December 2008
Bogus pill business busted for breach of Fair Trading Act
16 December 2008
A Tauranga company has been found guilty of breaching the Fair Trading Act over claims a pill could make women's breasts larger and firmer.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Commerce Commission urges shoppers to be savvy this Christmas
10 December 2008
As the pre-Christmas shopping season gathers momentum the Commerce Commission is issuing a timely reminder to consumers of their rights under the Fair Trading Act and Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCF Act).Relates to: Fair Trading, Consumer Credit
It's not easy being green - Commerce Commission releases guidelines on green claims
4 December 2008
The Commerce Commission has today released guidelines to businesses that make environmental, or 'green', claims in their marketing.Relates to: Fair Trading
November 2008
Commerce Commission investigation highlights variable results in sunscreen testing
19 November 2008
An investigation by the Commerce Commission, after allegations that some sunscreen failed SPF or Broad Spectrum testing, has highlighted a problem with the application of the current sunscreen standard that is mandatory in Australia and voluntary in New Zealand.
Relates to: Fair Trading
GE Money customers get refunds for interest charged on 'interest free' contracts
14 November 2008
Several thousand customers who bought items on 'interest free' terms but were incorrectly charged interest will get more than $3 million back, after an out of court settlement between the Commerce Commission and GE Finance and Insurance, trading as GE Money.
Relates to: Fair Trading
October 2008
Real estate company fined for misleading 'buyer enquiry over' ads
29 October 2008
A Wellington real estate company, Celestine Realty Limited, has been fined $7,500 in the Wellington District Court for breaches of the Fair Trading Act in relation to the use of the term 'buyer enquiry over'.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Commerce Commission update on Wings and Wheels refund process
24 October 2008
The Commerce Commission today announced an update to the process for people seeking refunds for tickets for the postponed airshow Wings and Wheels over Waikato.Relates to: Fair Trading
Consumers urged to approach cash back offers with caution
6 October 2008
The Commerce Commission is urging consumers looking to purchase personal computers and printers to be cautious of cash back offers.
Relates to: Fair Trading
September 2008
Consumers warned 'light' and 'mild' tobacco likely to be just as deadly as regular strength
24 September 2008
Cigarette smokers should not be misled into thinking that 'light' and 'mild' cigarettes are less harmful to their health, when compared to full strength tobacco products.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Mobile Electronic Services fined for misleading consumers
18 September 2008
A Christchurch based electrical appliance repairer has pleaded guilty to breaching the Fair Trading Act.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Ezibuy fined for 'pashmina' shawls that were poly/cotton
4 September 2008
A popular clothing and home goods company has pleaded guilty to breaching the Fair Trading Act and has been fined $8,500 in the Auckland District Court for marketing and selling shawls advertised as silk blend pashmina, when they were not.
Relates to: Fair Trading
July 2008
Commerce Commission to investigate Hanover Finance
24 July 2008
The Commerce Commission has today opened an investigation into Hanover Finance.
Relates to: Fair Trading
ANZ Investment Services fined for Bonus Bond promotion
21 July 2008
ANZ Investment Services (New Zealand) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of ANZ National Bank Limited, has been fined $80,000 plus costs for running a misleading television campaign.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Parallel Imported pays the cost for misleading prices
18 July 2008
A store selling parallel imported goods has pleaded guilty to breaching the Fair Trading Act and was yesterday fined $15,000 in the Auckland District Court.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Chairs assembled in New Zealand not 'New Zealand made'
16 July 2008
A New Plymouth based office furniture company has been convicted of breaching the Fair Trading Act in an important legal precedent which helps to define what 'New Zealand made' means.
Relates to: Fair Trading
June 2008
Commerce Commission urges caution over holiday vouchers
10 June 2008
Consumers should be wary of telemarketers selling vouchers for free or discounted holidays, hotels and flights, the Commerce Commission warned today.
Relates to: Fair Trading
'Greenwashing' can be misleading - taxi company warned
6 June 2008
The Commerce Commission has warned a Wellington taxi company that it may be misleading consumers with its 'going green' campaign.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Wings and Wheels over Waikato to refund ticket holders
5 June 2008
In a settlement reached with the organisers of the postponed airshow, Wings and Wheels over Waikato, the Commerce Commission has secured refunds for those ticket-holders who were misled by the airshow's marketing and advertising.
Relates to: Fair Trading
May 2008
Refunds for consumers who bought bogus "weight loss" pills
28 May 2008
Consumers who bought Celluslim, a product that claimed to "melt away fat and cellulite", are finally able to receive refunds.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Commerce Commission warns property company
16 May 2008
A Wellington property investment company and one of its directors have been warned by the Commerce Commission for making a misleading representation about a property they were selling.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Placemakers admits breaching Fair Trading Act over incorrect timber labels
15 May 2008
The Commerce Commission has reached a settlement with Fletcher Distribution Limited, trading as Placemakers, regarding the incorrect in-store description, labelling and supply of a treated timber framing product, TimberSaver.
Relates to: Fair Trading
False information costs Christchurch car company
13 May 2008
A Christchurch motor vehicle dealer has pleaded guilty to providing a buyer with incorrect information, in falsely describing it as not damaged when it was imported.
Relates to: Fair Trading
TradeMe community works with Commerce Commission to ensure cot safety
2 May 2008
The Commerce Commission is praising the actions of the TradeMe community after an investigation into children's cots being offered for sale via an online auction.Relates to: Fair Trading
Supermarket fined for offering prize after competition had closed
1 May 2008
One of New Zealand's largest supermarket companies has been found guilty of breaching the Fair Trading Act by offering the opportunity to enter into a prize draw to win a holiday, months after the competition had closed. The company has been fined $17,000 in the Manukau District Court yesterday.
Relates to: Fair Trading
March 2008
Finance firm fined over credit contracts
20 March 2008
A consumer finance company which lends almost exclusively to the Tongan community has been fined $37,480, in the Manukau District Court for breaches of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCF Act) and Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading, Consumer Credit
Online car sales not exempt from obligation to display Supplier Information Notices
6 March 2008
A motor vehicle trader who sold hundreds of cars via the online auction website, Trade Me, has been convicted and fined for failing to provide mandatory information about the vehicles to purchasers.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Commerce Commission freezes assets associated with Wings and Wheels over Waikato
6 March 2008
The Commerce Commission today confirmed that it has obtained a court order freezing the assets of Hawker Holdings, airshow.co.nz - Media Limited, airshow.co.nz Limited and Kenneth James Ross.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Fight the scammers. Don't respond. Fraud Awareness Week 3-10 March 2008
3 March 2008
Fraud Awareness Week starts today and the Commerce Commission and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs are warning consumers that scammers are out to seduce and deceive them.
Relates to: Fair Trading
February 2008
Septic tank cleaning company pleads guilty to misleading customers
29 February 2008
A Waikato septic tank cleaning company and its Director have been fined a total of $28,500 for misleading customers.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Petrol station fined for misleading prices
26 February 2008
A NorthShore petrol station was fined $35,000 in the Auckland District Court today for breaching the Fair Trading Act by misleading their customers about the price of petrol.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Commerce Commission to look into Blue Chip
19 February 2008
The Commerce Commission will examine documentation relating to Blue Chip New Zealand after complaints that people may have been induced to invest based on false or misleading representations.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Sunscreen companies settle with Commission
15 February 2008
The Commerce Commission has reached settlements with four sunscreen companies that have admitted to misleading consumers about the protection from the sun offered by their products.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Real estate agent, and his company, admits misleading advertising
14 February 2008
A Wellington real estate agent, and the company he worked for, has admitted advertising a property in a way that was likely to mislead potential buyers, in breach of the Fair Trading Act.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Cancer society asked to provide sunscreen results
11 February 2008
The Commerce Commission has asked the Cancer Society for information about the alleged failure of one its sunscreen products, and what the society is doing about the problem.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Telecom to be prosecuted over Go Large promotion
1 February 2008
The Commerce Commission has decided to prosecute Telecom and its subsidiary Xtra for alleged breaches of the Fair Trading Act, in relation to the Go Large broadband promotion.
Relates to: Fair Trading, Telecommunications
January 2008
When a sale is not a sale
22 January 2008
Retailers are reminded that advertising sale prices that are no cheaper than every day prices can put them in breach of the Fair Trading Act.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Bird flu remedy is quackery
15 January 2008
A Tauranga based couple specialising in homoeopathic remedies have pleaded guilty to 19 charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act for making misleading representations about their qualifications and their ability to provide cures or prevent diseases. They have been penalised a total of $23,400 by way of fines and costs awards in the Tauranga District Court.Relates to: Fair Trading
