FROM THE MINISTER FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS<br /><br /><br />DATE: Friday, July 16, 2004<br /><br /><br />TARBS WORLD TV AUSTRALIA STOPS ITS PROGRAMS<br /><br />TARBS World TV has stopped non-English language broadcasts and has been<br />placed in the hands of a receiver, the Minister for Consumer Affairs, John<br />Lenders, said today.<br /><br />Mr Lenders said the company was off the air and had stopped broadcasting all<br />programs.<br /><br />"Consumer Affairs Victoria has heard that unscrupulous people are convincing<br />TARBS subscribers to pay for a device to restore the service. Nothing will<br />restore the service as it is not a reception fault - there is no program,"<br />Mr Lenders said.<br /><br />In view of the closure of the service and the attempts to trick subscribers,<br />Consumer Affairs Victoria is issuing the following warning and advice:<br />1. Do not believe the sales pitch that a device will restore the TARBS<br />service.<br />2. Remember that you have a 10-day cooling off period in which you can<br />change your mind about something that was sold to you at your door and<br />receive a refund.<br />3. Contact Consumer Affairs Victoria on 1300 55 81 81 if you have recently<br />signed up to receive non-English language broadcasts from TARBS, feel you<br />were tricked into signing the contract, or bought a device to restore the<br />signal and can't contact the salesperson.<br />4. Do not pay any more money to TARBS even if you have only part paid your<br />subscription or if you pay for the service by instalments, either directly<br />or through your bank.<br />5. Report any direct debit payments processed after 2 July to your bank in<br />writing and request that the transaction be reversed.<br />6. Also report the transaction to the receivers, Pricewaterhouse Coopers<br />Sydney office.<br /><br />The receivers, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, are placing frequent updates on the<br />their website http://www.pwcrecovery.com and have sent subscribers<br />information in the post. If, after checking the website, TARBS subscribers<br />still need to speak to someone about the situation or obtain further advice<br />on the options for unsecured creditors, a call centre has been set up on<br />(02) 8266 0481.