AMTA’s Members are involved in the process of upgrading the code and guidelines for mobile premium services as part of an industry effort to enhance compliance and enforcement measures.

“Our industry is equally concerned that ongoing complaints will damage our industry’s reputation and detract from the provision of a wide range of excellent premium services that comply with the law and community standards,” he said.

Mr Althaus said AMTA Members will meet next week to discuss additional and urgent measures they can adopt to assist consumers with premium mobile phone services.

“Our industry is committed to maintaining public trust and confidence in mobile phone services with robust consumer safeguards and standards,” he said.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) oversees an enforceable Code for the provision of premium mobile services. The mobile telecommunications industry led the Code’s design and implementation and is in the final stages of completing a Code review.

AMTA welcomes the recent Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) warning to consumers, particularly young people, to be careful when responding to advertisements for premium services. The ACCC said consumers should ensure they scrutinise the advertisement’s fine print to find out if there were ongoing costs from subscribing to such services.

The ACCC also updated its website for consumers on mobile premium services and recommended that anyone wanting to buy a mobile premium service to take note of all the terms and conditions to avoid unexpectedly high phone bills or rapidly depleted phone credit.

“Our industry is very concerned about the nature and level of complaints being experienced by customers and accepts our responsibility to be a key part of addressing consumer concerns.”