Yahoo Finance Does Vodafone owe you a refund?
If you’re a Vodafone customer, you could expect a phone call or email from them soon offering you money.
The major telco will be getting in touch with and offering refunds to affected customers after admitting that it made false or misleading representations about its third-party direct carrier billing (DCB) service.
The service was automatically enabled for Vodafone customers, meaning purchases of digital content created by third parties – such as ringtones or games – were as easy to make in just one or two clicks.
These purchases were then charged to customers’ next phone bill.
Optus was found doing the same thing, and copped a $10 million fine earlier this year from the Federal Court, now owing customers refunds of up to $6.7 million.
Following an ACCC investigation, Vodafone admitted it likely breached the ASIC Act from as far back as 2015 by charging customers for content they hadn’t agreed to buy, or bought unknowingly.
ACCC chair Rod Sims said thousands of Vodafone customers had been charged for these purchases made without their knowledge.
“Other companies should note, money made by misleading consumers will need to be repaid,” he warned.
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On top of offering refunds to customers where appropriate, Vodafone will also be reviewing complaints and deal with these customers in good faith, according to the ACCC.
Vodafone has been phasing out DCB subscriptions since mid-2015 and cancelled arrangements with some third-party providers off the back of increasing customer complaints about the service in 2014 and 2015.
But customers were still being charged for one-off purchases until March 2018.
If you’re not sure whether you’re owed a refund, check your Vodafone mobile account.
If you see any unauthorised charges, get in touch with Vodafone on 1300 650 410.
Yahoo Finance has contacted Vodafone for comment.
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