6 ms·

Since your money is gone, I would file a complaint here: ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission): The primary enforcer of gift card laws, ensurin

Since your money is gone, I would file a complaint here: ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission): The primary enforcer of gift card laws, ensuring businesses comply with the three-year minimum expiry, clear terms, and fair practices.

parisidau 10mo ago
Absolutely, but that doesn't solve my immediate issue of my devices and accounts, but of course I will do that.
- Beijinger 10mo ago
  "Beat the Grass to Startle the Snake" (打草惊蛇) You would be better off in the US. Trust me, nothing creates bigger fuzz than complaining to financial authorities.
  - brnt 10mo ago
    From the fire into the frying pan.
- b112 10mo ago
  There are escalative methods to employ in such situations. In many legal jurisdictions, a 'demand letter' holds weight. These can be served by courier, with proof of delivery as valid. One aspect of such a letter is a hard, specific time by which you will start legal action, along with associated additional costs. You have two paths after the letter. The first is small claims court, or normal court. In many places, small claims court does not allow lawyers, and the judge will even have to explain any confusing terms. Which means the playing is leveled, including reduced or no disclosure requirements, and legal cost assignments. Where I am, it's $100 to file. The goal is to force a fix, at threat of legal consequences. I am sending an email.
- inkyoto 10mo ago
  It appears that the only way to reach Apple Customer Relations is by way of writing a formal letter to: Apple Pty Ltd, PO Box A2629, Sydney South NSW 1235
shermozle 10mo ago
Book a date with TASCAT. I haven't used the Tasmanian one but in NSW it cost me a couple tens of dollars from memory and I got a response in days. Once the case lands with the _LAWYERS_ who are expensive, it'll get resolved.
- shermozle 10mo ago
  https://tascat.tas.gov.au/ https://tascat.tas.gov.au/
- inkyoto 10mo ago
  Civil tribunals in Australia (an equivalent of small claim courts in other countries) do not involve lawyers in vast majority of cases and encourage self-representation instead. In fact, the NSW Civil Administrative Tribunal explicitly requires the Tribunal’s explicit permission for a person to be represented by somebody else, including a lawyer. But tribunal's decision is binding on the commercial entity, should it be found at fault and incurs penalties for avoidance or non-compliance with the decision.
  - cthalupa 10mo ago
    > do not involve lawyers in vast majority of cases and encourage self-representation instead. Sure, but if it's a corporation, who is going to represent the corporation besides a lawyer? In the US, some states explicitly do not allow a lawyer and require a different officer of the company represent them, but plenty do allow lawyers. If Paris is taking Apple to the tribunal, there's no single human equivalent to Paris on Apple's side. This seems like the exact sort of situation where a lawyer is approved to represent somebody else.
    - inkyoto 10mo ago
      > Sure, but if it's a corporation, who is going to represent the corporation besides a lawyer? Under common law, lawyers (in the US sense) are not required on either side in the case of handling a dispute or a small claim. Specifically in Australia, the company would have a complaint department, and the case would be dealt with by a complaint officer, not a lawyer. If the scope of the case exceeds the tribunal's authority, the case is handled in the state's district court or in a federal court for cross-jurisdictional matters. The official title of the person representing the defendant (e.g. a company) in a courtroom is the barrister, but the case documentation and legal advice are provided by a solicitor.
thelittleone 10mo ago
It's baffling that gift cards are so popular. You're essentially paying to decrease the value of your own money by restricting its use and adding an expiration date (and handing to someone as a gift as if it's a thoughtful alternative to cash). An even more egregious case is the corporate credit card. The company dictates its use exclusively for business expenses, yet pushes all the liability onto the employee. The business gets a massive, interest-free credit line with absolutely no risk. The company gets the float, and the employee gets the bill and the potential credit damage if anything goes wrong. </rant>
- plutokras 10mo ago
  I still don't get why my friends and family think gifting a less liquid form of money is better than just giving cash. Gift cards are the best proof against the existence of the homo economicus, that's for sure.
  - immibis 10mo ago
    Same reason they gift you a book instead of a can of petrol. By giving you a gift card, they're forcing you to buy something sold at a specific store chain, not to buy more petrol.
    - cosmic_cheese 10mo ago
      It can also be a way to make sure e.g. “fun money” gifts are actually spent as intended, getting around things like sense of responsibility, overbearing spouses, etc making the recipient feel obligated or pressured to spend it some other way.
  - thebytefairy 10mo ago
    Because it shows some thoughtfulness. 'I know you like x so here's money to spend on that'. Cash looks like you didn't bother.
    - Barrin92 10mo ago
dimaulupov 10mo ago
It is saturday! Guy had a trouble during non-business times and advice to make a complaint to ACCC? People who unlock accounts do not work on weekends, it is not front line of support who works all the time. What happened with giving a chance to people (which is Apple consists of) to actually do something before complaining to 4 letter agency? Also ACCC will not deal with such complaints. It says right on their home page.
- faidit 10mo ago
  I didn't see a timeline but there were indications that the author has been trying to resolve this for much longer than one day. Regulatory agencies can forward complaints to other authorities and act based on them even if they can't resolve the particular issue for the complainant.

parisidau 10mo ago

Absolutely, but that doesn't solve my immediate issue of my devices and accounts, but of course I will do that.

Beijinger 10mo ago
"Beat the Grass to Startle the Snake" (打草惊蛇) You would be better off in the US. Trust me, nothing creates bigger fuzz than complaining to financial authorities.
- brnt 10mo ago
  From the fire into the frying pan.
b112 10mo ago
There are escalative methods to employ in such situations. In many legal jurisdictions, a 'demand letter' holds weight. These can be served by courier, with proof of delivery as valid. One aspect of such a letter is a hard, specific time by which you will start legal action, along with associated additional costs. You have two paths after the letter. The first is small claims court, or normal court. In many places, small claims court does not allow lawyers, and the judge will even have to explain any confusing terms. Which means the playing is leveled, including reduced or no disclosure requirements, and legal cost assignments. Where I am, it's $100 to file. The goal is to force a fix, at threat of legal consequences. I am sending an email.
inkyoto 10mo ago
It appears that the only way to reach Apple Customer Relations is by way of writing a formal letter to: Apple Pty Ltd, PO Box A2629, Sydney South NSW 1235

shermozle 10mo ago

Book a date with TASCAT. I haven't used the Tasmanian one but in NSW it cost me a couple tens of dollars from memory and I got a response in days. Once the case lands with the _LAWYERS_ who are expensive, it'll get resolved.

shermozle 10mo ago
https://tascat.tas.gov.au/ https://tascat.tas.gov.au/
inkyoto 10mo ago
Civil tribunals in Australia (an equivalent of small claim courts in other countries) do not involve lawyers in vast majority of cases and encourage self-representation instead. In fact, the NSW Civil Administrative Tribunal explicitly requires the Tribunal’s explicit permission for a person to be represented by somebody else, including a lawyer. But tribunal's decision is binding on the commercial entity, should it be found at fault and incurs penalties for avoidance or non-compliance with the decision.
- cthalupa 10mo ago
  > do not involve lawyers in vast majority of cases and encourage self-representation instead. Sure, but if it's a corporation, who is going to represent the corporation besides a lawyer? In the US, some states explicitly do not allow a lawyer and require a different officer of the company represent them, but plenty do allow lawyers. If Paris is taking Apple to the tribunal, there's no single human equivalent to Paris on Apple's side. This seems like the exact sort of situation where a lawyer is approved to represent somebody else.
  - inkyoto 10mo ago
    > Sure, but if it's a corporation, who is going to represent the corporation besides a lawyer? Under common law, lawyers (in the US sense) are not required on either side in the case of handling a dispute or a small claim. Specifically in Australia, the company would have a complaint department, and the case would be dealt with by a complaint officer, not a lawyer. If the scope of the case exceeds the tribunal's authority, the case is handled in the state's district court or in a federal court for cross-jurisdictional matters. The official title of the person representing the defendant (e.g. a company) in a courtroom is the barrister, but the case documentation and legal advice are provided by a solicitor.

thelittleone 10mo ago

It's baffling that gift cards are so popular. You're essentially paying to decrease the value of your own money by restricting its use and adding an expiration date (and handing to someone as a gift as if it's a thoughtful alternative to cash). An even more egregious case is the corporate credit card. The company dictates its use exclusively for business expenses, yet pushes all the liability onto the employee. The business gets a massive, interest-free credit line with absolutely no risk. The company gets the float, and the employee gets the bill and the potential credit damage if anything goes wrong. </rant>

plutokras 10mo ago
I still don't get why my friends and family think gifting a less liquid form of money is better than just giving cash. Gift cards are the best proof against the existence of the homo economicus, that's for sure.
- immibis 10mo ago
  Same reason they gift you a book instead of a can of petrol. By giving you a gift card, they're forcing you to buy something sold at a specific store chain, not to buy more petrol.
  - cosmic_cheese 10mo ago
    It can also be a way to make sure e.g. “fun money” gifts are actually spent as intended, getting around things like sense of responsibility, overbearing spouses, etc making the recipient feel obligated or pressured to spend it some other way.
- thebytefairy 10mo ago
  Because it shows some thoughtfulness. 'I know you like x so here's money to spend on that'. Cash looks like you didn't bother.
  - Barrin92 10mo ago

dimaulupov 10mo ago

It is saturday! Guy had a trouble during non-business times and advice to make a complaint to ACCC? People who unlock accounts do not work on weekends, it is not front line of support who works all the time. What happened with giving a chance to people (which is Apple consists of) to actually do something before complaining to 4 letter agency? Also ACCC will not deal with such complaints. It says right on their home page.

faidit 10mo ago
I didn't see a timeline but there were indications that the author has been trying to resolve this for much longer than one day. Regulatory agencies can forward complaints to other authorities and act based on them even if they can't resolve the particular issue for the complainant.