ISelect, Primus fined Telemarketers breach Do Not Call register
Oz dollar dips on US rates news
THE communications watchdog has continued its crackdown on companies who fail to end marketing calls when asked to by customers, fining Primus and iSelect $8400 each.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority said yesterday that Vocusowned internet provider Primus and price comparison ser- vice iSelect each paid infringement notices served on them by ACMA.
Another Vocus brand, Dodo, has been formally warned for telemarketing to consumers after they had withdrawn their consent.
The action follows complaints to ACMA that each of the businesses had made several calls to numbers after the consumers involved had clearly withdrawn their consent for calls to proceed.
“Telemarketers must have the permission of the consumer involved to call a number on the Do Not Call Register,” ACMA chairwoman Nerida O’Loughlin (right) said.
“Calling a number on the register without consent breaching the rules.”
Vocus said human error was to blame for 44 calls being made to numbers on the Do Not Call Register in May and December 2017.
“As soon as this issue was discovered, we retrained the three team members to follow the correct procedures,” Matt is CBA business customer solutions boss Clive Van Horen after the deal was struck. Walsh, Dodo and iPrimus chief customer officer, said.
“We maintain our rigour around process to minimise the risk of such mistakes occurring again.”
Companies have paid a total $385,200 in infringement notices so far this year, with Foxtel last week copping a $25,200 slapdown. THE Australian dollar is nursing hefty losses after the US Federal Reserve sounded less dovish on future rate hikes than investors had expected, sending equities and risk assets into a spin.
The Aussie found support from a solid jobs report, idling at 71.12 US cents after losing 1 per cent overnight yesterday and touching a six-week trough of 70.875.
Employment rose by a surprisingly strong 37,000 in November, though all the growth was in part-time work.
The jobless rate ticked up to 5.1 per cent, but only because more people went looking for work.
“The labour market remains in good shape reflecting continued above-trend growth and supportive business conditions,” said Su-Lin Ong, head of Australian fixed income strategy at RBC Capital Markets.
“However, ample slack remains and suggests that sustained higher wages and inflation will be challenging ... Add to that the shift in the Fed and the odds are rising that the RBA may stay on the sidelines for longer.”
The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept rates at 1.5 per cent since mid-2016 and shows no inclination to change stance any time soon.