Vodafone faces charges over expired contracts

Issued 22 August 2018
Release no. 28

Vodafone faces charges for billing customers after contract finished

The Commerce Commission has laid 10 charges against Vodafone New Zealand Limited (Vodafone) alleging it made false representations in invoices sent to its customers.

Charges were filed in Auckland District Court under the Fair Trading Act and cover the period from 1 January 2012 to 1 January 2017.

The Commission alleges that, having agreed with a customer to terminate their service part-way through the next month, Vodafone then sent an invoice that included charges for the entire next monthly billing period.

As such, the Commission alleges that Vodafone misrepresented its right to payment because its customers only owed payment for the services provided prior to the agreed termination date.

The Commission cannot comment further while this case is before the Court. This matter will be called in the Auckland District Court for the first time on 11 September 2018.

Background
Vodafone is a major provider of internet, mobile and phone services to New Zealand consumers and businesses. It has over 3,000 employees in New Zealand.

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