The Wine Group fined $200,000 for spamming customers
The Wine Group was found guilty of breaching multiple spam and telemarketing laws by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
The group — which operates under Oak Road Estate and Top Drop, had sent several unsolicited SMS to customers who had unsubscribed from the services, made telemarketing calls to Do Not Call registers and did not adhere to requests made for the termination of telemarketing calls.
The retailer has paid $204, 240 in infringement notices after ACMA’s investigation.
ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said that beyond the intrusion on privacy, the group’s actions had the potential to put people in vulnerable circumstances at risk.
“People choose to opt-out from receiving marketing SMS and calls, sometimes for deeply personal reasons. Industry must respect those consumer choices,” she said.
Though contacted by the regulator, the group did not take the opportunity to address the issue.
As a result, the group will now face a three-year court-enforceable undertaking that mandates the appointment of an independent consultant to review its compliance with spam and telemarketing laws.
“All businesses are on notice that they must take their marketing compliance very seriously or we will take action,” said O’Loughlin.
The businesses have paid $3,549,400 in penalties for breaching spam and telemarketing laws in the past 18 months.
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