Convenience meals manufacturer has paid penalties
Convenience meals manufacturer, Easymeals by Flavour Makers Pty Ltd, has paid penalties totalling $13,600 for making telemarketing calls to numbers on the Do Not Call Register and calling outside of permitted hours.
An Australian Communications and Media Authority investigation found that Easymeals’ national call centre in Brisbane made calls outside of the calling times allowed by the Telemarketing Industry Standard. The calls were made to States with a time zone up to two hours behind Brisbane, which meant they were received earlier than the 9 am start time permitted on weekdays and Saturdays.
The investigation also found that Easymeals’ call centres made telemarketing calls to some consumers on the register after they had asked to opt-out of further calls—a breach of the Do Not Call Register Act.
‘Consumers should not be interrupted at unreasonable hours simply because a telemarketer has failed to take Australia’s different time zones into account,’ said the ACMA’s acting Chairman, Richard Bean. ‘This case demonstrates that telemarketers need to take their obligations under the Telemarketing Industry Standard and the Do Not Call Register Act seriously.’
Since the ACMA’s investigation, Easymeals has taken a number of steps aimed at ensuring compliance.
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