The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has commenced proceedings in the Federal Court against LG Electronics Australia Pty Ltd (LG) alleging that LG made false or misleading representations to consumers about their rights in relation to faulty LG products.
It is alleged by the ACCC that, in relation to complaints about defects with its televisions, LG misrepresented to consumers, retailers or repairers that:
- the remedies available to consumers were limited to the LG manufacturer’s warranty;
- where the defect occurred after the LG manufacturer’s warranty had expired:
- the consumer was only entitled to a remedy if the consumer paid for the costs of assessing the failure; and/or
- LG had no further obligations, and any step it took in relation to the television was an act of goodwill; and/or
- the consumer was only entitled to have the television repaired (and not to a refund or a replacement); and/or
- the consumer was liable for the labour costs of the repair.
“When consumers buy products, they come with a consumer guarantee under the Australian Consumer Law that they will be of acceptable quality. This guarantee is in addition to any express manufacturer’s warranty,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.
“Although the manufacturer’s warranty only applies for a specified period of time, consumers will often still be entitled under the consumer guarantee to a repair, refund or replacement after the manufacturer’s warranty ends.”
”The ACCC will not hesitate to take appropriate action against manufacturers who misrepresent consumers’ rights and remedies for defective products under the Australian Consumer Law,” Mr Sims said. “The Australian Parliament has conferred these important rights on consumers, and these rights should not be undermined by misrepresentations.”
The ACCC is seeking declarations, injunctions, pecuniary penalties, corrective notices, a trade practices compliance program and costs.
The matter is listed for a Case Management Conference in the Federal Court in Melbourne before Justice Middleton on 5 February 2016 at 10:15 am.
Background
Under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL):
- when consumers buy products, they come with a guarantee that they will be of acceptable quality. This means the products will be as free from defects, safe and durable as a reasonable consumer would regard as acceptable
- the guarantee of acceptable quality is in addition to any manufacturer’s warranty
- the guarantee of acceptable quality is not limited to the period of the manufacturer’s warranty. In many cases, it will apply for longer than the manufacturer’s warranty
- if the product is not of acceptable quality, consumers are entitled to remedies, such as a refund, replacement or repair, at no cost to the consumer.
The ACCC has previously taken court action against LG for misleading or deceptive conduct with respect to the existence and duration of statutory warranties. See a copy of the ACCC’s final media release dated 5 July 2006.
LG has also previously provided the ACCC with three separate section 87B undertakings relating to allegations of misleading or deceptive conduct, in 2005, 2006 and 2010.