BT among vendors overhauling contract T&Cs after official review
Four vendors agree to change contract terms making offerings fairer for cloud storage users after Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) review
BT and three other vendors are the latest to amend their terms and conditions for consumer cloud storage customers following a review from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
Alongside BT, Dropbox, Google and Mozy have agreed to change their contract terms to ensure that cloud storage users are made aware of changes to their services and get a fairer deal.
The CMA published a cloud storage report in May 2016 which found that some contract terms and practices could breach consumer law. The government body has since worked with seven vendors to change their terms and conditions.
BT, Dropbox, Google and Mozy will all improve their contract terms based on individual criteria.
The amendments will be made in one or more of these areas: guaranteeing adequate notice is given before any significant changes are made to the price, service or contract; ensuring customers are given clearer information about cancelling contracts based on proposed changes, and how they can get refunded; limiting the circumstances in which companies can suspend or cancel the service; increasing transparency and notice before the company automatically renews fixed-term contracts.
Nisha Arora, senior director for consumer enforcement at the CMA, said: "People increasingly rely on cloud storage as a safe and convenient place to keep family photos, music and important documents. So it is vital that they are treated fairly and are not hit by unexpected changes to price or storage levels.
"We are pleased that these four companies have followed the three others which agreed commitments earlier this year to improve their terms and conditions, providing a better service for their customers. We want to ensure that companies treat their customers fairly and comply with consumer law. Those that don't are at risk of enforcement action."