Category: Consumers

A long-awaited review of insurance law has been announced by Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Kris Faafoi.

Vodafone is facing 27 charges under the Fair Trading Act for claims made about its FibreX broadband service.

A $737,000 fine has been handed out by Australia’s Federal Court to the manufacturer of a flushable wipe product for making misleading claims.

A truck shop that targeted and misled vulnerable consumers has been issued a $330,000 fine and ordered to pay $10,800 in damages to its victims.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) today reported that advertising revenue across all main media was 2.561 billion dollars for the 12 months ended 31 December 2017. The 2016 total was 2.572 billion dollars. The turnover includes data from television, newspapers, interactive media, radio, magazines, outdoor, addressed mail, unaddressed mail, and cinema.

The Complainant was concerned the advertisement showed the vehicle “breaking traction with excessive acceleration” where the car is seen “drag racing at the lights”. The Complainant said the advertisement also showed passengers riding in the car in dangerous positions.

The Complainant said the advertisement was misleading because it implied the ring worn by the model was the ring on offer, when that ring was clearly larger than a 1ct solitaire diamond. The Advertiser agreed the advertisement could be considered misleading and said they had removed the ad and it will not be broadcast again in its current form.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has released its 2017 annual report. In 2017 the ASA received 603 formal complaints and responded to 347 enquiries from media companies, advertisers and agencies about advertisements prior to publication or broadcast.  Over half the complaints related to misleading claims in advertisements and just under 20% of complaints were about…

The Ministry of Culture and Heritage provides guidelines about the use of the word Anzac in advertising. The guidelines prohibit the use of the word Anzac in trade or business unless approval has been given by the minister for arts, culture and heritage and the governor-general.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) recently held a Summit in Auckland focussing on the value of advertising self-regulation. The ASA celebrates its 45th anniversary this year and took this opportunity to gather over 60 major advertisers, agencies and media organisations together to acknowledge the work of the ASA in supporting responsible advertising.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games will take place on the Gold Coast, Australia from 4 – 15 April with 70 participating nations scheduled to compete. In New Zealand, the Major Events Management Act (MEMA) provides permanent protection to the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games emblems and words.

The Complainant said the advertisement was offensive because it implied that exposure to the outdoors was bad for children. The Complainant was also concerned the product contained the ingredient Triclosan because they believed it may have negative effects for users.

Tenants who rent through a property management company are significantly more likely to experience problems, a Consumer NZ survey has found.

The compulsory recall of more than 50,000 vehicles fitted with potentially explosive Takata airbags will provide clarity for New Zealanders, Consumer NZ head of testing Paul Smith said today.

Local banks have outstripped the big four Australian banks for service in Consumer NZ’s latest survey.

The ASA offers a competitor complaints process that gives fast and thorough consideration to competitor complaints for the benefit of consumers and to ensure a level playing field for industry. A competitor complaint from was recently considered by a Panel of public and industry Board members.

The Complaints Board confirmed the Advertiser had the right to promote E-cigarettes within the constraints of an R18 age restriction for sales. The Complaints Board agreed the advertisement did not have particular appeal to children, nor did it show or glamorise smoking.

March 15 marks World Consumer Rights Day. Consumer organisations are using the day to call for better protection for consumers from online shopping traps.

Pharmacies are promoting pregnancy multivitamins with overblown claims, a Consumer NZ mystery shop has found.

30kWh Nissan Leaf owners are being short-changed as their batteries lose capacity significantly faster than expected, according to a report by Flip The Fleet, a New Zealand-based “citizen science” project.

The Complainant was concerned the advertisement depicted women’s bodies for the sexual servicing of men, and women as sexual objects devoid of individuality. They also drew comparisons with the male version of the advertisement to illustrate the contrast in the advertisements.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has released its new Guidance Note on Identification of Advertisements The nature of advertising is constantly evolving and recently there have been calls to help consumers identify advertising. The ASA Code of Ethics states that all advertising content controlled directly or indirectly by the advertiser should be identified as such,…

Kiwibank has succumbed to consumer pressure and is extending the expiry date of its Prezzy Card from 12 to 24 months.

The Australian government has announced a compulsory recall of more than two million vehicles fitted with Takata airbags. Manufacturers have until the end of 2020 to replace the defective airbags, or face heavy fines.

A heavily marketed herbal supplement poses a risk of liver damage and some users of the product have ended up in hospital.

Auckland Transport has cleaned up its AT HOP card terms and conditions after a Commerce Commission review found they were likely to be unfair and breach the Fair Trading Act.

A Consumer NZ complaint about a sunscreen that failed to meet its label claims has resulted in manufacturer Johnson & Johnson agreeing to only sell products that meet the joint Australian and New Zealand standard.

ANZ’s decision to remove the $1 fee it charges customers for using another bank’s ATM follows a call from Consumer NZ for all banks to remove these charges.

The maker of Red Seal nutritional supplements has been pulled up by the Commerce Commission for marketing its products as “Pharmacy Strength”.

A new website to help consumers make good decisions when buying or selling property, has been welcomed by Consumer NZ.

Love might be in the air this week but so are shysters looking to part you from your money.

Students are being warned to take pictures of their electricity meter to avoid being stung with a high bill.

Are you one of the unlucky punters who purchased a ticket to Neil Diamond’s cancelled Mission Estate winery concert? Then check your bank account. You should have received a refund including booking fees and ticket insurance.

The following decisions have been published: Complaint 17/371 WHET Drinking Room, Digital Marketing – Facebook: Upheld, in part Complaint 17/439 Flick Electric Co, Television: Not Upheld Complaint 17/440 WHET Drinking Room, Digital Marketing – Facebook: Upheld, in part Complaint 17/441 WHET Drinking Room, Digital Marketing – Facebook: Upheld, in part Complaint 18/003 Fairfax Media, Print:…

We’re tidying up our rules to better reflect the way Consumer NZ operates.

A Consumer NZ mystery shop of sunbed operators has again highlighted poor practices in the industry. Two operators let an underage shopper have a sunbed session, while 6 let a person with fair skin that burns easily use a sunbed.

A mobile trader who was seriously ripping off its customers has been fined $114,000, despite going into liquidation last year.

In Consumer NZ’s latest satisfaction survey, telco customers rated Vodafone last for both mobile and broadband services, the same place it occupied last year.

Top Brand reflects the overall product ownership experience. To achieve an award a brand must excel in Consumer NZ product testing and be a high achiever in our customer satisfaction and reliability surveys.

The Isuzu television advertisement shows a truck being driven over rural terrain with the voice-over saying “This is John Simpson from Mount Hay Station, Tekapo. John’s been driving this D-Max for a while now. It’s been a great truck and it’s got heaps of life left yet. But even so, he’ll be driving into town to the dealer soon and trading it in for a new D-Max, so someone else can have this one. John’s a good bastard! Be like John! Trade up to a new Isuzu D-Max, so someone else can have your old one.” The advertisement ends with the tag-line “Be a Good Bastard.”

An online electronics retailer that we warned consumers not to trade with has admitted misleading Aussie shoppers by selling second-hand goods as new and misleading consumers about their rights.

A Consumer NZ member who took tech giant Microsoft to the Disputes Tribunal over a faulty Xbox has won a $480 refund.

The Commerce Commission is warning shoppers to be wary if they’re using websites run by online beauty retailer Luxstyle.

Two tests of SunSense Ultra SPF50+ found the sunscreen fails to provide the protection claimed.

The following decisions have been published: Complaint 17/345 Zepter International New Zealand, Digital Marketing: Not Upheld Complaint 17/348 Zepter International New Zealand, Digital Marketing: Not Upheld Complaint 17/378, Brand Developers, Digital Marketing: Not Upheld Complaint 17/392 Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG): Upheld, in part Complaint 17/398 Brand Developers Insurance, Television: Not Upheld…

Only 1 trampoline met all the critical safety checks in a test by Consumer NZ. Of 7 models tested, only the Springfree, a soft-edge trampoline with its frame and springs beneath the jumping mat, passed all impact, structural and entrapment tests.

Still doing your Christmas shopping, or planning to head to the Boxing Day sales? Here’s how to shop smart these holidays.

Real estate agents providing incorrect or misleading information topped the issues raised in consumer complaints and inquiries to the Real Estate Agents Authority (REAA) this year.

After 15 years with his employer, Murray Hodson was rewarded with a Prezzy Card loaded with a generous $2700. Murray was chuffed with his gift, until he jumped online to check his balance and discovered the card had expired with nearly $2500 of credit on it.

If you’re craving a pleasant shopping experience this Christmas, you’re more likely to find it at the little guys than at the big chain stores.

TSB Bank will refund its customers’ overcharged fees after reporting itself to the Commerce Commission.

The Appeal Board considered all the matters afresh and agreed the identity of the Advertiser and their position were clear and accepted the image in the billboard was an illustration of damage to teeth.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has developed a Guidance Note for advertising health services. This provides advertisers with information to help them comply with the ASA’s Therapeutic and Health Advertising Code when making claims about their service in their advertisements.

A complainant said the Fonterra advertisement was misleading because it was “insinuating that dairy somehow aids in the recovery and rehabilitation of serious accidents” which was not substantiated. The Complainant also said the advertisement was insensitive as it minimised the hard work of the patient and Doctor.

The International Council for Advertising Self-Regulation (ICAS) is a global platform promoting responsible ads through the effective implementation of self-regulatory standards. ICAS has released a short animated video to help explain advertising self-regulation:

The Complainant was concerned the promotion of restricted products in a mailbox flyer meant children could be exposed to images of the R18 products and it created a level of acceptance of behaviour that could lead to drug use. The Advertiser said they had taken a considered approach to the creation of the advertisement, including noting the products were R18 and the front of the flyer only referred to the locations of the stores, not the products. The Advertiser also drew a comparison with the advertising of alcohol, which is also a legal but restricted product.

The Billboard advertisement for Lion (NZ) Ltd – Corona Extra, showed a snow-covered mountain range at sunset. Skis and snowboard equipment were leaning against a hut wall, while some people drank bottles of beer. The tagline at the bottom of the billboard states “From where you’d rather be.”

The lead up to a general election is usually a busy time for the ASA, and 2017 proved no exception. The ASA deals with complaints about all election advertising in non-broadcast media and third-party election advertising in broadcast media. This year the ASA dealt with 11 election advertisement complaints under its fast-track process.  This process requires a response from the advertiser and any other relevant party within 24 hours of notification of the complaint.

Two Facebook groups and an Instagram account contained posts that focused on the consumption of Double Brown beer, a product of DB Breweries Limited. A Complainant was concerned the material depicted irresponsible drinking behaviours including excessive drinking, drinking in hazardous environments, and showing people under 25 consuming alcohol with strong appeal to minors.

The Complainant’s view was that the use of the red colour and Labour Party logo was misleading as it implied it was the official position of the Labour Party and gave the impression Labour intends to implement a Capital Gains Tax if elected. The Advertiser said the use of the Labour Party logo and red colour highlighted the contrast in the parties’ policies on tax.

The Complainant said the advertisement’s claim that people will pay more tax from 1 April 2018 was misleading. The Advertiser said it was not misleading because the National Party’s tax package that comes into effect 1 April 2018 will mean people pay less tax than they do under the current law.

The television and digital advertisement for Meridian Energy’s electric vehicles showed a father and son driving through the countryside, passing wind turbines and states in part: “Meridian has always been committed to looking after New Zealand’s future. So that’s why they’re right behind electric vehicles.

With the publication of our 2016 Annual Report, we have revealed New Zealand’s top 10 most complained about ads of 2016. The cause of complaints ranged from encouraging illegal behaviour, to racism and inappropriate sexual content. Commenting on the Top 10 most complained about ads of 2016, our Chief Executive Hilary Souter said: “We have…

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has released its 2016 annual report. In 2016 the ASA received 586 formal complaints and responded to 273 enquiries from media, advertisers and agencies about advertisements prior to publication or broadcast.

The inaugural Broadband Compare Awards launched this week in response to the increasingly diversified sector of more than 100 internet providers offering services across the country.

A radio advertisement for Ben Holden Fencing featured Ben Holden reading the following script “Your wife jumping the fence boys? Fence her in today – Phone me, Ben Holden, fencing service with integrity. Ben Holden – Keeping marriages together since 1969! I’ve got you covered lads.”

Today we stood up for the 71% of Kiwis who want to know where their food comes from, presenting our submission on the Consumers’ Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill.

Garden pesticides containing a broad-spectrum fungicide will be banned from sale from November.

A former Mercury Energy customer has got an unreserved apology after a letter from the company claimed he needed to open a new account within 7 days or his power could be cut off.

People considering signing up for Vodafone’s FibreX service might be surprised to learn they won’t actually be getting fibre broadband.

A sales promotion scheme is a popular marketing technique used when an advertiser offers the chance to go in to the draw to win something after purchasing their product or service.

Consumer NZ is supporting the inaugural Safer Homes Event being held in Wellington, 26 to 27 May 2017.

BNZ has topped the latest Consumer NZ KiwiSaver customer satisfaction survey. It has been named as the Consumer NZ 2017 People’s Choice award winner for KiwiSaver providers.

ANZ Ltd’s television advertisement showed two children approach a tall wooden fence. The boy clambers onto the girl’s shoulders and peers over to next door, where a man is clearing leaves from his swimming pool. The girl calls out “Hey mister, what’s your pool doing later?”

Tickets to Ed Sheeran’s March 2018 concerts are being sold on ticket resale website Viagogo at hugely inflated prices.

Lies about the origin of the bee pollen inside NatureBee products has seen the company behind it and its director fined $526,500.

Consumer NZ welcomes the Commerce Commission’s announcement it’s targeting retailers’ misleading pricing practices.

Fonterra’s Milk for Schools television advertisements promoted milk as “a great source of nutrition” and said calcium and protein build strong bones, teeth and muscles in children. The Complainant said the use of the terms ‘long-term health benefits’ and ‘goodness of milk’ were misleading and inaccurate and would lead to long-term harm and illness for

Spark’s 30-year-old Public Switched Telephone Network is being phased out over the next 5 years, with a new next-gen system taking its place. This new IP-based network is called the Converged Communications Network.

Financial advisers believe it’s not viable to have clients with retirement savings less than $100,000, a study by the Financial Markets Authority reports.