Does Optus owe you a refund? Telco is slugged with massive $10M fine for misleading thousands of customers by charging them for 'ringtones and wallpapers' they didn't know they had
- Optus collected more than $195million by overcharging customers for services
- The company was hit with a $10million find but could pay more in refunds
- An investigation found Optus was carrier billing people for third-party services
Optus has collected more than $195million by overcharging customers for premium services they didn't know they were subscribed to.
The Australian telecommunications company was hit with a $10million fine, but may have to pay much more in refunds.
An investigation conducted by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found Optus was carrier billing for third-party services.
Optus has collected more than $195million by overcharging customers for premium services they didn't know they were subscribed to (pictured: Optus Store in Melbourne)
The consumer watchdog warned victims were entitled to refunds and many were yet to collect.
Customers accidentally subscribed to the premium services by mistake, earning Optus $195million, with $65million in commissions alone.
The telecommunications carrier failed to tell customers 'direct carrier billing' was automatically enabled on their accaounts.
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Optus received more than 600,000 complaints from customers, who were told to go back to the third parties to stop the charges.
Chairman of ACCC Rod Sims was appalled by Optus' behaviour and deemed it 'unnacceptable'.
'In many cases, Optus customers had no idea they were buying anything and certainly did not need or want the content for which they were being charged,' Mr Sims said.
The consumer watchdog warned victims were entitled to refunds and many were yet to collect (stock image)
'Optus failed to take appropriate action, choosing instead to continue to charge customers and collect commissions on these sales even after numerous complaints.'
However, Optus regulatory and public affairs vice-president Andrew Sheridan said they stopped offering the premium services in August.
Mr Sheridan apologies to customers and urges all affected to contact Optus to discuss how they can move forward.
So far the telecommunications company has paid $8 million in refunds to customers.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Optus for comment.
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