December 2000
International ATTM Card was a pyramid selling scheme, court orders Aus$4 million to be returned
22 December 2000
The Australian Federal Court has found that the International ATTM Card Scheme, which was promoted widely in the North Island by World Netsafe Pty Limited, is an illegal pyramid and referral selling scheme and has ordered that Aus$4 million be returned to people who had bought into the scheme by December 1999.Relates to: Fair Trading
Watch out - Christmas candles may release lead fumes
21 December 2000
In settlements with the Commerce Commission over the last two months, five businesses have recalled banned candles that have wicks containing lead.Relates to: Fair Trading
Ticketek prices were in Australian dollars: warning that ticketing companies must state what currency they are using
13 December 2000
After Ticketek New Zealand Limited did not disclose that its prices for a Barbra Streisand concert in Sydney were in Australian dollars, the Commerce Commission is warning all ticketing companies to clearly state what currency they are using when selling tickets.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission crack down on claims about real estate:"The Professionals" Orewa Property Shop pleads guilty
12 December 2000
The Commerce Commission stepped up its action against false or misleading claims about real estate, with the conviction today of Orewa Property Shop Limited, trading as The Professionals.Relates to: Fair Trading
November 2000
BNZ acknowledges that its credit card brochures breached Fair Trading Act
29 November 2000
In a settlement with the Commerce Commission, the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) has acknowledged that a claim in its credit card brochures made a misleading representation to non-business consumers about their rights and breached the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
Haven Motors fined $5,000: "interest free …on all used vehicles" was available only on some cars
21 November 2000
In more Commerce Commission action against car dealers, the Nelson District Court today fined Haven Motors Limited $5,000 for breaching the Fair Trading Act by making misleading claims about an "interest free" offer.Relates to: Fair Trading
Freedom Communications fined $8,000: cellphone calls advertised at 5 cents a minute cost 99 cents a minute
15 November 2000
The Auckland District Court today fined Freedom Communications Limited $8,000 for breaching the Fair Trading Act by advertising cellphone calls at 5 cents a minute but charging 99 cents a minute.Relates to: Fair Trading
$8,000 fine for promoting "Focus International" and "World Net" pyramid selling schemes
9 November 2000
The Auckland District Court has fined an Auckland man, Terrence Samuel Wall, $8,000 for promoting in New Zealand two overseas-based pyramid selling schemes, "Focus International Credit Card Plan" and "World Net International Inc."Relates to: Fair Trading
ASB Bank fined $6,000: third small print case in 10 days
8 November 2000
Commerce Commission action against misleading use of small print continued today with the Auckland District Court fining ASB Bank Limited $6,000 for breaching the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
Computer retailer Gateway fined $21,500: second company convicted for small print in a week, warning to all advertisers
6 November 2000
The Commerce Commission says that the conviction of two companies in a week for small print issues should be seen as a warning to all advertisers: small print cannot save advertising from being misleading.Relates to: Fair Trading
October 2000
Air NZ subsidiary, Freedom Air International, admits ads breached Fair Trading Act
30 October 2000
The Dunedin District Court today fined South Pacific Air Charters Limited, which is part of the Air New Zealand group and trades as Freedom Air International, $4,000 for making false or misleading claims about the prices of its "Christmas airfare sale".Relates to: Fair Trading
More Commission action on furniture retailing: "leather" lounge suites were vinyl and leather
30 October 2000
Commerce Commission action against misleading claims by furniture retailers continued today with the sixth successful prosecution since March the Tauranga District Court fined Homeworld (Tga) Limited $6,500 for breaching the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
September 2000
Enterprise cars fined $33,000: warning to all consumers, dealers not disclosing key information and trade-in claims
29 September 2000
The Auckland High Court today fined Enterprise Motor Group Limited and one of its subsidiaries, Enterprise Motor Group (Panmure) Limited trading as Enterprise Nissan, a total of $33,000 highlighting two nation-wide problems: car dealers not disclosing key information and making misleading claims about the availability of trade-ins.Relates to: Fair Trading
More Commission action on website claims:Cogent Communications fined $7,000
14 September 2000
In the Commerce Commission's third website case in the last five weeks, Cogent Communications Limited, trading as Hart Candy, was fined $7,000 in the Auckland District Court for breaching the Fair Trading Act by making misleading claims about cellphones.Relates to: Fair Trading
Toy importer Deco Fashions to pay fines and costs $9,260 for 45,000 unsafe toys: Shell and Barnardo's had choking hazard teddy bears
14 September 2000
The Auckland District Court today ordered toy importer, Deco Fashions Limited, to pay $9,260 in fines and costs after it supplied 45,000 unsafe teddy bears to Shell New Zealand Limited and Shell donated some of the teddy bears to the Barnardo's Children's Trust.Relates to: Fair Trading
Highest ever Fair Trading Act order: Maximus pyramid selling scheme liable for more than $3.1 million
13 September 2000
The Auckland High Court today imposed the highest order yet under the Fair Trading Act when it ordered that Maximus Intermediaries Limited was a pyramid selling scheme and entered judgment against the defendants who are liable to pay more than $3.1 million to people who had bought into the scheme.Relates to: Fair Trading
Stock agent fined $4,000: deliberately falsified sale dockets, overcharged farmer $3,920 for cattle
12 September 2000
The Hamilton District Court today fined independent stock agent Hugh Roderick Chisholm $4,000 after he admitted that he had deliberately falsified saleyard dockets and overcharged a farmer $3,920 for cattle.Relates to: Fair Trading
Fair Trading Act does apply to websites: Michael Hill Jeweller Ltd fined $1,000
6 September 2000
The Commerce Commission's prosecution of Michael Hill Jeweller Limited has shown that the Fair Trading Act applies to claims made on websites.Relates to: Fair Trading
TrustPower to publish corrective advertising and write to consumers, Commission also warns Wrightson
4 September 2000
Power company TrustPower Limited has agreed that it risked breaching the Fair Trading Act when it made claims to consumers that is "the only electricity supply company which is predominantly New Zealand-owned". The Act prohibits misleading and deceptive conduct.Relates to: Fair Trading
August 2000
Fifth furniture retailer convicted in five months: $7,260 fines and costs, "leather lounge suites" were vinyl and leather
31 August 2000
Commerce Commission action in the furniture industry continued today, when the Christchurch District Court ordered Garry Brian McCone and Stephen Jack Brian, who trade as Christchurch Auctions, to pay fines and costs totalling $7,260 for breaching the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission continues action on food promotions: New World corrective ads, "beef sausages" were mutton
28 August 2000
Commerce Commission action against allegedly false claims about food continued today, with Thorndon Supermarket Limited, which trades as Thorndon New World, publishing corrective advertising what it had called "beef" sausages were made from mutton.Relates to: Fair Trading
More Commission action against car dealers: Mitsubishi dealer fined $3,000 for misleading claims about prices of new cars
15 August 2000
Commerce Commission action against misleading claims by car dealers continued today with Christchurch Mitsubishi dealer, Landseer Motor Investments Limited trading as Donnithorne Simms being fined $3,000 for making misleading claims about the prices of new cars.Relates to: Fair Trading
Website scam: Auckland District Court imposes $4,120 fines and costs
2 August 2000
The Auckland District Court today fined Neil Jeffrey Crozier and Suzie Dianna Crowe a total of $3,600, plus $520 costs, for breaching the Fair Trading Act by making false claims that businesses needed the services of the website and e-mail addresses created by Mr Crozier and Ms Crowe.Relates to: Fair Trading
July 2000
Commerce Commission takes court action against NZ distributor of cellulite product "Cellasene"
28 July 2000
Commerce Commission takes court action against NZ distributor of cellulite product "Cellasene"Relates to: Fair Trading
June 2000
High Court's permanent injunction prevents distribution of unsafe baby bottle toys
22 June 2000
The Dunedin High Court today ordered a permanent injunction preventing Myriad Marketing Limited and Sweetline Distributors Limited distributing "Big Baby" and "Chewy Baby" brand toy baby bottles with removable teats. The companies consented to the injunction being made.Relates to: Fair Trading
Fourth furniture retailer convicted in three months: Panmure Furniture City pays $10,000 Fair Trading fines and costs
20 June 2000
Commerce Commission action against misleading claims by furniture retailers has continued with the Auckland District Court ordering Panmure Furniture City 1983 Limited to pay an $8,000 fine plus $2,000 solicitor's costs.Relates to: Fair Trading
More Commission action against oil companies: Mobil and Caltex misleading advertising of petrol prices
15 June 2000
The Commerce Commission has warned Mobil Oil New Zealand Limited and Caltex New Zealand Limited to take urgent steps to ensure that they do not make misleading claims about petrol prices, or they will face prosecution under the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
Clarification of media release 2000/50 More Commission action against oil companies
15 June 2000
The Commerce Commission has issued this clarification to explain in more detail why the Omarama Service Station was charging more for Mobil petrol at its pumps than was advertised on the roadside sign.Relates to: Fair Trading
New Plymouth Security Firm and Company Director Fined $11,000
7 June 2000
KRK Holdings Limited and its sole director and shareholder, Koshik Kanji, were fined a total of $11,000 in the New Plymouth District Court today. They admitted making false claims that security guards would attend rural Taranaki properties if home burglar alarms were activated. They also admitted offering gifts that they told prospective customers were worth $75 while promoting the sale of the FAI Alarm systems. The real value of the gifts was not more than $30.Relates to: Fair Trading
May 2000
More action on fine print: Cellphone Accessories fined $6,000
24 May 2000
Commerce Commission action against fine print continued today, with the North Shore District Court fining Cellphone Accessories Mail Order Service Limited $6,000 for making false or misleading claims about prices.Relates to: Fair Trading
Shell admits misleading advertising of petrol prices: fined 10,000
10 May 2000
The Wellington District Court today fined Shell New Zealand Limited $10,000 after it admitted breaching the Fair Trading Act by making misleading claims about the price of petrol at its Franz Josef petrol station.Relates to: Fair Trading
Third Fair Trading Act prosecution of furniture retailer in a month:
1 May 2000
The Commerce Commission's prosecution of Waitemata Backcare Beds and Waterbeds Limited highlights one of the main concerns the Commission has about furniture retailing: "interest free" offers must be the same as the cash price.Relates to: Fair Trading
April 2000
Ihug agrees that its advertising of Internet service and PC package was liable to mislead the public about prices
14 April 2000
In a settlement with the Commerce Commission, The Internet Group Limited, which trades as Ihug, has agreed that some of its advertising was contrary to the Fair Trading Act and other advertisements were liable to mislead the public and risked breaching the Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
Another retailer makes misleading furniture claims: Hazelwoods fined $15,000
11 April 2000
Fines against companies associated with the North South Furnishings Group Limited now total $23,000 after the Upper Hutt District Court today fined Hazelwoods Home Traders Limited $15,000 for breaching the Fair Trading Act by making false or misleading claims about furniture.Relates to: Fair Trading
March 2000
What you see is not what you get and
31 March 2000
The first court case resulting from the Commerce Commission's crack down on false or misleading claims by furniture retailers ended today with the Napier District Court fining retailer Furniture Now Limited $8,000.Relates to: Fair Trading
Unicorn Trading fined after not honouring settlement with Commerce Commission
30 March 2000
Failing to honour an earlier settlement with the Commerce Commission led to husband and wife Seung Ho Ahn and Choon Hee Ahn being prosecuted and fined $2,000 in the Auckland District Court yesterday afternoon.Relates to: Fair Trading
February 2000
Spotlight fined $7,500 for misleading sale promotion
9 February 2000
The Auckland District Court today fined Spotlight Stores New Zealand Limited $7,500 for misleading customers about savings available during promotions in its Christchurch store in October, November and December 1998.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission believes many car dealers increase prices for "sales" and trade-in promotions
3 February 2000
As part of the Commerce Commission's action against false or misleading claims about cars, the Commission is highlighting what it believes is a common practice among car dealers increasing prices for "sale" and trade-in promotions, and making false or misleading claims about reductions.Relates to: Fair Trading
January 2000
Important Fair Trading Act precedents: partners can be criminally liable for each other's actions; silence can mislead
19 January 2000
Criminal convictions of Dianne Stephanie Burton and Brian Charles Carson as the partners who ran Folio Model and Talent Management have set important precedents for all partnerships a partner can be criminally liable under the Fair Trading Act for the actions of other partners.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission has big concerns about car dealers' false or misleading claims, more prosecutions to come
4 January 2000
The Commerce Commission is very concerned that car dealers continue to make false or misleading claims, and will take more prosecutions for alleged breaches of the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
