Some years ago I gave evidence in a court case where an outlaw motorcycle gang member was sentenced & since then I have tried my best to keep private details such as mobile phone number & home address etc private.
Fast forward to November last year I was horrified to find a brand new 2015 phone directory to have my "silent" phone number & home address printed in there for all to see. After contacting the phone directory they explained that receive all information directly from my Telco provider & for any complaints to be made directly to them, the ACMA & also the TIO (Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman).
At first my Telco company brushed me off so to speak & offered a 4 month "free phone bill" (valued at $240) - which I found totally laughable - so I proceeded to take the matter to both the ACMA & TIO.
Barely 2 weeks later I received a call from the complaints department from my Telco company where a nice lady over the past several weeks has offered to me a very detailed explanation that yes they are at fault for release of private information & that it has unfortunately been made public since 2004!! Since then all online publications like the White Pages have had my details removed. A detailed apology has been offered by my Telco company & yes I have accepted that.
BUT the huge sticking point remains - compensation for breach of privacy and publication & release of personal/private details. The Telco company will NOT budge from their original offer of 4months free phone bill - even though the Telco company has been fined several times over the past 10years for such offences similar to mine. The ACMA & TIO are toothless tigers in regards to this point & will only act if an agreement/ settlement with all parties concerned can not come to a suitable agreement.
So here lies my question: what is a suitable monetary figure I can throw at my Telco company for such an incident? I have twice received phone calls from my Telco company wanting to close this matter asap and will receive another call regarding closing the matter in a week's time. I will not have the matter closed until I'm happy with a reasonable compensation figure.
Can any one here help or offer advice?
Thank you in advance.
Fast forward to November last year I was horrified to find a brand new 2015 phone directory to have my "silent" phone number & home address printed in there for all to see. After contacting the phone directory they explained that receive all information directly from my Telco provider & for any complaints to be made directly to them, the ACMA & also the TIO (Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman).
At first my Telco company brushed me off so to speak & offered a 4 month "free phone bill" (valued at $240) - which I found totally laughable - so I proceeded to take the matter to both the ACMA & TIO.
Barely 2 weeks later I received a call from the complaints department from my Telco company where a nice lady over the past several weeks has offered to me a very detailed explanation that yes they are at fault for release of private information & that it has unfortunately been made public since 2004!! Since then all online publications like the White Pages have had my details removed. A detailed apology has been offered by my Telco company & yes I have accepted that.
BUT the huge sticking point remains - compensation for breach of privacy and publication & release of personal/private details. The Telco company will NOT budge from their original offer of 4months free phone bill - even though the Telco company has been fined several times over the past 10years for such offences similar to mine. The ACMA & TIO are toothless tigers in regards to this point & will only act if an agreement/ settlement with all parties concerned can not come to a suitable agreement.
So here lies my question: what is a suitable monetary figure I can throw at my Telco company for such an incident? I have twice received phone calls from my Telco company wanting to close this matter asap and will receive another call regarding closing the matter in a week's time. I will not have the matter closed until I'm happy with a reasonable compensation figure.
Can any one here help or offer advice?
Thank you in advance.