Dodo and iPrimus fined $2.5m for lying about NBN speed claims

Dodo

Dodo and iPrimus (part of the Vocus Group) must pay fines of $15.M and $1M, respectively, for lying to consumers about their NBN broadband speed claims.

The ACCC versus Dodo and iPrimus case goes back to March 2018 to April 2019. They admitted their ‘typical evening speed’ claims were lies because they did not use an appropriate testing methodology.

Backed by smick, saturated marketing, the Vocus group gained 5.2% (436,000) market share of consumer NBN services.

Despite clear ACCC guidance on making broadband speed claims, Vocus Group used a flawed methodology that was inconsistent with that guidance and misled consumers about the speeds of its plans

ACCC Chair Rod Sims

GadgetGuy’s take

Smoke and fire – Dodo and iPrimus put the focus on Vocus. The ACCC has had issues with Dodo/iPrimus/Vocus going back to 2002. What for? Lying again to win business over its competitors. It seems the directors of the day were not afraid to lie. Dodo was back in court several more times. What for? Lying.

Vocus bought Dodo and iPrimus in 2016, adding its M2, Commander and Engin brands to the mix. Of course, the recidivist behaviour reoccurred on Vocus’s watch.

Product review Australia gives

  • Dodo 2/5 from 1844 reviews – 1278 were one star (here)
  • iPrimus 2/5 from 1628 reviews – 1085 were one star (here)
  • Commander gets 1.3/5 from 270 reviews – 246 were one star (here) – its commercial phone operation geta 1/5 – all negative.
  • Vocus gets 3/5, but only 36 reviews – 16 were one star (here)
  •  By comparison, there are many CSPs like Aussie Broadband, scoring 4.6/5 with over 5908 reviews (here).

So let’s upgrade that fire warning to a bloody big, out-of-control bushfire.