Australia’s telecoms regulator ordered one countries biggest telcos, Telstra to comply with consumer protection rules after an investigation found that IT systems incorrectly allowed it to take credit management action against customers on a financial hardship arrangement.
In a statement, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) said Telstra’s legacy IT systems prevented or delayed a status update for the affected customers.Under Australia’s operator code, the operator must freeze credit management activity while a financial hardship arrangement is being discussed or established.
ACMA said further non-compliance could lead to penalties of up to AUD250,000.ACMA acting chair Creina Chapman says financial hardship arrangements are a key consumer protection tool to support people experiencing financial difficulties.“
Telstra must continue addressing the long-standing issues as a matter of urgency so that its systems can deliver on customer safeguards,” she said.
Chapman also warned that “Protecting telco customers experiencing financial hardship is an ACMA compliance priority and all telcos can expect greater scrutiny of their dealings in these matters.”
According to an Australian tech news publication between August 2019 and April 2022, 70 customers were affected, with 22 having their service restricted, four having their service suspended, five having their service disconnected, and two being referred to outside collection agencies. The others received letters or calls requesting payment.
Chapman says telcos must support their customers, especially those in difficult situations, because of the pressures created by rising living costs and the COVID-19 epidemic.
Everything from work and education to health and government services now depends on telco services such as phone and internet, so customers can be seriously affected if they are briefly suspended or disconnected.
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