Contracts

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Deputy Chair Michael Schaper has today launched a new guide for small businesses and farmers on the potential benefits of collective bargaining.

A collective bargaining arrangement allows two or more competing businesses to jointly negotiate with a supplier or a customer over terms, conditions, and prices. Where the ACCC is satisfied that the arrangement provides an overall public benefit, it can allow conduct which may otherwise be prohibited by the Competition and Consumer Act.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has instituted proceedings in the Federal Court against Chrisco Hampers Australia Limited (Chrisco) alleging contraventions of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) involving an alleged unfair contract term, false or misleading representations, and lay-by termination charges which exceed Chrisco’s reasonable costs.

The Federal Court has ordered Zen Telecom Pty Ltd (Zen Telecom) to pay pecuniary penalties of $225,000 for contraventions of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) following proceedings brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Zen Telecom is a supplier of telephone, broadband, mobile and mobile broadband services across Australia.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is urging consumers to review their phone and internet plans following the tabling of its Annual Telecommunications Reports for 2012-13 in Parliament.

“With the widespread use of included value plans in the telecommunications sector, we urge all customers to take the time to review their plans to see if they are getting the best deal,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.

“Customers should consider asking service providers for a Critical Information Summary to make it easier to compare different plans on a like-for-like basis.”