Orcon settles soldier's $25k claim

In May, the Human Rights Review Tribunal ordered Orcon to pay $25,000 to soldier Brett James Taylor and train staff about the company's privacy obligations. Photo / File

Internet company Orcon has paid an army soldier $25,000 after a long-running battle over a bogus debt.

Soldier Brett Taylor hired a bailiff to visit Orcon and demand payment after a three-year fight which culminated in a successful Human Rights Review Tribunal case.

Mr Taylor's mother Shirl, a lawyer, said the company had paid up this week, much to the family's delight.

But she said Mr Taylor was also irritated the payment only came after the bailiff was hired and NZME News Service published several stories on the dispute and related issues.

"He's frustrated with Orcon that they pushed him into involving collections and the media," she said today. "It's certainly an eye-opening experience."

Ms Taylor said her son was currently deployed and he had spent $250 hiring the bailiff.

Orcon earlier said it was waiting for the tribunal to decide on costs and always intended to honour the tribunal's decision.

The tribunal offered only a guideline about when a costs decision was due - but that decision would have never affected the $25,000 compensation owed to Mr Taylor anyway.

That compensation was for a privacy breach and loss of a benefit.

After repeat enquiries, Orcon said it would pay immediately - and Ms Taylor confirmed the money came through this week.

Dispute resolution expert Alan Knowsley of Rainey Collins lawyers said tribunal payment issues should be "straightforward" and the case was a wake-up call to other companies.

The case outraged debt collector Wal Britton, who offered to pursue the payout free of charge for Mr Taylor.