Dutch telecom provider KPN has reversed its decision to automatically charge older mobile subscribers an extra €1 per month for a network security feature.
The price change was introduced after the company rolled out Extra Veilig Mobiel, a tool that automatically blocks malware and phishing websites at the network level before they open on a phone.
Objections over mandatory fee
While newer plans included the security service at no additional charge, customers with contracts signed before late February 2026 saw their monthly rates go up by €1 starting in June.
Consumer rights group Consumentenbond criticized the move, arguing that while cybersecurity features are useful, telecom operators should not force paid add-ons onto existing accounts without explicit consent.
How to claim a refund
Following the pushback, KPN now lets affected customers opt out of the fee and claim a refund for the extra charges added to recent bills.
Subscribers who want to remove the charge must log into their online account and submit a dispute through KPN’s objection page.
Opting out will permanently remove the €1 surcharge from future invoices, but it also completely turns off the network-level malware filter for that mobile number.
