Phonecard trick costs consumers (and retailers)

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 13 March 2007 10:46

Your IT - Home IT

Consumers are being warned not to buy prepaid phone calling cards from calling card operator, Global Networks (Aust) Pty Ltd - whose owner has left the country - after of them failing to deliver their full value.

The cards are sold under by retail outlets nationwide under a variety of names: Call Plus, Call Express, Ezycom Phone Card, Ganga, Homeland Calling Card, Matrix Calling Card, MegaAfrica, MegaIndia, MegaLebanon, MegaVietnam, Oxygen Calling Card, Victory Phonecard, Virus Phonecard, Xtra Phonecard.

The warning comes from the Australian Communications and Media Authority and the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) who say that Global Networks has failed to satisfactorily respond to the TIO in relation to a number of complaints. "As Global Networks has failed to comply with the TIO Scheme, ACMA and the TIO would like to warn consumers that it is highly likely they will not be afforded the normal consumer protections if they buy cards sold by this company.

Now that the word is out, retailers who stock the cards are also likely to be significantly out of pocket.