Consumer Protection Foundation criticizes Billag

The Foundation for Consumer Protection (SKS) is making serious accusations against Billag. According to a report in the current edition of the Sonntagszeitung newspaper, SKS director Sara Stalder said that the collection agency for television and radio fees was "scaremongering and intimidation". The criticism was prompted by a recent circular from Billag to households that pay radio but not television fees. The letter points out that since last September, households equipped with a cell phone or computer for television reception via the Internet have also had to pay TV fees. However, the condition is that the owner must have registered with an Internet TV company.
Stalder is quoted in the Sonntagszeitung as saying that people are being "duped" by the complicated letter. Consumers with little technical knowledge could get the impression that they are now liable to pay a fee even without registering with an Internet TV operator. Billag rejects the accusations. The letter was written in an understandable way.