WT Howard promoted on its website that it was "proudly local and independently owned" while Coventry represented that "Fitzgeralds Funerals in Townsville North Queensland is locally owned and operated", when in fact both WT Howard and Fitzgerald's Funerals are owned by a publicly listed company,
Propel is a publicly listed company that comprises 130 funeral home locations in
Propel acquired WT Howard, which is based in Taree, in 2015 and
"Businesses need to have systems in place to regularly check that the information they are providing to consumers on their websites and other promotional material remains accurate, as making misleading representations to consumers is a breach of the Australian Consumer Law," ACCC Deputy Chair
The survey is available at the ACCC consultation hub and will remain open until
"If you have organised a funeral, or you work in the funeral services industry and have concerns, please take the time to complete the survey,"
"These penalties are the first enforcement action by the ACCC in this enforcement priority area, but funeral service businesses are on notice that further enforcement action will be considered this year."
Background
Competition and consumer issues in the funeral services sector is a current enforcement and compliance priority for the ACCC.
WT Howard and Coventry have removed the representations from their websites and other promotional material after being contacted by the ACCC.
Note to editors
The payment of a penalty specified in an infringement notice is not an admission of a contravention of the Australian Consumer Law, which also sets the penalty amount.
The ACCC can issue an infringement notice when it has reasonable grounds to believe a person or business has contravened certain consumer protection provisions in the Australian Consumer Law. Release number: 24/21ACCC Infocentre:
Use this form to make a general enquiry. Media enquiries: Media Team - 1300 138 917, media@accc.gov.au
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(C) 2021 M2 COMMUNICATIONS, source