The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against Noel Leeming, alleging the electronics retailer misled consumers with its long-running “Price Promise” campaign.
The Commission claims the promotion, which promised to match competitors’ prices, was riddled with unclear terms and fine print that made price matches difficult to obtain—violating the Fair Trading Act.
It also accuses the company of giving misleading information about consumer rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act.
Noel Leeming, part of The Warehouse Group, denies any wrongdoing and says it will fight the charges, arguing its price matching benefited over 250,000 customers.
The retailer is also facing financial pressures, with a 36.6% drop in operating profit.
