Issue Date:  -  Friday, 19 May 2006

Money making scheme has to make refunds

People who paid money to Stores Online at their seminars they held in Perth last year may be entitled to their money back following a national investigation and action in the Federal Court brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Stores Online will make refunds to customers from more than $658,000 that was frozen by a Federal Court Order.

“People who paid money should contact the ACCC without delay as there is a 9th June cut off,” Western Australia’s Consumer Protection Commissioner Patrick Walker said.

“Stores Online conducted a series of seminars around the metropolitan area selling computer software for consumers to establish websites and conduct e-commerce businesses,” he said.

In addition to offering refunds, Stores Online must also comply with the court order to:

 undertake not to make false or misleading statements;
 give future customers a three-day cooling off period; and
 must contribute towards the legal costs of the ACCC.

“This is a good result. When our own local officers executed search warrants in May last year we had concerns that some people were at risk of paying in excess of $5,000 without really knowing what they were getting into,” Commissioner Walker said.

Anyone wishing to register for refunds should telephone 1300 302 502 for instructions of how to proceed.

Media Contact:
Mike Winchester
9282 0961
0409 118 982