Telstra fails to inform customers of under-delivering internet speeds

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found

Telstra failed to suitably notify almost 50,000 customers that the maximum speeds advertised in their internet plan were not attainable with the NBN infrastructure available to them.

Under ACMA rules telcos must verify maximum internet speeds and notify customers when speeds cannot meet those advertised in their plan. In these circumstances customers are entitled to move to a lower speed tier plan at a lower price or exit the contract without cost.

The ACMA has issued Telstra with a Remedial Direction

under which it must commission an independent audit of the systems it has in place to notify customers of their maximum attainable speeds.

ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said an investigation found that between September 2018 and October 2020 Telstra failed to suitably notify up to 49,092 affected customers of their under-performing internet speeds and plan options.

“The ACMA is very concerned with this conduct as these customers have been paying for a level of service they were not receiving,” Ms O’Loughlin said.

“Telstra denied these customers the opportunity to downgrade their plan or exit their contract.”

Telstra is in the process of providing remedies to the impacted customers, including providing refunds where appropriate.

Around $25 million in refunds is expected to be paid in connection with this issue, although that total comprises additional cases not included in the ACMA’s findings. Telstra is reporting regularly to the ACMA on its refunding progress.

Telstra also breached rules that do not allow a telco to charge for an NBN service unless ten working days have passed since customers were advised of their options and they have not taken up an available remedy.

Under the Remedial Direction, Telstra must also implement a range of systems, processes and reporting to assure the future compliance with the ACMA rules.

“We will take a very close look at the results of the independent audit to make sure we are satisfied that the action Telstra has taken will adequately address the flaws that led to the problems,” Ms O’Loughlin said.

If Telstra fails to comply with its Remedial Direction it could face penalties of up to $10 million. CT Bureau