(Reuters) -Australia’s competition watchdog is taking Singapore Telecommunications-owned Optus to court, alleging it engaged in misconduct while selling mobile phones and plans, particularly to vulnerable customers.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on Thursday alleged that Optus’ conduct “disproportionately” impacted consumers and its practices were, in a way, backed by remuneration for sales staff.
“In some cases, we allege Optus took steps to protect its own financial interests by clawing back commissions to sales staff but failed to remediate affected consumers,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.
The case against Optus involves allegations that the telecommunications provider acted unconscionably in its dealing with around 429 customers by engaging in inappropriate sales conduct.
The ACCC is seeking declarations and orders for penalties, non-party consumer redress, publication orders, a compliance program and costs.
The alleged conduct involves 363 customers from two Optus Darwin stores, 42 customers from the Optus Mount Isa store and 24 individual customers from store locations across Australia.
An Optus spokesperson said the firm was reviewing the claims made by the regulator and would respond in more detail in due course.
(Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D’Silva and Alan Barona)
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