“闹”了才能降！《人民日报》点名运营商：手机套餐少些套路

Core Viewpoint - The article criticizes telecom operators for making it easy to upgrade but difficult to downgrade mobile plans, highlighting issues such as "hidden traps" in contracts and the preferential treatment of new users over existing ones [1][4][17]. Group 1: User Experience Issues - Users find it straightforward to upgrade their plans through proactive marketing from operators, but face significant hurdles when attempting to downgrade, often being redirected to physical stores or encountering unhelpful customer service [3][5][6]. - Existing users often feel disadvantaged as attractive low-cost plans are typically available only to new customers, leading to frustration and abandonment of attempts to switch [4][5][7]. Group 2: Contractual Tactics - Operators frequently use "contract bundling" as a strategy to retain high-paying customers, offering incentives like free phones while binding users to expensive plans through long-term contracts [8]. - Users may face obstacles when trying to switch back to lower-cost plans, as operators cite contract obligations or claim that the desired plans are no longer available [9][18]. Group 3: Misleading Advertising - There are numerous complaints regarding misleading advertisements for low-cost plans, where promised data allowances are often significantly lower than advertised, and many come with hidden fees or conditions [10][12][13]. - Users report discrepancies between the plans they sign up for and what they actually receive, including unexpected charges and limitations on data usage [15]. Group 4: Regulatory and Consumer Response - Despite repeated criticisms from media and regulatory bodies, the issue of difficult downgrades persists, largely due to operators' focus on maintaining revenue in a stagnant user growth environment [17][18]. - Legal experts suggest that regulatory bodies should conduct special investigations into common complaints, and consumers should be vigilant about promotional language in telecom offers [18].