ACMA investigates telco after 19 breaches

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued Sure Telecom with a direction to comply with the Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code after being found to have breached 19 separate clauses of the code during March 2014.

According to the ACMA, 12 of the rules breached by Sure Telecom related to communication and telecommunications offers and sales practices, while another seven rules were breached related to changing suppliers. At one point, Sure Telecom was found to be making unauthorised customer transfers from other providers.

ACMA chairman Chris Chapman has described the behaviour of Sure Telecom as "completely unacceptable".

"The extent of non-compliance with some of the most important telecommunications consumer safeguards is very disturbing," he said.

Sure Telecom was issued with a direction to comply on September 10, 2014. The company has since been placed in external administration.

The ACMA is now investigating whether customers of Sure Telecom have been properly transferred to other related telecommunications providers, including Telco Service and a new provider, SoleNet, in a way that complies with the TCP code.

The same holding company controls Sure Telecom, Telco Service Holdings, and SoleNet. The sole director of Sure Telecom is also a director of those other companies.