Representing Australian Independent Psychics and Content Providers






Online Psychic Alliance has been formed to represent independent phone psychics in the Australian communications industry.


PleaseNote:

As of 1st Oct 2019, all 1900 lines in Australia have been closed down.


Our aim is to lobby the Australian government for representation on the councils and forums that are directly connected to the employment of independent content providers and psychics in the premium 1900 psychic line industry concerning issues covered in the Australian Telecommunications Act.

We know that live telephone psychic operators have experienced many issues concerning employment, hours of work, pay rates etc. when signing contractual agreements with live psychic line organizations.

The same is also known about 1900 premium content providers. Issues to do with genuine representation of the business needs of independent psychics by 1900 service providers and carriers can sometimes seem difficult to negotiate when you don't know your rights or have real representation in the industry forums etc.

This is why independent psychics need to collectively lobby for greater control of our own work conditions and business environments.

If you are an independent psychic or independent psychic content provider working in the psychic line industry and have experienced any of the following conditions, we want to know:

 


Independent Online Psychics – Chat Lines, Clairvoyants, Psychic Services

Have you experienced any of these things?

  • Psychic Line Contractual agreements that do not allow you to work for other psychic organizations. Comment: As a sub-contractor you are under no obligation to work for only one company


  • Pay decreases or hourly rate decreases often without prior notification and not complying with your original contractual agreement


  • Bullying or poor management practices regarding your work on the live psychic lines


  • Unreasonable requests to purchase information technology, or online psychic reading infrastructure


  • Unreasonable requests by 1900 Psychic Service Providers or Content Providers that require you to engage your client to stay online and maximise business profits.
    Comment:
    Unnecessarily engaging clients can lead to bad debt being passed on by Telstra to Service and Content providers. This in turn may lead to reduced per-minute call rates being passed on to Independent Sub-Contracting Psychics.


  • Being guided what to say in your readings and how to conduct them, particularly after Service Providers/Content Providers have listened into client conversations.
    Comment: This may be in breach of the Australian Privacy Act unless clients have been officially notified that calls are being recorded and have agreed to these conditions


  • Unreasonable requests to respond to Content or Service Providers with administration queries out of your normal working hours and that intrude on the quiet enjoyment of your home life

  • Any other concerns you might have about your work conditions which are relevant to your place of work

    Independent 1900 Premium Content Providers

    Have you experienced any of these things?

  • Changes to your psychic line contractual agreements without prior notification that may hinder the efficient operation of your business

  • Premium service providers failing to convey 1900 Psychic Line regulations and codes that you must meet when starting a 1900 Psychic Reading business.


  • Premium Service Providers not representing your business in a way that provides fair, equitable business trading under Australian Law

  • Premium Service Providers failing to use best business practices with the Privacy Act and sharing your business information with colleagues, business partners or business competitors.


  • Service Providers not allowing you to access your client phone numbers and statistics, referring to the Australian Privacy Act as a way of withholding important and relevant business data. Comment: The Australian Privacy Act covers Content Providers and Service Providers equally, and should not be a reason for Service Providers to withhold information from Independent Content Providers.


  • Premium Service Providers failing to adequately provide genuine communication about your business issues and not responding to your business requests in writing etc.


  • Premium Service Providers failing to pass on information regarding breach of TISSC codes or any changes or alterations to TISSC codes.


  • Premium Service Providers refusing to represent your business issues as required under the licensing requirements of the ACMA


  • Experiencing any type of unsatisfactory or unsavory business practices from Service Providers or Carriers that may include bullying or threatening behavior etc. making it difficult for your business to operate efficiently.


  • Anti competitive industry behavior or any direct conflict of interest concerns you have in relation to a Premium Service Provider representing your best business interests. This includes 1900 Premium Service Providers who also own 1900 Content Psychic businesses.

WMC Global takes over from TISSC

A lot of people are confused by the recent changes to Telstra’s compliance arrangements regarding the contracting of WMC Global to take over from TISSC.

The latest advice from ACMA is that although WMC Global will undertake the monitoring of advertising and services, Telstra advises that it will still be using the TISSC Code of Practice, which will be enforced via Telstra's agreements with service providers.

WMC Global will monitor advertisements across the internet, newspapers, magazines and television and will test services both on an ad hoc basis and where non-compliance with advertising requirements is found.

The ACMA further advises that where non-compliance is detected, services will be temporarily or permanently suspended until the issue is rectified.

Consumers will be able to complain directly to Telstra about the advertising, message content and billing for 190 services. Unresolved complaints about the billing of 190 services will continue to be resolved by the TIO. The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) may investigate complaints about misleading or deceptive conduct associated with the advertising of 190 premium services under the Consumer and Competition Act 2010.