December 2010
Commerce Commission warns all that glitters isn't gold
20 December 2010
The Commerce Commission is reminding the jewellery industry that it must ensure that consumers are aware that some jewellery made from white gold or silver has been plated with rhodium and may require regular maintenance.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Extremely high lead levels in toys prompt investigation and consumer alert
15 December 2010
The Commerce Commission is investigating a number of toys sold in bargain variety stores following testing by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs which detected excessively high levels of lead.
Relates to: Fair Trading
November 2010
Relief for Cantabrians facing debt problems after quakes
15 November 2010
Consumers struggling with loan repayments as a result of the Canterbury earthquakes may be able to use provisions in consumer legislation that provide financial relief in circumstances of unforeseen hardship.
Relates to: Fair Trading, Consumer Credit
Rugby World Cup 2011 - Commerce Commission focuses on fair play
1 November 2010
The Commerce Commission is taking a close interest in ensuring businesses cashing in on the opportunities presented by the Rugby World Cup 2011 play by the rules.
Relates to: Fair Trading, Consumer Credit, Business Competition
October 2010
Businesses reminded not to mislead over public holiday surcharge
21 October 2010
The Commerce Commission is reminding those businesses who choose to apply a surcharge on public holidays that they must not mislead consumers. This follows a warning to a company that is a major provider of food and alcohol at Wellington's Westpac Stadium.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Refunds for second tier home loan borrowers
21 October 2010
The Commerce Commission has entered into a settlement with New Zealand Guardian Trust Company resulting from an investigation into break fees. The settlement will see 77 affected consumers sharing refunds of $165,000.
Relates to: Fair Trading, Consumer Credit
Company director and car dealership fined for misleading about damaged vehicles
12 October 2010
The managing director of a Porirua car dealership and his company, Sunrise Motor Group Limited, were fined in the Wellington District Court today after pleading guilty to multiple charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act. Surya Kumar was fined a total of $9,600 on six charges and Sunrise Motor Group a total of $19,200 on twelve charges.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Businesses reminded not to mislead over GST pricing increases
8 October 2010
The Commerce Commission is reminding businesses that they risk breaching the Fair Trading Act if price increases are misleadingly represented as being due to the GST increase. This follows a warning issued to the owners of Wellington's daily paper, The Dominion Post, which represented that a price increase was 'forced' by the GST change, when this was not the case.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Methven pleads guilty to misleading consumers over shower water and energy savings
4 October 2010
Methven Limited, a company that manufactures and supplies bathroom fittings, has pleaded guilty to nine breaches of the Fair Trading Act for misleading consumers about the potential savings gained when using the Satinjet shower product range.
Relates to: Fair Trading
September 2010
Fines for another company peddling royal jelly using false claims
29 September 2010
A company that admitted labelling imported royal jelly as New Zealand made, and as being of high potency when it was neither, has been fined $16,000 in the Auckland District Court.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Balmoral Homes directors fined and ordered to pay reparation for Fair Trading Act breaches
1 September 2010
Two directors of a Christchurch-based building company that has gone into liquidation pleaded guilty to multiple charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act in the Christchurch District Court today. They have been fined $15,000 each and have been ordered to pay a total of $97,000 in reparation and a further $30,000 for emotional harm reparation in total for six complainants.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Rental car companies and directors fined for misleading consumers
1 September 2010
Two Christchurch-based rental car companies, Affinity Car Rental New Zealand Limited and Euro Car Rental New Zealand Limited, and their directors, Kylee and Gary Harris, have pleaded guilty to 18 charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act. The Christchurch District court today imposed fines and costs totalling $37,960 as well as ordering a total of $5,750 to be paid in reparation to affected consumers.
Relates to: Fair Trading
August 2010
Warning for Trade Me car advertisers
20 August 2010
The Commerce Commission is reminding people who frequently sell motor vehicles on Trade Me or similar sites to be aware of their legal obligations when advertising and selling motor vehicles.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Fair Trading Act guidelines for bundled telecommunications products issued
20 August 2010
The Commerce Commission has today issued guidelines to help telecommunications retailers better understand their Fair Trading Act obligations in relation to the disclosure of bundled telecommunications products.
Relates to: Fair Trading, Telecommunications
Court of Appeal clarifies intention under the Fair Trading Act
19 August 2010
A decision delivered by the Court of Appeal on Monday in a case involving the Commerce Commission and Progressive Enterprises Limited has clarified the interpretation of Section 17 of the Fair Trading Act.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Souvenir company fined for misleading 'New Zealand made' claims
9 August 2010
A Christchurch-based company that supplies souvenir and gift shops at airports and major tourist destinations throughout New Zealand has been fined $48,000 in the Christchurch District Court today.
Relates to: Fair Trading
July 2010
Budget Loans pleads guilty to misleading - $500,000 returned to consumers
26 July 2010
Budget Loans Limited has pleaded guilty to 34 charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act in the Auckland District Court today. The charges relate to misleading claims made by Budget Loans that it was entitled to recover certain interest and fees from its debtors, when as a matter of law it was not. Budget Loans have been fined $30,750.
Relates to: Fair Trading, Consumer Credit
Beware of credit card scam
23 July 2010
The Commerce Commission is urging New Zealanders not to fall for a scam in which people are being phoned and told they are eligible for a refund for overcharges on their credit card, but they have to pay the scammers money in order to receive the payment.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Commerce Commission directs payment of $45 million to ANZ/ING investors
21 July 2010
The Commerce Commission has determined the payment method for distribution of the $45 million settlement fund agreed with ANZ National Bank Limited (ANZ) and ING (NZ) Limited (ING) in respect of the ING Diversified Yield Fund (DYF) and ING Regular Income Fund (RIF).
Relates to: Fair Trading, Consumer Credit
Commerce Commission urges caution again over holiday vouchers
19 July 2010
Consumers should exercise caution when approached by telemarketers selling vouchers for discounted or free holidays, hotels and flights, the Commerce Commission warned today.
Relates to: Fair Trading
June 2010
Reasons for price increases must not be misrepresented
30 June 2010
The Commerce Commission is reminding businesses of their obligation under the Fair Trading Act not to mislead consumers about the reasons for price increases.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Commerce Commission settles with ANZ and ING over investment funds
22 June 2010
In its largest monetary settlement to date, the Commerce Commission has secured $45 million for thousands of New Zealanders who invested in two funds marketed by ING (NZ) Limited (ING) and ANZ National Bank Limited (ANZN). This settlement follows an investigation into alleged breaches of the Fair Trading Act relating to the marketing and promotion of the funds by ING and ANZN.
Relates to: Fair Trading
1300 broadband customers to get refunds following Commerce Commission investigation
18 June 2010
The Commerce Commission has reached a settlement with Telecom New Zealand Ltd (Telecom) under which Telecom will notify and refund approximately 1300 customers who may have been misled by a broadband promotion it conducted in 2008.
Relates to: Fair Trading, Telecommunications
Car finance company fined for breaching consumer laws
1 June 2010
An Auckland-based car finance company has pleaded guilty to breaching the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCF Act) and the Fair Trading Act in relation to car loan contracts. Dolbak Finance Limited has been fined a total of $2000 in the Auckland District Court yesterday.
Relates to: Fair Trading, Consumer Credit
May 2010
More false country of origin claims on Royal Jelly product result in fines
28 May 2010
A second company selling Royal Jelly in Auckland souvenir stores, falsely claiming its product to be New Zealand made, has been convicted and fined in the Auckland District Court yesterday. Shim's International Limited, trading as Royal Deer of New Zealand was fined $6,000.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Settlement reached over breaches of consumer legislation
11 May 2010
In a settlement reached with the Commerce Commission, Foundation Custodians, a non-bank financier, has admitted breaching the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCF Act) and the Fair Trading Act in relation to fees charged on early loan repayments. The company will provide refunds of $200,000 to affected customers.
Relates to: Fair Trading, Consumer Credit
Consumers misled by imported royal jelly passed off as NZ-made
5 May 2010
A company that sold a product made from royal jelly imported from China, with labels that implied the product was made in New Zealand, has been fined $15,000 in the Auckland District Court yesterday.
Relates to: Fair Trading
April 2010
Company executive fined for Fair Trading Act breach
30 April 2010
The former managing director of a timber company that has gone into liquidation has pleaded guilty to 36 charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act in relation to misleading timber retailers and consumers about the characteristics of timber frames and roof trusses.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Court injunction granted against water filter companies
26 April 2010
Three companies involved in selling Love Springs branded water filters door to door have been restrained from engaging in conduct which is alleged to breach the Fair Trading Act, as a result of an interim injunction obtained by the Commerce Commission.
Relates to: Fair Trading
'Text to win' company pleads guilty to Fair Trading Act breach
21 April 2010
An overseas-based company that ran a series of text to win trivia competitions has pleaded guilty to breaching the Fair Trading Act by not properly disclosing all the terms and conditions related to the competitions.
Relates to: Fair Trading
March 2010
Wings and Wheels over Waikato organiser sentenced
30 March 2010
Kenneth James Ross, the organiser of the failed air and car show Wings and Wheels over Waikato, was sentenced to nine months home detention and 200 hours community service in the Hamilton District Court today.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Car dealership company pleads guilty to breaching Fair Trading Act
16 March 2010
An Auckland based car dealership has pleaded guilty to five charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act for a misleading promotion about a 0% interest finance offer. They have been fined $18,000 in the North Shore District Court today.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Real estate agent's appeal upheld because of new Act
10 March 2010
A Wellington real estate agent, who was successfully prosecuted under section 14 of the Fair Trading Act for misleading use of a Buyer Enquiry Over price, has been discharged without conviction by the High Court following an appeal.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Calf feed company fined for Fair Trading Act breach
5 March 2010
A company that manufactured and sold a calf feed that did not meet its advertised specifications has pleaded guilty to eight charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act. Mainfeeds Limited (formerly known as PCL Limited) has been fined $125,000 in the Auckland District Court today.
Relates to: Fair Trading
February 2010
Retailer warned over voucher promotion
9 February 2010
The Commerce Commission is reminding retailers that, when offering free gifts or prizes, they should ensure that the fine print does not materially alter the terms of the offer.
Relates to: Fair Trading
January 2010
Refund process for text to win competitions
15 January 2010
A company that ran a series of text to win trivia competitions is offering refunds to consumers who participated in the competitions.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Insurance company to refund consumers over partial payments
14 January 2010
A company which provides payment protection insurance has admitted a possible breach of the Fair Trading Act and will pay affected consumers about $37,000 in an out of court settlement with the Commerce Commission.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Telecom admits breaching Fair Trading Act - pays back $9.5m to customers
12 January 2010
In a settlement with the Commerce Commission, Telecom New Zealand Limited and Xtra Limited (Telecom) has admitted breaching the Fair Trading Act by misleading more than 130,000 broadband customers.Relates to: Fair Trading, Telecommunications
