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Synergy faces $40 million bill after overcharging customers
Synergy will refund $40 million after overcharging 170,000 customers since 2009 due to payment system failures that allowed payments to closed accounts, the CEO said.
- On Friday, Synergy admitted it overcharged about 170,000 customers $40 million since 2009 and acknowledged the need to refund affected customers.
- Synergy said its systems allowed payments via direct debit, BPAY, Australia Post and Centrepay to continue into closed accounts, with the WA Economic Regulation Authority finding 2,845 Centrepay instances and $2.29 million taken from Centrelink payments.
- Close to 174,000 customers are owed money via direct debit, BPAY and Australia Post, with more than 50 per cent under $100 and around 1,000 customers owed more than $500.
- Synergy chief executive Kurt Baker apologised unreservedly and said Synergy will reimburse all affected customers, warning refunds will take several months and the matter has been reported to the Economic Regulation Authority.
- Following July revelations, a comprehensive review found the breach particularly concerning for vulnerable Centrelink customers, while critics say 'Twice now this year, it's been proved that that trust is misplaced'.
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12 Articles
12 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left3Leaning Right4Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution45% Right
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources lean Right
45% Right
L 33%
C 22%
R 45%
Factuality
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