Target slammed over refund process on faulty Sony PlayStations
Target Australia has been slammed by Australia's consumer watchdog for failing to offer remedies to customers who purchased faulty PlayStations from their stores.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) today accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from Target after it admitted it may have breached Australian Consumer Law between January 2017 and August 2017.
During that period, Target's customer service staff told some consumers who complained about faulty Sony PlayStations they had to contact Sony directly for a remedy because the fault had occurred 30 days after the date of purchase.
The undertaking relates to gaming consoles only and not their associated games and accessories. Target
Under Australian Consumer Law there is no arbitrary time limit for a remedy to be sought.
ACCC Commissioner Sarah Court said consumers who have purchased a genuinely faulty Sony product are entitled to a repair, replacement or even a full refund.
"A retailer cannot simply send a consumer to the manufacturer and wash their hands of any responsibility," Ms Court said.
As part of the undertaking, Target Australia will have to publish a notice on its website that asks consumers to come forward. Fairfax Media
"Consumer guarantee rights cannot be excluded or modified by businesses and retailers cannot set an arbitrary time limit on their obligations under the consumer guarantees."
As part of the undertaking, Target Australia will have to publish a notice on its website that asks consumers to come forward if they feel their previous concerns over PlayStation consoles were not addressed.
The retail store will also have to review the circumstances of each customer who was turned away during the eight-month period in 2017.
An example of a PlayStation 4. Supplied
The undertaking relates to gaming consoles only and not their associated games and accessories.
It's the second time in a single day an Australian retail has been penalised for flouting refund conditions. Big W was found to have committed similar breaches over faulty Dyson products.
9news.com.au has contacted Target Australia for comment.
YOUR CONSUMER RIGHTS:
You can claim a remedy from a retailer if the product or products your purchased do not meet a number of consumer guarantees, including:
• If the product is not as it is described on packaging and labels
• If the product does not match a demonstration model you were shown
• If the product does not come with full title and ownership
• If the product does not do all the things someone would normally expect it to do
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