Auction Rules

A number is scheduled for auction once a valid nomination is received for that number. The auction will be held on the next scheduled auction date that is more than four working days (Victorian calendar) from when the nomination is received. This allows clients reasonable time to make arrangements to bid for a number without causing too much delay to those who are interested in having an auction occur as quickly as possible.

Bidding

All bids must be submitted electronically using the auction website. The bidding period on the auction day will be from 11am to 4pm, and may run over successive working days. No bidding is permitted or possible prior to any auction opening on the allotted day. All bids received during an auction are final, and can not be withdrawn. By submitting a bid, the user is bound to make a payment for that amount to ACMA should the bid be successful.

Bidding will be open for at least one day. Bidding will close at 4pm on the first day if no bid is received after 3pm. If a bid is received after 3pm, the auction will resume at 11am on the next working day and will only close 'on the next hour' that is at least one full hour after the last bid was made or will conclude for the day, again at 4pm. 

For example, if a bid is made at 11.05am, the auction will end no earlier than 1pm the same day. If, on the second day or any subsequent day, a bid is made after 3pm, the auction will conclude for the day at 4pm and continue the next working day from 11am under the same conditions.

Information on participating bidders

While bidding online, it is possible to view details of other parties also bidding for the smartnumber®. During the auction, the following information will be listed:

• the identity of the person or organisation bidding on a particular smartnumber®;
• the time any bid is placed; and
• the amount of any bid.

The terms and conditions set out by ACMA inform prospective auction participants that information to the auction process may be published on the auction website.

Suspension or cancellation of an auction

ACMA may suspend or cancel an auction in the following limited circumstances:

if ACMA has excluded or suspended a person from participating in an auction (where the person has lodged a participation notice or is bidding in an auction);

• if there is a technical failure on the auction website;
• because of an event beyond ACMA's control;
• to give ACMA time to investigate an irregularity in the auction; or,
• if ACMA is satisfied that in the circumstances, it is appropriate to do so.

Where an auction has been suspended, ACMA may:

• resume the auction from the last valid bid; or
• cancel the auction.

All participants will be given at least one full working day's notice of the date and time when the auction is to resume.

If ACMA resumes the auction from the last valid bid and no further bids are made, the person who made the last valid bid recorded in the auction system prior to the suspension will have the option to either confirm their bid or apply to ACMA for a cancellation of the auction containing the number they were successful on. In these circumstances ACMA may, after considering all the circumstances, cancel the auction.