Always interesting when the ACCC gets involved.
The ACCC has begun proceedings against telcom giant Telstra under a delegation of power from Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
They allege that Telstra made false or misleading representations to consumers in relation to its third-party billing service, “Premium Direct Billing”.
Essentially, they misled consumers and charged them for content they didn’t even know they’d purchased.
Telstra has admitted that it made these representations and agreed to consent to orders in the Federal Court, including declarations that Telstra breached the ASIC Act. They also face a fine of $10 million.
Of note to consumers: Telstra has also committed to offer refunds to affected customers (number around 100,000).
According to the ACCC, “Telstra has agreed to deal directly with complaints about the PDB service and provide refunds where it is apparent that the customer had signed up to PDB content without their knowledge or consent.”
Essentially, this means Telstra will be in charge of ‘cleaning up their own mess’ so to speak.
If you think you’re eligible for a refund, here’s what to do.
1. If you have already complained about the charges to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman or to Telstra directly, they are likely to contact and offer you a refund for the charges.
2. For those not already aware of their account status, it is recommend that you check your mobile account for unauthorised charges.
3. Call Telstra or contact via the 24/7 online support.
Written by Ally Parker
