Caps on Telecommunications Reconnection Fees in Colombia: CRC Regulations and Law 2485

For years, being a few days late on an internet or mobile phone bill payment in Colombia meant receiving an exorbitant reconnection fee. Telecommunications service providers would charge between $30,000 and $40,000 COP to reactivate a signal that, in most cases, is enabled via a simple digital command from a central system. This practice caused an unjustified financial impact on households and independent workers across the country.

To put an end to these abusive charges, the Congress of the Republic and the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) established a strict regulatory framework that drastically limits the amount operators can charge users. Through Law 2485 of 2025 and the subsequent CRC Resolution 8255 of 2026, reconnection costs fell by up to 97%, reflecting only the actual technical costs of the procedure.

In this article, we explain in detail how these legal caps work, what the maximum limits are for mobile and home internet, and what steps you should follow if your operator tries to include additional amounts on your bill.

The Legal Framework: Law 2485 of 2025 and CRC Resolution 8255 of 2026

The regulatory change began with the enactment of Law 2485 of 2025 (promulgated on July 16, 2025), which added a paragraph to Article 23 of Law 1341 of 2009 (the Information and Communications Technology Law or ICT Law). This law expressly ordered the CRC to define tariff ceilings for the suspension and reconnection of services, ensuring that the price charged to the user corresponds only to the efficient technical and operational costs incurred by the company.

In compliance with this legal mandate, the Communications Regulation Commission issued CRC Resolution 8255 of 2026 on June 16, 2026, setting the mandatory implementation deadline for July 17, 2026. As of that date, no telecommunications network and service provider (PRST) in Colombia can charge above the limits set by current regulations.

Maximum caps authorized by type of service

The CRC's central criterion for determining these caps is the distinction between automated (remote) processes and reconnections that require physical presence. Since mobile telephony and most modern fiber-optic internet connections are restored digitally and immediately, the operating costs are minimal.

Below are the maximum authorized amounts that operators can pass on to the user on their bills:

As seen in the table, the reconnection of a mobile phone service suspended for non-payment cannot exceed $285 COP. In the case of fixed home services contracted with the country's main operators, the cap is $1,232 COP, leaving a maximum margin of $10,269 COP only for smaller cable or local companies that can demonstrate higher operating costs.

What Operators CANNOT Charge You

One of the key points of CRC Resolution 8255 of 2026 is the definition of what constitutes a legitimate reconnection cost. The regulation explicitly prohibits companies from camouflaging other administrative expenses under the category of signal restoration.

When reviewing your telecommunications bill, keep the following legal prohibitions in mind:

• No to collection fees: Operators cannot add fees for collection management, commercial follow-up calls, or sending threatening letters within the reconnection charge.
• No to disguised penalties: The charge must respond exclusively to the operational cost of reactivating the service, not a fine or sanction for late payment.
• Charge conditioned on actual suspension: If you paid your bill before the service was effectively cut off or suspended in the system, the operator has no right to charge you any amount for reconnection.

Difference Between Telecommunications and Home Public Utilities

It is essential to avoid confusion between telecommunications services (internet, mobile, television) and essential home public utilities (water, sewage, electricity, and natural gas).

Law 2485 of 2025 and CRC Resolution 8255 apply exclusively to the telecommunications sector. Water, electricity, and gas services continue to be regulated under the framework of Law 142 of 1994 and the oversight of the Superintendency of Household Public Services (Superservicios).

To know how cuts, reinstalls, and reconnection fees for public utilities in Colombia work under the Superservicios framework, it is necessary to check the specific tariff formulas of each regulatory commission (CRA and CREG). Likewise, if you live in a rented property and wish to avoid disputes with your landlord over late bill payments, we recommend consulting our guide on public utility guarantees in lease agreements.

Steps to Claim before the SIC if You Are Overcharged

If you receive a bill with a reconnection charge higher than $285 COP for your mobile or $1,232 COP for your fixed home service (with a major operator), you are not obligated to accept that illegal amount. Law 1480 of 2011 (Consumer Statute) and CRC regulations protect you against these unfounded charges.

Follow this procedure to file your claim:

1. File a PQR with your operator: Submit a Petition, Complaint, or Appeal (PQR) through the official customer service channels of your telecommunications company (app, phone, or in-person location). Explicitly request the adjustment of the bill, citing CRC Resolution 8255 of 2026 and Law 2485 of 2025.
2. Keep the filing number: The operator has a legal period of 15 business days to respond to your request.
3. Go to the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC): If the operator rejects your PQR or does not respond within the legal term, you can file an appeal so that the SIC's Consumer Protection Delegation investigates the case and orders the refund of the excess money charged.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ What is the maximum I can be charged for cell phone reconnection in Colombia?

The maximum value allowed by the CRC to reconnect cell phone service is $285 COP (before VAT). Any higher amount charged on your bill violates CRC Resolution 8255 of 2026 and can be claimed with the operator.

❓ What is the legal cap for home internet and television reconnection?

For most large operators in Colombia, the reconnection of fixed internet, landline phone, and subscription TV cannot exceed $1,232 COP. Only local or smaller operators have an authorized cap of up to $10,269 COP.

❓ Does Law 2485 apply to water, energy, or gas reconnection?

No, Law 2485 of 2025 exclusively regulates telecommunications and internet services. Public utility services such as energy, water, and gas are governed by Law 142 of 1994 and the supervision of the Superservicios.

❓ Can they charge me collection or late fees for reconnection?

No, the regulation explicitly prohibits including collection management or commercial follow-up fees in the reconnection charge. The amount must only reflect the efficient operational cost of restoring the signal.

❓ Since when are these CRC reconnection caps mandatory?

The caps set in CRC Resolution 8255 went into mandatory effect throughout the Colombian territory on July 17, 2026. All operators must adjust their bills to this regulation from that date.

❓ What should I do if my operator charges me an amount higher than allowed?

You must file a Petition, Complaint, or Appeal (PQR) with your operator citing CRC Res. 8255 of 2026 to demand a bill correction. If you do not get a favorable response, you can escalate the complaint to the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC).