The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has instituted legal proceedings in the Federal Court, Melbourne, against Tel.Pacific Limited for alleged contraventions of the Trade Practices Act 1974* in relation to the sale of its 'hello India', 'hello China', 'hello Middle East', 'UTSAV' and 'Voice Thailand' pre-paid phone cards.
The ACCC alleges Tel.Pacific represented certain phone cards would provide consumers with a specified amount of call time when that was not the case. The ACCC also alleges Tel.Pacific represented that no fees other than timed call charges would apply when in fact other fees were charged.
The ACCC alleges Tel.Pacific's conduct breaches ss. 52, 53(aa), 53(c), and 55A of the Trade Practices Act 1974. These sections prohibit companies from engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct and from making certain false or misleading representations.
The ACCC is seeking declarations that Tel.Pacific's conduct contravened the Act, injunctive relief, corrective advertising, community service orders and its costs of the proceeding.
The matter has been filed in the Federal Court's Fast Track List and is listed for a Scheduling Conference in Melbourne on 24 March 2009.