Optus sold hundreds of vulnerable consumers – including many First Nations customers – phones and plans they could not afford as well as overpriced accessories, the Australian consumer watchdog has alleged in a federal court case launched on Thursday. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleged the telco had engaged in unconscionable conduct, in contravention of the Australian Consumer Law, related to its dealing with 429 customers – 363 of which were served at Optus’s Darwin stores. There were 42 consumers from the Optus Mount Isa store and 24 individual customers from various store locations across Australia.
