Displaying items by tag: TIO

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman says effective consumer safeguards are important to ensure timely connection and repairs for telecommunications consumers, as it begins its consideration of the Federal Government’s review of safeguards for teleco services.

The Australian Government has come under fire from the Institute of Public Affairs over its response to the digital platforms inquiry, with the institute condemning the Government for a “disgraceful attack” on free speech.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has instituted Federal Court proceedings against telecommunications provider Superfone for alleged false or misleading representations, and for alleged breaches of laws designed to protect consumers from issues arising from unsolicited telemarketing sales.

Communications operator MNF Group has created new senior executive roles and filled them with existing members of its management team.

Complaints about internet services replaced complaints over mobile services as the most complained about service type in the last financial year, according to the latest Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman report.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has taken action against Sydney-based telco Infinity Telecom for breaching industry rules requiring them to have mandatory information for consumers available on their website.

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) has welcomed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s decision to take enforcement action against telco BVivid over misleading telemarketing practices about transitioning to the NBN.

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman's latest report describes the misleading behaviour of "a small number of retail service providers" and explains what consumers and businesses can do to protect themselves.

The Communications Alliance, Australia’s peak body for the telecommunications industry, has condemned the behaviour of a small number of service providers found to be engaged in “misleading sales practices”.

Mobile services have fared best with a low rate of consumer complaints in stark contrast to voice only services delivered by telcos over the NBN which had the highest rate of complaints over a six month period last year, according to a report by the telecommunications regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman has launched a new brand, logo and website with Ombudsman Judi Jones saying the new website makes it easier for consumers and small businesses to make a new complaint, update an existing complaint, understand what is involved and the next steps in the process.

The latest report by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman showing significant falls in complaints volumes about landline, mobile and Internet services does not represent “job done” by any means, according to the  telecommunications industry lobby group, Communications Alliance.

Telecommunications consumer interest lobby group ACCAN says the overall fall in complaints to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman over the last six months indicates that consumers are broadly benefitting from action taken by the telco industry regulator – but lamented the fact that “tens of thousands of consumers have experienced unreliable telco services”.

Complaints by Australian telecommunications users about landline, mobile and Internet services fell in the last six months of 2018 by 27.7% to 60,998 compared to the corresponding six month period in 2017.

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman is no fool – it's setting up a specialist team to handle small business complaints, effective 1 April.

Australia’s telecommunications industry is pushing for stricter rules around credit assessment and selling practices to provide greater protection for Australian communications consumers.

Australian consumers are reporting having their bank accounts drained by fraudsters and their email inboxes accessed in the latest scam involving theft of mobile numbers, according to the newly published report on fraud from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.

The rate of consumer complaints in Australia about telecommunications services fell further in the most recent quarter – generating the best results seen since 2015.

Telecommunications industry lobby group Communications Alliance has cautioned against Australian Government recommendations that could threaten the TIO’s independence by placing the ombudsman under the control of ACMA but welcomed the Government’s decision to “retain” the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.

The Australian Government has made recommendations for further protections for telco consumers, including a strengthening of the role of the Telecommunications Ombudsman.