TPG Telecom holding us ‘to ransom’ customers tell ACCC
TPG Telecom customers have complained to the competition watchdog that they are being held “to ransom” after the internet provider told them it would get rid of their email accounts unless they agreed to transfer them to another company.
TPG, which manages hundreds of thousands of email accounts under several brands including iiNet, has upset customers by giving them just less than two months to transfer their accounts to a third party, The Messaging Company. If customers do not transfer, the accounts will be suspended and eventually deleted.
Customers are angry that they either have to change email addresses at short notice or move to a company they do not know and that has not yet disclosed its fees.
TPG Telecom’s internet customers have complained to the ACCC about being handed over to another company they don’t know. Dominic Lorrimer
Christine Moore, a French teacher and translator who has had a TPG email account for more than 20 years, has written to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, claiming that telecoms group is “holding their customers to ransom”.
Ms Moore uses her email account for professional purposes as well as dozens of websites for services such as banks and airlines, and has associated email addresses for family members.
She objects to the cost and difficulties incurred in transferring to an unknown company after two decades, and wants TPG to keep providing email services or fully disclose what fees The Messaging Company will charge.
“An email address is a fundamental part of everyday modern life and business,” Ms Moore said in her complaint, which has been seen by The Australian Financial Review. “TPG is treating it as if it is something that can be thrown away without consequence.”
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