Over the past week the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has received a number of complaints on its GST Price Line (1300 302 502) about increases in Rentlo rental rates from 1 July 2000 and is investigating this matter, ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today.
"The fact of the investigation has not been made public by the ACCC until now. However, as the matter was raised in Parliament today, the fact of the ACCC investigation is now made public.
"Generally the ACCC does not disclose the fact that it is investigating a company on its own initiative.
"Rentlo has advised customers of a 10 per cent rent rise from 1 July because of the Goods and Services Tax.
"The ACCC has some concerns on this matter because the price of new televisions, videos etc is likely to fall further on account of the New Tax System.
"However, the ACCC has not reached any conclusion at this stage about the justification of the rise".
"The fact of the investigation has not been made public by the ACCC until now. However, as the matter was raised in Parliament today, the fact of the ACCC investigation is now made public.
"Generally the ACCC does not disclose the fact that it is investigating a company on its own initiative.
"Rentlo has advised customers of a 10 per cent rent rise from 1 July because of the Goods and Services Tax.
"The ACCC has some concerns on this matter because the price of new televisions, videos etc is likely to fall further on account of the New Tax System.
"However, the ACCC has not reached any conclusion at this stage about the justification of the rise".