Clubs change refunds and returns policies after ACCC probe

AFLSeveral Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL) have changed their returns and refunds policies on dodgy merchandise.

The changes follow an investigation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) last April, which found that 21 AFL and NRL clubs had returns and refunds policies that were not in keeping with Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

The ACL protects consumers’ right to a remedy that is not limited to a specific time period, and does not exclude discounted items or used products.

The clubs in question told consumers they needed to provide the original proof of purchase when seeking a remedy. In fact, the ACL does not mandate an original receipt be presented by consumers when exercising their rights.

“We found that each club’s statements claimed consumers were only entitled to a remedy in very specific circumstances, when in fact consumers may be entitled to a remedy in many more situations under the Australian Consumer Law,” ACCC chair Rod Sims said.

The ACCC identified nine AFL clubs with misleading policies: Carlton Football Club, Collingwood Football Club, Essendon Football Club, Fremantle Football Club, Geelong Football Club, Hawthorn Football Club, Melbourne Football Club, Richmond Football Club, Sydney Swans Football Club.

It found 12 NRL clubs with misleading policies: Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Football Club, Canterbury-Bankstown Rugby League Football Club, Cronulla Sutherland District Rugby League Football Club, Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club, Manly Warringah Rugby League Football Club, Melbourne Storm Rugby League Club, Newcastle Rugby League Football Club, Parramatta Eels Rugby League Football Club, South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club, St George Illawarra Rugby League Football Club, Titans Rugby League Football Club and Wests Tigers Rugby League Football Club.

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