telecom Italia, once again, reiterates its complete non-involvement with this fraudulent phenomenon and strongly rejects blame attributed to it," the company said in a statement.

Other companies fined included Elsacom, CSINFO, Eutelia, Karupa, Teleunit, Voiceplus, Drin TV, AbcTrade, Telegest Italia, Aurora Uno, OT&T and Ivory Network Limited, the agency said. (Editing by Keith Weir)

REUTERS