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http://www.theage.com.au/business/markets/chasing-the-churners-is-a-challenge-20150906-gjg9nr.html
This is terrible....I understand perhaps no one can talk about any specifics of the case. But what a shocking attack on free speech...and the ability to honestly review and discuss a service/product.
Since that introduction, a number of victims have touched base. Their stories are too numerous to detail in this space, and many have been told on Aussie Stock Forums (ASF).
Alas, ASF is now fighting a defamation action from the Centre in the Queensland Supreme Court.
"Their business model is almost the same in every instance," said a contact from ASF.
"Hire professional telemarketers to cold-call those who don't have a clue about the market, charge an up-front fee, then sign them up with an affiliated broker and take a big cut of the brokerage on each trade."
Aussie Stock Forums (ASF) is an online venue for chatting about the sharemarket. It is also where victims share their tales of woe.
It is an indictment on free speech in this country, and on the defamation laws that people can be prosecuted for venting their frustrations and warning others about boiler rooms.
The Australian Shareholder Centre is by no means alone. There are many others who carry on with impunity churning unsuspecting clients, and some use the defamation laws to muzzle debate.
"The industry needs a massive shake-up but nobody seems to care," said the ASF contact.
This is terrible....I understand perhaps no one can talk about any specifics of the case. But what a shocking attack on free speech...and the ability to honestly review and discuss a service/product.