MISLEADING SALES PRACTICES NOT WELCOME IN THE TELCO SECTOR

Sydney, 1 August 2019 – Communications Alliance condemned the behaviour of a small number of service providers found to be engaged in misleading sales practices, as reported today by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO).

“It is very disappointing when a provider breaches consumer trust, and the rules it is required to observe,” said John Stanton, CEO of telecommunications industry body Communications Alliance.

“We are working with Communications Compliance and the ACMA to provide education on supplier requirements across the sector, and will always work with industry members who are looking to improve. We were pleased to see that a provider highlighted in the TIO’s report had revised its practices.”

“However, unfortunately in such a large marketplace – according to the TIO’s 2018 annual report, there were 1,600 providers – small and often transient players sometimes attempt to operate outside the rules.

“Providers like that are not welcome in our Industry. Communications Alliance members are working with the ACMA to act against such behaviour and prevent those providers from continuing to operate,” continued Stanton.

“Additionally, the strengthened Industry Code – the Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code - comes into effect today, including vigorous new rules on selling practices, which will help the ACMA enforce against the practices raised in the TIO’s Spotlight.”