The Cyprus Consumers Association says it has received a growing number of complaints concerning television decoders following the transition to the new broadcasting system.
According to the association's legal adviser, Virginia Christou, the complaints mainly relate to price increases, technical problems, quality concerns and the additional financial burden placed on consumers.
Speaking on Politis Radio's Defteri Matia programme, Christou explained that decoders which initially sold for €18-€20 are now being sold for €35 and above.
While she acknowledged that price increases driven by demand are not illegal, she said some professionals appear to have exploited the situation both through the sale of the devices and through charges for installation and technical support.
At the same time, reports have emerged of devices overheating, prompting concerns among consumers about safety and leading some to stop using them altogether. The Consumers Association has already forwarded a related complaint to the Department of Electromechanical Services.
Particular difficulties are being experienced by elderly people, many of whom own older television sets and often require more than one decoder. In several cases, technical intervention is also needed.
Christou argued that public information about the transition was inadequate, as insufficient attention was given to potential problems involving antennas, cabling and other infrastructure.
She noted that many consumers have found themselves facing additional costs beyond the purchase of a decoder, including expenses for equipment and technical work.
“The state must provide answers to these people,” she said, while also asking: “Who will cover these costs?”
Similar complaints have been received by the Observatory for the Third Age, which says around 30 citizens, mainly elderly people, have reported problems arising from the changes to television signal reception.
The complaints focus largely on the cost of technical support, the need to purchase new decoders and, in some cases, the replacement of television sets.
Observatory president Demos Antoniou told Politis that the organisation has received reports of charges of up to €70 for brief technical visits.
He described the situation as “complete chaos” and “a real ordeal,” arguing that many of the charges reported appear excessive and amount to the exploitation of vulnerable members of the public.
