Gold Coast based Australian Business Reports Pty Ltd and a director, Gary John Solah, have been restrained from operating, publishing or promoting any form of directory, register or list of businesses following Australian Competition and Consumer Commission action.
In the Federal Court, Canberra, Justice Finn today made orders that all monies currently held by the company, through its agent Pacific Mercantile Pty Ltd, be returned to consumers.
In its case, the ACCC had alleged, and the court had previously accepted, that correspondence promoting a register controlled by the company and Solah, the Consumers Business Register, contained representations that were likely to mislead or deceive many small businesses.
The most important of these was that the register existed when it did not.
Justice Finn also awarded costs against the company and Solah.
Acting ACCC Chairman, Mr Allan Asher, said todays orders followed a series of actions against similar registers, mostly targeted at small businesses.
Small businesses should be on constant guard against similar attempts to rip off business through claims for unnecessary listings or registrations. The ACCC has produced a free publication called Scams which provides information to small business operators on how to protect their business from scams and schemes.
Remember, if invoices or letters are received by business for entry on any register or any service which they are not certain they require, they should check with the agency concerned. If consumers are still unsure, they should contact their legal adviser, accountant or State/Territory consumer affairs bureau or fair trading agency.
For further information about this media release: Mr Allan Asher, Acting Chairman, (02) 6264 1138
Ms Lin Enright, Director, Public Relations, (02) 6243 1108
In the Federal Court, Canberra, Justice Finn today made orders that all monies currently held by the company, through its agent Pacific Mercantile Pty Ltd, be returned to consumers.
In its case, the ACCC had alleged, and the court had previously accepted, that correspondence promoting a register controlled by the company and Solah, the Consumers Business Register, contained representations that were likely to mislead or deceive many small businesses.
The most important of these was that the register existed when it did not.
Justice Finn also awarded costs against the company and Solah.
Acting ACCC Chairman, Mr Allan Asher, said todays orders followed a series of actions against similar registers, mostly targeted at small businesses.
Small businesses should be on constant guard against similar attempts to rip off business through claims for unnecessary listings or registrations. The ACCC has produced a free publication called Scams which provides information to small business operators on how to protect their business from scams and schemes.
Remember, if invoices or letters are received by business for entry on any register or any service which they are not certain they require, they should check with the agency concerned. If consumers are still unsure, they should contact their legal adviser, accountant or State/Territory consumer affairs bureau or fair trading agency.
For further information about this media release: Mr Allan Asher, Acting Chairman, (02) 6264 1138
Ms Lin Enright, Director, Public Relations, (02) 6243 1108