Fed: Telcos make up over half of Do Not Call complaints
15 Jan 2009 1:01 PM
CANBERRA, Jan 15 AAP - Telecommunications companies are to blame for more than half the complaints about unwanted and unsolicited phone calls.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) says 55 per cent of complaints it receives about the Do Not Call Register stem from calls promoting phone plans and other related services.
The figure was a matter of obvious concern, ACMA chairman Chris Chapman said.
Consumers registered their telephone numbers because they wanted to reduce the number of telemarketing calls they received, he said.
"It is unacceptable to see that some telcos are not respecting that decision."
Businesses had ample time to adjust to the new laws and should now have "robust" measures in place.
During the past year, the ACMA issued four infringement notices to telcos including a $147,400 penalty to Dodo Australia.
Settlements had been reached with Dodo, Astron Communications and People Telecom over breaches of the register while formal warnings were given to Global Telelinks, Ezycall and m8 Telecom.
Mr Chapman conceded overseas call centres and complex reselling arrangements had led to an increase in non-compliance.
