Optus, one of the big phone companies in Australia, is in a bit of hot water. They’ve just copped a massive $100 million fine after a court case with the ACCC. That’s the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the guys who keep businesses in check.
Turns out, Optus was charging over 100,000 customers for stuff they probably didn’t even know they were paying for. We’re talking things like ringtones, games, and even horoscopes between 2015 and 2019. It was all happening through something called “Optus Pay For It.” Lots of folks got signed up without really giving the thumbs up.
Gina Cass-Gottlieb, who heads up the ACCC, didn’t mince words. She said Optus basically took advantage of their customers by signing them up for services they didn’t ask for. She also mentioned that the size of the fine shows how seriously they’re taking this. It’s actually the second-biggest fine the ACCC has ever handed out!
The good news is that some of that money is going back to the people who were affected. If you were an Optus customer back then, it might be worth digging out some old bills to see if you were charged for anything dodgy. The ACCC is urging everyone to check. They want people to claim a refund if they’re owed money.
Optus has said sorry, admitting they messed up. They promise to do better when it comes to looking after their customers. According to a spokesperson, they accept what the court said. They will make sure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.
So, what does this all mean? Well, it’s a big warning to all the other phone companies and anyone else selling digital stuff. They need to be upfront and get proper permission before charging people. Companies generally need to play fair. With more and more services bundled into our phone plans, the people in charge are really pushing for companies to be more responsible. They want companies to protect their customers.
