Last month, the ACCC commenced action against Oticon Australia Pty Ltd and Sonic Innovations Pty Ltd, both hearing aid retailers, for allegedly making false and misleading representations in advertisements for hearing aids available under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program (Hearing Program). The Hearing Program is available for pensioner concession card holders, veterans and defence force personnel.
The retailers published 85 advertisements which misled customers as to their rights to access hearing aids under the Hearing Program and resulted in a number of older Australians paying extra for additions to their hearing aids.
Both Oticon and Sonic have agreed that they contravened the Australian Consumer Law and have offered to refund customers who purchased additional equipment to use with their hearing aids. Both retailers may also be subject to significant financial penalties imposed by the ACCC.
Read the ACCC’s media release here.