‘They did not need, did not want and could not afford’: ACCC takes Optus to court for alleged ‘unconscionable sales’

The ACCC has commenced Federal Court proceedings against Optus, alleging the telco engaged in “unconscionable conduct” by selling goods and services to hundreds of consumers “that they often did not want or need, and in some cases then pursuing consumers for debts resulting from these sales”.

In a statement on Thursday morning, the watchdog alleges a number of these consumers were “experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage, such as living with a mental disability, diminished cognitive capacity or learning difficulties, being financially dependent or unemployed, or having limited financial and legal literacy,” and many of the impacted consumers were First Nations Australians from regional and remote areas or people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.