Tiger cops $110,000 fine for email spam: Five ways to make sure your business avoids a penalty

Tiger Airways has been fined $110,000 for spamming customers because the budget airline failed to unsubscribe customers from marketing emails.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority imposed the fine and an enforceable undertaking on Tiger Airways after finding the airline kept spamming customers despite the customers’ repeated requests to be removed from mailing lists as well as several warnings from the watchdog.

ACMA deputy chairman Richard Bean said the investigation into Tiger Airways was one of a number of investigations in which ACMA found businesses had allowed faulty unsubscribe facilities to continue, in spite of repeated customer complaints.

“This action is another reminder to businesses that that they should pay attention to what their customers are saying, test their email unsubscribe facilities regularly, and not simply set and forget them,” Bean said in a statement.

“Marketing to customers who have unsubscribed is not only against the law, it causes consumer frustration and that ultimately damages a business’s reputation.”

Tiger Airways has now committed to ensuring its unsubscribe facilities are functional and effective.

ACMA warned further breaches could result in Federal Court action.

Vanessa Regan, spokesperson for Tiger Airways, said the airline “deeply regretted” that some customers were upset and inconvenienced by the spam.

“Tiger has reviewed and re-designed our processes to ensure regulatory compliance and is committed to working with an independent consultant to assess and make improvements to all aspects of the electronic direct marketing process where appropriate,” she said.

Virgin Blue was fined $110,000 last year by ACMA for spamming customers.

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