Commerce Commission: Meal-kit provider pleads guilty to misleading behaviour
Meal-kit provider HelloFresh has pleaded guilty to misleading behaviour under the Fair Trading Act.
HelloFresh was charged by the Commerce Commission for misleading customers in cold calls trying to get discontinued subscribers to sign up again.
The claim related to conduct between February 2022 and July 2023, when previous HelloFresh customers were offered vouchers without being told that accepting them would reactivate their subscription.
At the time, Commerce Commission deputy chair Anne Callinan said there was concern that some customers had been "misled into paying for services from HelloFresh they did not want through the use of misleading working and processes in cold calls".
"Taking payment for services customers aren't aware they're buying or have not agreed to purchase is unacceptable behaviour," she said.
The commission started an investigation into HelloFresh after receiving a high number of complaints about its sign-up.
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Otago Daily Times
11 hours ago
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Newsroom
11 hours ago
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Supermarkets impervious to bad headlines and court fines
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Scoop
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- Scoop
Local Government Amendment Bill Introduced To Remove Council Wellbeing Provisions
Article – RNZ Requirements on councils to prioritise core services will also be imposed. The local government Minister is introducing a bill to remove four wellbeing provisions from the Local Government Act to 'refocus' councils on their core functions. Minister Simon Watts said the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill would help restore discipline and transparency, and push councils to focus on things like roading, core infrastructure, water and rubbish. 'Kiwis are frustrated with rising rates, expanding bureaucracy, and poor value for money. This bill puts councils back to work on the basics, their core services, so ratepayers see real results for what they pay,' Watts said. The bill will remove four well-being provisions – social, economic, environmental and cultural – which were reintroduced by Labour in 2019 after being removed by the previous National government in 2012. It will also impose a requirement on councils to prioritise core services when managing finances and setting rates. Other reforms New financial performance measures for councils, with a requirement for regular public reporting. Mandatory disclosure of contractor and consultant spending. Stronger transparency and accountability requirements. Regulatory relief to reduce unnecessary compliance burdens. 'Local government has drifted from their core responsibilities. This bill draws a line in the sand – focus on the essentials and deliver value for your community,' Watts said. 'This refocusing of our councils will help to deliver better value for money, and ultimately help address the number one issue people are dealing with right now, which is cost of living.' Watts said the bill was a major milestone for local government reform.
