The President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) in Poland issued a decision addressing T-Mobile's discount policy, which offered a 5 zł reduction for customers using electronic invoices and making timely payments. The problem arose when even minor delays in payment caused customers to lose this discount, regardless of whether the overdue payment was related to a different service charge on the same bill, such as for premium services. For instance, if a single bill covered multiple services—including two phone numbers, internet access, and television—and a consumer was late on one payment, the subsequent bill would add up the penalty by charging 5 zł for every affected service and phone number, resulting in significant cumulative penalties.

UOKiK highlighted that this penalty mechanism was problematic since it affected consumers even when the delay pertained to a non-subscription service, emphasizing that practices like these can be perceived as unfair sanctions imposed by businesses. Such mechanisms not only inconvenience consumers but may also deter them from utilizing additional services provided by companies like T-Mobile. UOKiK's ruling seeks to protect consumer rights and ensure fair competition among service providers by disallowing disproportionate penalties for administrative oversights.

This decision reflects a broader commitment from Polish regulatory bodies to uphold consumer rights and prevent companies from implementing punitive measures that could exploit customers' minor financial delays. Such actions by UOKiK may influence future policies in the telecommunications sector and ensure that consumer interests are prioritized, ultimately promoting fairer practices in the industry.