The telephone company Movistar has applied the 7 percent increase in the IGIC to the July invoices, although its consumption corresponds to June. This tax increase came into effect on July 1st, so Movistar should have applied it from the following month, that is, from August. This is the understanding of the Canary Islands Consumers Association (Auscan), which has sent a letter to the President of the Government, Paulino Rivero, to denounce this situation.
"We request that you address the telephone companies and demand compliance with the Law, applying the IGIC correctly and maintaining the exemption for consumption from the months of May and June, prior to the entry into force of the approved regulation, so that they immediately return the amount illegally charged to the current accounts of users," they state in the letter.
Canary Islands customers who have a mobile phone contract with Movistar have already received their invoices with 7 percent IGIC. In this receipt, Telefónica explains that "as of July 1, telecommunications services are subject to the general rate of 7 percent IGIC, in accordance with the regulations approved by the Parliament of the Canary Islands."
But consumers do not understand why this increase has already been applied to them, when the July invoice reflects June consumption, when the increase in this tax had not yet come into effect.
In addition, this same situation is repeated in customers with a fixed line contract with Movistar. In this case, the application of 7 percent IGIC would be correct, but only in the case of terminal rental, which is paid one month in advance. However, Movistar is also applying this increase to June consumption expenses.
Movistar has defended this tax collection and has assured La Voz that, for this, they rely on article 18 of Law 20/1991, where the accrual of IGIC for telecommunications services is regulated.
In this sense, the company points out that "from July 1, 7 percent of the IGIC will be applied", despite the fact that "the telephone consumption was made previously".
