ACCC's enforcement and compliance policy update 2022-23
ACCC Chair Rod Sims addressed the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) to discuss the ACCC's enforcement and compliance policies for 2022-23.
Repairs, warranties & refunds
Booktopia in court for alleged false or misleading claims on refund rights
The ACCC has instituted Federal Court proceedings against online retailer Booktopia Pty Ltd for making false or misleading representations to consumers about their rights to refunds and other remedies for faulty or damaged goods.
Better access to servicing and repairs needed in agricultural machinery markets
Purchasers of agricultural machinery would benefit from more independent competition in servicing and repair markets, the ACCC has concluded, after conducting a detailed study of agricultural machinery markets in Australia.
Big Warehouse pays penalty and compensates customers
Online spare parts retailer Big Warehouse has paid a $12,600 penalty after the ACCC issued an infringement notice against the company for allegedly breaching the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) by misleading a consumer about their consumer guarantee rights in relation to spare parts they had ordered.
In addition to paying this penalty, Big Warehouse has provided a court-enforceable undertaking to the ACCC in which it admits it was likely to have contravened the ACL by representing to consumers that:
2018 compliance & enforcement priorities
In his annual CEDA address, Chairman Rod Sims launched the ACCC's 2018 Compliance and Enforcement policy. This year, the ACCC will focus on consumer issues in broadband services and energy, competition in the financial services and commercial construction sectors, systemic consumer guarantee issues, and conduct that may contravene the new misuse of market power and concerted practices provisions.
ACCC puts clothing retailers on notice
The ACCC has found some retailers may be misleading consumers about their rights under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) after reviewing the online policies of several large Australian clothing retailers.
“This year the ACCC has received over 750 complaints regarding consumer guarantees for clothing purchases. We are reviewing the policies of retailers at busy times such as Click Frenzy, in the lead up to Christmas and during the Boxing Day sales period,” ACCC Deputy Chair Dr Michael Schaper said.
Dealers squeezed by car manufacturers at consumers’ expense
Car manufacturers need to step up to meet their consumer guarantee obligations under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and stop putting the squeeze on dealers through dealer agreements, policies and procedures, ACCC Chairman Rod Sims told the 2017 Australian Automotive Dealer Association National Dealer Convention in Sydney today.
Water market reforms continue to deliver benefits to irrigators
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has publicly released its fifth Water Monitoring Report. This report will help inform its current review of the Commonwealth’s water charge rules.
The Water Monitoring Report details the impact of water market and charge reforms on irrigators and infrastructure operators in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB).