Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the ongoing issue of deceptive marketing practices by telecom operators in China, where consumers are misled into upgrading their service plans under the guise of "free upgrades," resulting in increased monthly charges [1][3][7]. Group 1: Telecom Operators' Response - The three major telecom operators in China have announced a unified approach to combat misleading marketing calls by using official numbers for promotions, aiming to help consumers identify legitimate marketing channels [1][2]. - Despite the operators' statements, complaints related to telecom service plans continue to rise, with over 65,000 complaints recorded on consumer platforms regarding issues with service charges and plan changes [2]. Group 2: Nature of Deceptive Practices - Consumers often receive calls claiming to offer lower-cost plans, but these calls frequently result in higher charges due to hidden fees or changes in service plans that are not clearly communicated [3][4]. - A common tactic involves presenting a plan that appears cheaper but actually increases the total monthly cost when additional services are included, effectively manipulating consumer perceptions [3][4]. Group 3: Structure of Marketing Practices - The telecom industry is structured into three main components: the company headquarters, retail stores, and third-party channel partners, with the latter often responsible for aggressive marketing tactics [4][5]. - External call agents, who are under pressure to meet sales targets, typically lack comprehensive knowledge of the plans they are selling, focusing solely on pushing sales rather than providing accurate information [5][6]. Group 4: Consumer Experience and Challenges - Consumers face significant challenges in canceling or downgrading plans, as the process is often complicated and time-consuming, leading to frustration and increased costs [3][6]. - The system is designed in such a way that external agents can only increase service plans, while retail staff have limited authority to reduce plans, creating a barrier for consumers seeking to lower their expenses [6][7]. Group 5: Implications for the Industry - The article suggests that the telecom operators are aware of these deceptive practices but continue to allow them to persist, effectively placing the burden of accountability on consumers [7][8]. - The ongoing issue of unsolicited marketing calls indicates that these practices are likely to continue, as the operators gamble on consumers' ability to recognize and report such tactics [8].

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Core Viewpoint - The three major telecom operators in China (China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom) have made commitments to improve transparency and simplify their service packages in response to consumer complaints and regulatory scrutiny [1][3][27] Group 1: Operator Commitments - China Mobile announced ten service commitments, including requiring explicit customer consent for service orders and sending notification messages after service completion [1] - China Telecom introduced nine measures to ensure user consent before activating telecom services and to standardize the service cancellation process [1] - China Unicom plans to significantly reduce the variety and number of service packages, ensuring clear and categorized pricing information [1] Group 2: Consumer Complaints - Consumer complaints against the three operators have been rising sharply, with complaints increasing from 3,125 in 2022 to over 13,000 in 2023, marking a 316.99% increase [3][5] - By July 2025, complaints had reached 21,148, nearing the total for the previous year, with involved amounts exceeding 23.96 million yuan [5] - China Mobile led in complaints with 15,233 cases in the first half of 2025, but also had the highest resolution rate at 93.36% [7] Group 3: Key Complaint Issues - The main issues leading to complaints include unclear pricing (21.34%), package disputes (15.11%), and poor service attitude (13.80%) [9] - Specific complaints against China Mobile highlighted issues with unclear pricing and package disputes, while China Unicom faced complaints regarding recharge disputes and service attitude [9] Group 4: Consumer Experiences - Individual cases illustrate ongoing issues, such as a consumer being misled about broadband fees and another facing unexpected charges after a supposed "free upgrade" [11][17] - Consumers have reported that marketing tactics often obscure critical information about minimum charges and contract terms, leading to confusion and dissatisfaction [20] Group 5: Complaint Statistics - Complaints involving amounts over 100 yuan account for over half of all complaints, indicating significant financial impact on consumers [23] - The cities with the highest complaint rates are Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Beijing, reflecting regional disparities in consumer experiences [25] Group 6: Industry Outlook - The operators' recent commitments to transparency and simplification are seen as positive steps, but the effectiveness of these measures in addressing long-standing issues remains to be seen [27]