Repairs, warranties & refunds

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.

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).

Refunds & returns

The ACCC, together with the state and territory consumer protection regulators, have developed a new point-of-sale sign to give consumers clear information about their rights to refunds and replacements under the Australian Consumer Law.

Refunds & remedies

The ACCC, together with the state and territory consumer protection regulators, have developed a new point-of-sale sign to give consumers clear information about their rights to refunds and replacements as well as refunds and remedies under the Australian Consumer Law.