Effective consumer safeguards important to ensure timely connection and repair
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman acknowledges the release of the Government’s Consumer Safeguards Review Part B report, published today (Tuesday 17 December 2019), to guarantee minimum standards of reliability for telecommunications services.
Ombudsman Judi Jones said “We are considering the recommendations in the report and their impact on residential consumers and small businesses. The telecommunications landscape today is vastly different to the one that gave rise to the existing service reliability rules embodied in the Customer Service Guarantee. It is important to ensure new consumer safeguards provide adequate incentives for timely connection and repair and incentivise service improvement.
“As the independent dispute resolution service for telecommunications complaints, our priority is to ensure consumers have access to reliable phone and internet services, and timely repair of fault and connection issues. We will continue working with the phone and internet service providers, Government, regulators and consumer advocates on the implementation of these recommendations and continue to report on the consumer experience.”
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NOTES TO EDITORS
For all media enquiries please contact the Media Team on 0437 548 540 or mediaenquiries@tio.com.au.
About the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman provides a free and independent dispute resolution service for consumers and small businesses who have an unresolved complaint about their phone or internet service. Consumers and small businesses should contact www.tio.com.au or 1800 062 058.
The Telecommunications Industry Sector
The Telecommunications industry regulators are the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) http://www.acma.gov.au Media enquiries to 02 9334 7719, 0434 652 063 or media@acma.gov.au and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) https://www.accc.gov.au Media enquiries to 1300 138 917, media@accc.gov.au
Government and the regulators set policy and regulations for the telecommunications sector.
Communications Alliance is the peak body for Australian communications industry http://www.commsalliance.com.au Media enquiries to Sefiani Communications, (www.sefiani.com.au) 61 431 478 558.
The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) is Australia’s peak communications consumer organisation representing individuals, small businesses and not-for-profit groups as consumers of communications products and services. http://accan.org.au/index.php Media enquiries to 0409 966 931 or 02 9288 4000.
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and extend our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples from all nations of this land.