Latest news with #AnneCallinan
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Commerce Commission: Meal-kit provider pleads guilty to misleading behaviour
File photo: RNZ 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.
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
HelloFresh pleads guilty to misleading behaviour
File photo: RNZ 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.
RNZ News
a day ago
- Business
- RNZ News
HelloFresh pleads guilty to misleading behaviour
The HelloFresh website in January 2023. Photo: RNZ / Dan Satherley 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. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
HelloFresh pleads guilty to five charges after ‘subscription traps' tricked customers
HelloFresh will be sentenced on October 16 for the 'subscription trap' behaviour. The Commerce Commission must file submissions on sentencing by 5pm on September 22 and HelloFresh must file by 5pm on October 7. The charges relates to conduct between February 2022 and July 2023. Previous HelloFresh customers were offered a discount voucher without it being made clear that accepting the voucher would reactivate their subscription. 'Taking payment for services customers aren't aware they're buying or have not agreed to purchase is unacceptable behaviour,' the commission's deputy chair Anne Callinan said when charges were filed. 'In these calls, it was not made clear to some customers that if they accepted a discount voucher offered, their subscription would be reactivated, and their bank account would be debited.' The commission said it was prioritising action against illegal online sales conduct. 'This includes subscription traps, which come in many forms and include situations where consumers are misled into signing up for a paid subscription without knowing.' The charges were initially filed at Wellington District Court. The commission said it investigated HelloFresh after receiving many complaints about its sign-up, cancellation, and reactivation processes. The Herald in 2023 heard from Fiona Goodin, who complained of being bamboozled with obnoxious calls from HelloFresh soon after Cyclone Gabrielle. HelloFresh at the time said it was providing more training to its teams to ensure they did not pester people in cyclone-affected areas. Consumer NZ in early 2023 said it received numerous complaints about HelloFresh, with some customers angry at being charged for meal kit boxes they opted to skip. Australia's Consumer Policy Research Centre said three out of four Australians reported having a negative experience when trying to cancel a subscription. It urged businesses to avoid practices that rely on tricking customers or making money from customer inertia or forgetfulness. John Weekes is a business journalist mostly covering aviation and courts. He has previously covered consumer affairs, crime, politics and courts.
Otago Daily Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Woolworths NZ facing charges over pricing and 'specials'
The Commerce Commission filed charges against Woolworths in the Auckland District Court. PHOTO: RNZ The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against Woolworths NZ for alleged inaccurate pricing and misleading specials that may have breached the Fair Trading Act. The commission filed the charges against Woolworths in the Auckland District Court. It indicated in December last year that it would be filing separate criminal charges against Woolworths and two Pak'nSave supermarkets. At that time, the commission said there were ongoing issues with pricing in the supermarket sector and the operators may have breached the Fair Trading Act. In a December statement, deputy chair Anne Callinan said operators should know what the expectations were. "Supermarkets have long been on notice about the importance of accurate and clear pricing and specials, and we're not satisfied with the continuing issues we're seeing across the industry. "Pricing accuracy is a consumer right and an expectation of a competitive market. The major supermarkets are large, well-resourced businesses that should invest the time and effort to get pricing and promotions right." The charges were filed to remind all supermarkets that they are expected to fix the pricing accuracy issues and implement better processes, Callinan said. In a statement when the charges were announced, Woolworths managing director Spencer Sonn said it was important customers could trust prices advertised at their supermarkets, but sometimes errors occurred. Woolworths said it has cooperated with the Commerce Commission's pricing investigation for some time.
