accc
Business
9:30AM Nick Broughall | This one came through Friday afternoon after beer o’clock, but it looks like that Vodafone merger with Three here in Australia is going to go ahead, after the ACCC did the fatherly thing and gave the companies its blessing. So now the two companies want to finalise everything within the next two weeks. More »
ACCC Not Going To Stop Vodafone And Three Merger
9:30AM Nick Broughall | This one came through Friday afternoon after beer o’clock, but it looks like that Vodafone merger with Three here in Australia is going to go ahead, after the ACCC did the fatherly thing and gave the companies its blessing. So now the two companies want to finalise everything within the next two weeks. More » 
Networks
7:26AM Nick Broughall | Everybody’s favourite consumer watchdog is back in the news, this time as they raise their concerns about mobile data usage and in particular excess mobile data usage fees.
The timing is impeccable, since the iPhone 3G has launched and some Telcos aren’t even trying to compete in the mobile data space.
The ACCC has sent letters asking all the Telcos to outline their strategies for educating users on the excess cost of mobile data on the networks. They’ve also cautioned users to pay particular attention to their contracts so that they can avoid a hefty charge come bill-time.
So, don’t expect anything to change in the short term – this is more the ACCC sticking its head up and telling everyone that it’s watching the situation, not an announcement for upcoming change. Which is a shame, really…
[via SMH]
More »
ACCC Says: Watch Your Back On Mobile Data
7:26AM Nick Broughall | Everybody’s favourite consumer watchdog is back in the news, this time as they raise their concerns about mobile data usage and in particular excess mobile data usage fees.
The timing is impeccable, since the iPhone 3G has launched and some Telcos aren’t even trying to compete in the mobile data space.
The ACCC has sent letters asking all the Telcos to outline their strategies for educating users on the excess cost of mobile data on the networks. They’ve also cautioned users to pay particular attention to their contracts so that they can avoid a hefty charge come bill-time.
So, don’t expect anything to change in the short term – this is more the ACCC sticking its head up and telling everyone that it’s watching the situation, not an announcement for upcoming change. Which is a shame, really…
[via SMH]
More »
Online
9:42AM Nick Broughall | In December, when we look back at everything that happened this year, we’ll remember today as the day that sanity prevailed over corporate greed. For today (well, yesterday technically, but we’re only writing about it today), eBay has withdrawn its efforts to restrict payment options for its users to PayPal and cash on collection.
It’s been a long and bloody battle, including companies like the Reserve Bank, Google and hundreds of eBay sellers all voicing their outrage that eBay could even attempt to restrict payment options in the name of “security”. In the end, the ACCC’s pre-announcement that it thought eBay were full of shit going to be anti-competitive with their Paypal-only move was enough for eBay to go back on their decision and pretend it never happened. More »
The eBay War Is Finally Over
9:42AM Nick Broughall | In December, when we look back at everything that happened this year, we’ll remember today as the day that sanity prevailed over corporate greed. For today (well, yesterday technically, but we’re only writing about it today), eBay has withdrawn its efforts to restrict payment options for its users to PayPal and cash on collection.
It’s been a long and bloody battle, including companies like the Reserve Bank, Google and hundreds of eBay sellers all voicing their outrage that eBay could even attempt to restrict payment options in the name of “security”. In the end, the ACCC’s pre-announcement that it thought eBay were full of shit going to be anti-competitive with their Paypal-only move was enough for eBay to go back on their decision and pretend it never happened. More »
Online
2:45PM Nick Broughall | After months of ridicule for one of the stupidest decisions in the history of the Internet, it appears that the online auction giant eBay may have come to its senses. Today they’ve sent users an email stating that the payment changes scheduled for July 15 have been postponed indefinitely, until the ACCC makes their final ruling.
Of course, this doesn’t rule out some future madness that might take control of eBay’s board and make them insist that Paypal is the only way forward again, but at the moment it looks like sellers are safe from compulsory double payments.
It’s also important to note that the changes already brought in, like compulsory Paypal listing (among other forms of payment) are here to stay.
I wonder if it’s too late though… how many users have already made the switch to another auction site?
[ebay]
More »
eBay Backing Down On PayPal-Only Payments?
2:45PM Nick Broughall | After months of ridicule for one of the stupidest decisions in the history of the Internet, it appears that the online auction giant eBay may have come to its senses. Today they’ve sent users an email stating that the payment changes scheduled for July 15 have been postponed indefinitely, until the ACCC makes their final ruling.
Of course, this doesn’t rule out some future madness that might take control of eBay’s board and make them insist that Paypal is the only way forward again, but at the moment it looks like sellers are safe from compulsory double payments.
It’s also important to note that the changes already brought in, like compulsory Paypal listing (among other forms of payment) are here to stay.
I wonder if it’s too late though… how many users have already made the switch to another auction site?
[ebay]
More »
Online
9:24AM Nick Broughall | Despite the ACCC’s draft ruling and eBay’s subsequent delay of their plans to force all sellers to use PayPal and cash on delivery as their only methods of payment, APC is reporting that eBay are actually cutting off seller’s options now.
Apparently, when sellers go to list their items for sale, their hit with a notice that tells them that:
“All items listed for sale on eBay.com.au on or after 17 June 2008 will be subject to the following changes:
You must offer PayPal on your listings.
Pay on pick up (ie paid for when picking up the item) can be offered in conjunction with PayPal.
No other payment methods can be added to your listing.”
The official response from eBay was that this was a mistake, caused by the fact that delaying the Paypal-only scheme is a complex matter that requires a fair amount of work.
I’m sure eBay sellers disagree. Considering eBay has stated that they’ll fight the ACCC’s decision, this definitely has an aroma of “up yours” to it.
[APCmag]
More »
eBay Hates The ACCC, You, Other Sellers; Likes Profits, Lies
9:24AM Nick Broughall | Despite the ACCC’s draft ruling and eBay’s subsequent delay of their plans to force all sellers to use PayPal and cash on delivery as their only methods of payment, APC is reporting that eBay are actually cutting off seller’s options now.
Apparently, when sellers go to list their items for sale, their hit with a notice that tells them that:
“All items listed for sale on eBay.com.au on or after 17 June 2008 will be subject to the following changes:
You must offer PayPal on your listings.
Pay on pick up (ie paid for when picking up the item) can be offered in conjunction with PayPal.
No other payment methods can be added to your listing.”
The official response from eBay was that this was a mistake, caused by the fact that delaying the Paypal-only scheme is a complex matter that requires a fair amount of work.
I’m sure eBay sellers disagree. Considering eBay has stated that they’ll fight the ACCC’s decision, this definitely has an aroma of “up yours” to it.
[APCmag]
More »
Online
8:07AM Nick Broughall | After the ACCC kicked ebay’s plans to only allow Paypal for online transactions square in the nuts last week, the auction site has delayed the cutoff date for the changeover. For a month.
They now plan to make you use Paypal only when transacting online from July 15. The ACCC may have some more to say about that, of course, but in the interim, you can still use any of the available online payment options.
From the press release:
eBay challenges yesterday’s Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission’s (ACCC) draft notice and is disappointed that the ACCC’s
current view delays the opportunity to provide consumers a more secure
way to shop on eBay.com.au with confidence.
eBay intends to
work with the ACCC and hopes to achieve a final outcome which has the
safety and security of eBay’s members as its paramount objective. eBay
will delay the removal of other payment methods from the site until
Tuesday 15 July.
It still blows me away that they’re still pushing the whole security reason as the catalyst for this move. I mean, if it were purely for the benefit of consumers, they’d cut back some of the fees involved for sellers.
Hopefully we’ll see the ACCC pull out a can of whoop-ass on eBay and this will fade away quietly in the night before July 15.
[eBay's Greed on Giz]
More »
eBay Pushes Back PayPal Only Policy, Still Pushes ‘For Your Own Good’ Argument
8:07AM Nick Broughall | After the ACCC kicked ebay’s plans to only allow Paypal for online transactions square in the nuts last week, the auction site has delayed the cutoff date for the changeover. For a month.
They now plan to make you use Paypal only when transacting online from July 15. The ACCC may have some more to say about that, of course, but in the interim, you can still use any of the available online payment options.
From the press release:
eBay challenges yesterday’s Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission’s (ACCC) draft notice and is disappointed that the ACCC’s
current view delays the opportunity to provide consumers a more secure
way to shop on eBay.com.au with confidence.
eBay intends to
work with the ACCC and hopes to achieve a final outcome which has the
safety and security of eBay’s members as its paramount objective. eBay
will delay the removal of other payment methods from the site until
Tuesday 15 July.
It still blows me away that they’re still pushing the whole security reason as the catalyst for this move. I mean, if it were purely for the benefit of consumers, they’d cut back some of the fees involved for sellers.
Hopefully we’ll see the ACCC pull out a can of whoop-ass on eBay and this will fade away quietly in the night before July 15.
[eBay's Greed on Giz]
More »
Online
11:47AM Nick Broughall | eBay’s plans to bleed sellers dry make their service “more secure” by only allowing Paypal for online payments on Australian auctions has hit a small hurdle – the ACCC.
After asking for submissions in response to eBay’s proposed move, and receiving them from the Reserve Bank, Google, and countless other institutions and ebay users, the ACCC yesterday released a draft response to ebay’s request for exemption to anti-competitive laws. The response sounds like a polite version of the phrase, “F^&k off”.
From ACCC Chairman Graeme Samuel:
“Given eBay’s position as Australia’s leading online marketplace, the
notified conduct will substantially reduce competition to supply online
payment services to users of online marketplaces more generally”.
According to Australian IT, ebay are waiting to go through the ACCC’s draft response before they comment, but hopefully it will be a meek walking away with tails tucked well and truly between their legs.
[Australian IT]
More »
ACCC Drafts Response To eBay’s PayPal Only Scheme: No Way!
11:47AM Nick Broughall | eBay’s plans to bleed sellers dry make their service “more secure” by only allowing Paypal for online payments on Australian auctions has hit a small hurdle – the ACCC.
After asking for submissions in response to eBay’s proposed move, and receiving them from the Reserve Bank, Google, and countless other institutions and ebay users, the ACCC yesterday released a draft response to ebay’s request for exemption to anti-competitive laws. The response sounds like a polite version of the phrase, “F^&k off”.
From ACCC Chairman Graeme Samuel:
“Given eBay’s position as Australia’s leading online marketplace, the
notified conduct will substantially reduce competition to supply online
payment services to users of online marketplaces more generally”.
According to Australian IT, ebay are waiting to go through the ACCC’s draft response before they comment, but hopefully it will be a meek walking away with tails tucked well and truly between their legs.
[Australian IT]
More »
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2:00PM Anna King | A Federal Court judge has labelled the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s action against Google “opaque and repetitious”, asking it to clarify its claims.
In what is touted as a world-first action, the ACCC has accused Google of not doing enough to differentiate its organic search results, ranked by relevance, from the sponsored links that appear at the top of its results page.
The lawsuit was announced in July with the consumer advocate alleging Google and The Trading Post (owned by Telstra subsidiary Sensis) contravenes the Trade Practices Act by representing an association with another business when one doesn’t exist.
The ACCC is seeking injunctions that would restrain Google from publishing such sponsored hyperlinks. Google continues to deny any misconduct and the case is adjourned till October 4. -Anna King
Google misleads on sponsored links, Australian court told [APP via AFP] More »
ACCC Takes On Google Over Deceptive Conduct
2:00PM Anna King | A Federal Court judge has labelled the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s action against Google “opaque and repetitious”, asking it to clarify its claims.
In what is touted as a world-first action, the ACCC has accused Google of not doing enough to differentiate its organic search results, ranked by relevance, from the sponsored links that appear at the top of its results page.
The lawsuit was announced in July with the consumer advocate alleging Google and The Trading Post (owned by Telstra subsidiary Sensis) contravenes the Trade Practices Act by representing an association with another business when one doesn’t exist.
The ACCC is seeking injunctions that would restrain Google from publishing such sponsored hyperlinks. Google continues to deny any misconduct and the case is adjourned till October 4. -Anna King
Google misleads on sponsored links, Australian court told [APP via AFP] More »
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12:42PM Anna King | Here’s something to brighten up your day: Telstra has formally requested permission from the competition regulator to enable price increases on 5.2 million customer phone lines! Wow, way to spread the love. Seriously, just sharing this ‘news’ makes us feel a bit dirty…
Currently, the ACCC sets the prices Telstra charges for access to its network to ensure that Telstra can’t, for example, charge competitors more than it charges its own direct retail customers.
Telstra reckons these regulations are now completely unnecessary. “Redundant,” even. You know, like customer satisfaction. -Anna King
Exemption application to reduce regulation in competitive areas [Telstra] More »
Telstra wants more money… go figure
12:42PM Anna King | Here’s something to brighten up your day: Telstra has formally requested permission from the competition regulator to enable price increases on 5.2 million customer phone lines! Wow, way to spread the love. Seriously, just sharing this ‘news’ makes us feel a bit dirty…
Currently, the ACCC sets the prices Telstra charges for access to its network to ensure that Telstra can’t, for example, charge competitors more than it charges its own direct retail customers.
Telstra reckons these regulations are now completely unnecessary. “Redundant,” even. You know, like customer satisfaction. -Anna King
Exemption application to reduce regulation in competitive areas [Telstra] More » 
