Phone costs warning campaign planned

The Northern Territory Government says it will begin warning Indigenous communities about some mobile phone plans after reports of people racking up crippling amounts of debt.

Consumer Affairs Minister Syd Stirling says some people living in remote Indigenous communities are signing up for deals with direct debit from their account and are not aware of the consequences.

The department is concerned at reports some members of the communities are paying so much on bills linked to direct debit to their account they do not have enough for food or clothing.

"There's certainly a job I think on behalf of the Government to contact community stores and councils right across the Territory and ask that they promote, within their community, an understanding of what these contracts can lead to," he said.

"We'll have to look at some form of marketing campaign ourselves I think, at the Government level, to try to ensure people are aware of what they're signing up for.

"Community stores can assist, particularly community stores, because they can arrange to have those prepaids readily available."