Join Our First Campaign - Cooling Off Periods for Mobile Phones and Internet

Source: www.conveyancingsydney.net.au ©

Did you know there are cooling off periods that apply when you take out, via the telephone, a new contract for internet service or for a mobile phone? We didn't...

The first inkling we ever got of it was a few months back when one of our team was talked into a new mobile contract with Telstra based on entirely wrong information. Attempting to get out of the contract when the incorrect info came to light, our teammember was shocked to be told "you're lucky; you just came in within the cooling off period".

What cooling off period? We never knew one existed, were never told we were entitled to one, nor were we told how long the period lasted.

The same experience occurred again, more recently, when the same teammember asked if there was a cooling off period for a new internet contract with Telstra. Again, we had to ask the question; we weren't told up front. (There was and, again, it was about to expire).

As part of our kick-off campaign - for better, clearer customer service standards in the Telco industry (among the most complained about by Australian consumers) - we've begun looking into the whole issue of cooling off periods for telco services.

And we've been shocked to learn that not a single major Telco provider has a simple, clear statement on its website about cooling off periods: whether they exist, for what products, how long they last, etc.

Worse still, none of the Federal, State of Territory consumer-related agencies we've looked into provides, on its website, a clear statement on the issue either. (Unhelpfully, it turns out, cooling-off periods for consumers are a matter or State/Territory law, and what is available varies, depending on where in the country you reside).

In coming weeks, we'll be putting together, on the home page of this site, a simple, one-stop shop guide on the subject of Cooling Off Periods in the Telco Industry. Hopefully, you'll never need look elsewhere, or be confused about your rights and obligations in this area, again.

In the meantime, we're putting out the call for you to Join Our Campaign on this one.

What's your experience been with Cooling Off Periods when you've recently taken out internet or mobile phone contracts?

Were you told you were entitled to one? Were you told you weren't? Did you have to ask or was it explained upfront? Have you ever found out you've missed such a cooling off period? How long were you told the cooling off period lasted?

Post your comments and experiences under this story.

Stay tuned for more on the subject from us soon.

And in the meantime, if you're taking out a new Telco contract for a mobile or internet, make sure you ask if you're entitled to a cooling off period, and how long it lasts.