Please refer to previous post – SOLO NETWORK PTY LTD – 02 8378 7903
The person referred to in the previous post has now received a bill from Solo Network Pty Ltd ABN 19 633 950 428
A few points to clarify.
- The bill certainly looks official with an ABN.
- The services listed in the bill have not been provided.
- No written contract was ever received and consequently no formal signed agreement was entered into.
- Moreover, the victim was only ever interested in a phone service yet has been “billed” for an internet service despite making it very clear that he/she does not have any device that could make use of an internet service.
ABN (Australian Business Number)
An ABN is not difficult to apply for and having one does not mean much more than that the applicant is carrying on a business in Australia and customers do not have to apply the 47% withholding tax.
This is the entry for Solo Network Pty Ltd ABN 19633950428 https://abr.business.gov.au/ABN/View?abn=19633950428
Note that is has only been active since June 2019 and is not registered for GST.
ACN (Australian Company Number)
The ABN search confirms that Solo Network Pty Ltd is registered and the ACN is 633950428.
An ACN just means that the company has been registered. This is the entry for Solo Network Pty Ltd ACN 633950428
Note that it was registered in June 2019.
NBN
Page 3 of the bill (not shown) contains a charge for NBN Broadband & Voice yet, as at the date of this post, this company does not appear on the NBN site list of providers https://www.nbnco.com.au/residential/service-providers
WEB SITE (UPDATE OCT 2020 – This site no longer exists)
A search now produces this site-
When the previous post was written, the person on the phone provided an incorrect URL despite repeated requests to confirm it including spelling it out using a phonetic alphabet.
This site produces no useful information on a “Who.is” search, does not have an SSL certificate, is not very professional, many links do not work and the “NBN DISCLAIMER” is “interesting”.
COMMENTS
The bill “looks” genuine. It is printed professionally with genuine ABN / ACN, and various payment options like B Pay.
The only problem is that a written contract was never received nor entered into and no services were ever delivered.
Going on reports on the sites mentioned in the previous post, the next steps will likely involve demands for payment combined with threats to proceed to the courts.
It is easy to understand why people can be deceived and/or bullied into paying.
The other concerning thing is, if you search Commonwealth Government (ACCC) and NSW and QLD Fair Trading/Consumer affairs sites for Solo Network, nothing comes up.
However, if you do a search for the phone number, numerous sites have reports and warnings.
SUMMARY
Until the company appears on the NBN web site in the list of providers, I would not even engage with them.
In addition, it only has a PO Box for an address, payments are made to another company, the web site is uninspiring, the bill is for services neither provided nor in the case of the internet, needed. Most importantly, they managed to post out a bill promptly but not a contract and no formal agreement was signed.
According to the Queensland Legal Aid site, – For agreements made over the phone, a copy (of the contract) must be given to you in person, by post or electronically (if agreed), within 5 business days.