The Senate Hall gives the green light to the bill converting the decree on Competition for which the government has asked for a vote of confidence, with 158 yes, 110 no and one abstention. The provision, which had stalled for two years, will return to the Chamber in the third reading for final approval.
Here are the main changes that are approved:
- POWER
From 2018 July XNUMX, the "enhanced protection" regime will be canceled in the gas and electricity markets. For the light, a is introduced "safeguard service" for families and also for small or medium-sized enterprises (those with fewer than 50 employees and less than 10 million in turnover).
– INSURANCE
The major changes concern motor liability, with insurance agents having to communicate to motorists "in a transparent and exhaustive way" all the rates of the insurance companies for which they work, so that the person can choose the most convenient one. These tariffs (the famous "premiums") will be retrieved from the official databases of IVASS - the insurance supervisory institute - and of the Ministry for Development. The customer declares in writing that he has received as much information as possible. Without this signature, the insurance contract can be cancelled. Lower rates will be guaranteed to the motorist who allows the insurance company: 1) to check the state of health of the insured vehicle; 2) to place a "black box" on the car capable of reconstructing responsibilities in the event of an accident; 3) to place a device that prevents the person from starting the engine if he has drunk too much. As regards the renewals of insurance policies, the law states that "non-life insurance policies of all types cannot be tacitly renewed when they expire".
– PHONE
Restrictions on costs for changing operator, for which companies will not be able to impose exit costs higher than the "real costs incurred" and will communicate the extent of these costs to the Communications Guarantor (AgCom). The contract – when it includes promotional offers of services or goods, such as “you subscribe and we'll give you a mobile phone too” – cannot have a “lasting period of more than 24 months”. Another squeeze on unsolicited subscription services: the consumer must give an "express and documented" consent to subscription services which are activated by the same operator as well as by third-party companies.
– TOURISM
Hotels will be free to offer customers better offers than online booking sites such as Booking or Expedia.
– PHARMACIES
Pharmacies will also be able to belong to partnerships, joint stock companies and limited liability cooperative companies; but among the members there cannot be doctors, drug manufacturers and scientific representatives. These subjects "can control, directly or indirectly, no more than 20% of the pharmacies existing in the territory of the same region or autonomous province".
