Distributors to tip-off Nokia in Beijing

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-08-04 14:47

Over 280 mobile phone distributors from 15 provinces and cities across the country are reportedly coming to Beijing Tuesday to disclose Nokia's "illegal acts", according to the Beijing Morning Post.

Distributors to tip-off Nokia in Beijing

In this file photo, a customer looks at a mobile phone display at Nokia's flagship store in Helsinki August 16, 2007. Over 280 mobile phone distributors from 15 provinces and cities across the country are reportedly coming to Beijing Tuesday to disclose Nokia's "illegal acts". [Agencies]

Distributor representatives have reportedly submitted three letters to the State Administration of Taxation (SAT), the State Administration For Industry and Commerce (SAIC) and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) - China's top economic planning body.

The letters claim the world's biggest mobile phone maker monopolizes price, evades tax and infringes consumers' rights in China.

An Attorney Opinion Letter was sent to Nokia but distributors didn't get any response, according to a distributor surnamed Dong. "So we will publicize related evidence today," Dong said.

Dong added if they couldn't get answers from Nokia, they would file a lawsuit, or even unite together to bar Nokia from selling mobile phones.

"Distributors in our province have reached an agreement about that, and all of us have signed our names on it," Dong said.

Nokia distributes its mobile phones by dividing different regions in China and fines franchisers if they sell Nokia phones in other regions. Franchisers are allegedly extremely dissatisfied with the overcharged fines and also claim no receipts are provided for the fines.