Optus to refund data shortfalls

The ACCC has found that Optus reduced data, calls and texts inclusions offered with some of its 2015 and 2016 prepaid plans without telling affected customers.

An Optus store in Sydney

Optus has agreed to refund or compensate some customers after an investigation by the ACCC. (AAP)

Optus has agreed to refund or compensate some customers after an investigation by the competition watchdog found it had reduced data, calls and text inclusions without informing customers.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on Monday said it had accepted a court enforceable undertaking from the telco relating to three separate incidents in 2015 and 2016.

Optus had decided to reduce some of the data, calls and texts inclusions offered with some of its prepaid plans without telling affected customers.

Customers who chose Optus' prepaid plans, but who activated or recharged their SIM card after it changed allowances for calls, text and data, received less than they were promised at the time they purchased the plan, ACCC Commissioner Sarah Court said in a statement.

This was a result of changes the telco made to a number of its inclusions for customers who bought certain prepaid mobile broadband devices, prepaid mobile phones, or prepaid mobile plans.

Optus failed to ensure that these changes only applied to consumers who purchased the products after the change was introduced, the ACCC found.

The company has now agreed to credit affected customers with an amount of data, calls or texts equivalent to the amount each consumer missed out on.

Affected customers will have their accounts credited where this is possible, or can otherwise claim a refund, the ACCC says.

The undertaking also requires Optus to improve the measures it takes to ensure compliance with Australian consumer law.


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Source: AAP


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