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Telecommunications Class Action

Is yours one of the thousands of Australian businesses that has fallen prey to an equipment rental scam in recent years? If so, you are not alone. Attwood Marshall has hundreds of clients in the same situation as you. We have already launched one class action in the Federal Court and are looking to commence further similar proceedings in coming months.

Our clients report the same basic pattern. A sales person from a telecommunications firm approaches a prospective business customer with the claim that it can slash the business’ monthly telephone bill. The sales person also tells the customer that as part of the deal he or she will throw in, at no extra cost, new business equipment, usually a phone system. The sales person offers the equipment as part of a “bundled package” or, alternatively, describes the equipment as “free.” The customers sign a contract. The customers have been led to believe that they are signing an agreement with the telecommunications firm and that the contract is for call costs. They assume that the minimum monthly fee they pay under that agreement is for the call costs.

Unfortunately, the documents the customer has signed do not reflect what the sales person has told them. The customer has not in fact entered into a contract with a telecommunications company. What they have signed up to instead is a 5 year equipment rental contract with a finance company. In most cases, the customer has “agreed” to pay up to $100,000 (over 5 years) for a phone system usually worth no more than a few hundred dollars.

If you have been the victim of this sort of scam, you may be able to join our current Federal Court class action. Or we might be able to link you with other clients to commence new class proceedings.

Simply complete the Questionnaire below and one of our lawyers will contact you immediately. You should contact us even if you already have legal representation. Our lawyers will be able to explain the benefits of joining forces with others via class action litigation.

Section One: Your Contact Details
Company/Business Name:
A.C.N/A.B.N:
Contact Name:
Contact Email:
Contact Phone Number:
Contact Fax Number:
Postal Address of Business
DX (if any):
How were you referred to Attwood Marshall Lawyers?
Section Two: Lease/Rental/Finance Contract
Name of Lease/Rental/Finance Company:
Name of Lessee on contract:
Trading As:
Address of Lessee
Contact Name:
Contact Phone:
Contact Fax:
Contact Email:
Location of goods/contract:
Business Type:
Guarantors (name all):
Address of Guarantors:
Goods listed on Contract:
Goods listed on contract but did not receive:
Term of Rental:
Rental Instalment amount: $
Date of Contract
(clear date)
Salesperson
Section Three: Agreement with Telecommunications Company
Name of Telecommunications Company:
Existing Telecommunications Carrier:
Name of Agreement
Trading As:
Address of person listed:
Contact Name:
Contact Phone:
Contact Fax:
Contact Email:
Location of goods/contract:
Goods listed on contract:
Goods not listed on contract but received:
Goods listed on contract but not received:
Term of Rental:
Rental Instalment Amount: $
Date of Contract
(clear date)
Salesperson:
Section Four: General
How did you hear about the telecommunications company?
Was you salesperson the same as your contact at the telecommunications company?
If no, please explain
What were/are the telecommunication company`s telephone/contact details:
Has the telecommunication company ceased trading?
If yes, when?
How did you find out they ceased trading?
Have you returned any/all of the equipment?
If yes, please explain?
Have you stopped payments to the lease/rental/finance company?
If yes, when?
Has the lease/rental/finance company terminated your contract?
Has the lease/rental/finance company served you with a Statement of Claim?
If yes, what date were your served/received the document and have you sought legal advice in relation to it?
Has your business suffered from this matter?
If yes, please explain?