Optus fined $178k for soft cap plans

By

Contentious campaign.

Optus has been fined $178,200 by the competition watchdog over its advertising of capped phone plans.

Optus fined $178k for soft cap plans

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said today it had issued 27 infringement notices over the Optus 'Max Cap' campaign run in July and August 2010.

The ACCC alleged the advertisements "gave the impression that a consumer could purchase these cap plans and expect to pay a maximum specified amount per month, when in fact the specified amount was the minimum the consumer would pay each month."

"If you advertise a service as a '$49 Max Cap' when $49 is the minimum that consumers have to pay, then you risk breaching the law by misleading consumers about the cost of the service," Acting ACCC chairman Peter Kell said.

The ACCC also raised concerns about the types of calls included in the plans.

Regulators were in the final stages of a planned crackdown on telco advertisements. In particular, the word 'cap' was to be banned under new rules being considered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

Got a news tip for our journalists? Share it with us anonymously here.
Copyright © iTnews.com.au . All rights reserved.
Tags:

Most Read Articles

Telstra to axe 550 roles including in enterprise business

Telstra to axe 550 roles including in enterprise business

Vocus receives government nod for TPG Telecom deal

Vocus receives government nod for TPG Telecom deal

NBN Co to "rationalise" some access technologies entirely

NBN Co to "rationalise" some access technologies entirely

Trouble anticipated as NBN Co's new high speeds come online

Trouble anticipated as NBN Co's new high speeds come online

Log In

  |  Forgot your password?