Getaway Escapes charges reach $325,000

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    Travel agent Getaway Escapes Pty Limited (in liquidation) and its director, Joanne Day have been ordered to pay pecuniary penalties of $325,000 by the Federal Court, for breaches of the Do Not Call Register Act and the Telemarketing and Research Industry Standard.

    ACMA acting Chairman, Richard Bean warned “These penalties serve as a reminder that unlawful telemarketing can have serious consequences.’

    “Businesses should never make telemarketing calls to numbers on Do Not Call Register unless they have consumer consent, and must always ensure that their (the caller’s) number can be displayed on the consumer’s phone.”

    In March 2016, the Australian Communications and Media Authority filed proceedings in Brisbane against the company and director, following an investigation into complaints from the public.

    Although neither respondent defended the proceedings, Day did make submissions on the penalties to be paid by her.

    The Federal Court ordered Getaway Escapes to pay penalties of $150,000 for 5,293 telemarketing calls made to numbers on the Do Not Call Register, and a further $150,000 for making telemarketing calls between July 2013 and 18 March 2014 without displaying the number of the caller, in breach of the Industry Standard.

    The Court also granted an injunction restraining Day from operating any business involved in making unsolicited telemarketing calls for five years, without first notifying the ACMA.

    Costs were awarded against the respondents.

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