Optus fined $100m for deceiving customers

Mobile operator Optus has been fined $100 million after it was found to have pressured Indigenous customers in remote regions to buy phone products they did not need.

Optus admitted to engaging in “unconscionable conduct” after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission launched court action against the company.

“In many instances, the consumers did not want or need, could not use or could not afford what they were sold, and in some cases consumers were pursued for debts resulting from these sales,” the commission said in a statement.

Over 400 customers were across 16 stores nationwide were pressured into buying phones between August 2019 and July 2023.

The ACCC said Optus had deceived Indigenous Australians in regional, remote and very remote areas.

Affected customers are now likely to receive compensation.