December 2011
Second electricity company to refund customers after Fair Trading Act breaches
20 December 2011
A second electricity company this year has admitted breaching the Fair Trading Act and will refund customers who weren't given a prompt payment discount with their final bills.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Mobile monitoring report shows continuation of early trends
20 December 2011
The Commerce Commission's second mobile monitoring report released today shows a continued narrowing of the difference between the costs of on-net and off-net calls and text messages. This has resulted in an increase in calling and text messaging between mobile networks.
Relates to: Fair Trading
GE Money settles with Commerce Commission on Fair Trading Act breach
19 December 2011
A settlement between the Commerce Commission and GE Money today will result in GE Money paying a $60,000 donation to the New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services after admitting it breached the Fair Trading Act.
Relates to: Fair Trading
"Outrageous" conduct leads to indefinite banning order for lender
6 December 2011
The Commerce Commission has welcomed a banning order, the first of its kind issued under the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act, which indefinitely prevents bankrupt and convicted fraudster Trevor Allan Ludlow from setting up, operating or working in the consumer finance industry.
Relates to: Fair Trading, Consumer Credit
November 2011
Vodafone fined almost $82K for misleading mobile phone $1 a day customers
21 November 2011
Vodafone New Zealand Limited was fined $81,900 in the Auckland District Court today after being found guilty of breaching the Fair Trading Act in relation to its $1 a day mobile phone internet data charges.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Second phone card company fined for misleading marketing
10 November 2011
Misleading consumers about the cost of using their prepaid phone card today earned an Auckland-based company a fine of $140,000 in the Auckland District Court before Judge Cunningham.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Commerce Commission settles timber claim against Carter Holt Harvey
9 November 2011
The Commerce Commission has agreed to a settlement with Carter Holt Harvey Limited (CHH) which ends civil proceedings brought by the Commission under the Fair Trading Act.
Relates to: Fair Trading
October 2011
Telecom refunds customers after inaccurate broadband meter readings
19 October 2011
Telecom has admitted breaching the Fair Trading Act after misleading some customers about the amount of broadband data they used.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Poor lending practices cost Auckland finance company over $55,000
3 October 2011
The Commerce Commission is urging lower-tier lenders to get up to speed with consumer law after an Auckland-based finance company and its director were fined a total of $55,475 in the Auckland District Court on Thursday.
Relates to: Fair Trading, Consumer Credit
September 2011
Bed company fined over $69,000 for misleading consumers about cancellation rights
28 September 2011
A company that sold high-priced “sleep systems†at invitational seminars has been fined $69,935 for misleading consumers about the right to cancel their contracts.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Prepaid phone card company fined $100,000 for misleading posters
1 September 2011
A company that misled consumers about what it would really cost them when they used their prepaid phone cards has been fined $100,000 in the Auckland District Court for breaches of the Fair Trading Act.
Relates to: Fair Trading
August 2011
Commission executes search warrants in 'Made in New Zealand' crackdown
26 August 2011
Commerce Commission staff yesterday executed a number of search warrants in Rotorua and Auckland in relation to an ongoing investigation in the tourism souvenir sector.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Commerce Commission cautions sunbed industry over claims
22 August 2011
The Commerce Commission today put sunbed operators and distributors on notice about the risks of making false or misleading claims about the health benefits and risks of sunbed use.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Insurance company to refund customers after Fair Trading Act breach
19 August 2011
An insurance company has admitted breaching the Fair Trading Act by failing to adequately disclose that an administration fee would be charged for cancelling private vehicle insurance.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Vodafone guilty of misleading Vodafone Live! customers: fined $400K
12 August 2011
Vodafone New Zealand Limited was fined over $400,000 in the Auckland District Court today after pleading guilty to breaching the Fair Trading Act in relation to its Vodafone Live! mobile phone internet service.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Christchurch car company pleads guilty to Fair Trading Act breaches
9 August 2011
A Christchurch based car company has pleaded guilty to 55 charges of breaching the Fair Trading relating to sales made on Trade Me.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Gyms told to shape up over members contracts
1 August 2011
The gym industry is being advised by the Commerce Commission that many gyms may be breaking consumer credit law when customers pay for membership by instalments.
Relates to: Fair Trading, Consumer Credit
June 2011
Contact Energy to refund overcharged customers $280,000 for Fair Trading breaches
17 June 2011
Contact Energy has admitted breaching the Fair Trading Act in relation to misleading some customers about the amount payable for final bills.
Relates to: Fair Trading
May 2011
Another company fined for misleading representation of royal jelly
30 May 2011
A company that imported Chinese powdered royal jelly, and sold it in capsules claiming it was “Made in New Zealand' has been fined $11,400 in the Auckland District Court for breaches of the Fair Trading Act.
Relates to: Fair Trading
April 2011
Don't fall for DNA scam
7 April 2011
The Commerce Commission is warning people not to fall for a scam that has been circulating in Australia and has now hit New Zealand. It involves a supposed DNA testing kit, which has been turning up unsolicited in mail boxes.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Promoter of property schemes to pay reparation for Fair Trading Act breaches
6 April 2011
The Commerce Commission has concluded action under the Fair Trading Act against the promoter of property schemes in which vulnerable consumers were misled into thinking they were buying properties.
Relates to: Fair Trading
March 2011
Bathroom and flooring supplier settles over misleading customers
17 March 2011
Bathroom and flooring supplier Spazio Casa Limited has entered into a settlement with the Commerce Commission following multiple breaches of the Fair Trading Act.
Relates to: Fair Trading
January 2011
Fans warned not to be let down by scam Rugby World Cup 2011 ticket offers
20 January 2011
Rugby fans around the world are being urged to take care when purchasing tickets for Rugby World Cup 2011 as a result of a number of fraudulent and deceptive websites claiming to offer tournament tickets.
Relates to: Fair Trading
More false royal jelly claims see trader fined $12,750
18 January 2011
In the fourth case of its kind over the last year, an Auckland businessman has admitted making claims that were likely to mislead consumers as to the country of origin and potency of royal jelly products.
Relates to: Fair Trading
