Watchdog investigates T-Mobile Polish unit over extra charges

WARSAW (Reuters) -Polish consumer watchdog UOKiK has launched proceedings against the local unit of T-Mobile after customers complained they had activated paid services on the network without realising.

Customers informed the regulator they had been charged for services such as games or video streaming provided by third parties which they had activated without knowing, for example by clicking on an advert.

"According to good practice, additional fees may only be charged on the basis of the consumer's prior and express will," the head of UOKiK, Tomasz Chrostny, said in a statement. "The operator should use an authentication mechanism to prevent accidental activation."

The proceedings could result in a penalty of 10% of annual revenue, UOKiK said.

T-Mobile in Poland said it was preparing solutions regarding the service "which will eliminate any doubts".

"We will inform about details in the near future," it said.

(Reporting by Alan Charlish; additional reporting by Anna Koper; editing by Jason Neely and David Evans)