Iselect hit with $8. 5 million fine over misleading customers choosing electricity plans

Financial comparison site iSelect has been ordered to pay $8.5 million by the Federal Court over accusations it misled customers choosing electricity plans. Between November 2016 and

December 2018, iSelect admitted it misled users over claims that it would compare all electricity plans offered by its partners and then recommend the most competitive plan. In reality,

iSelect's commercial arrangements with electricity retailers restricted the number of plans that could be uploaded to iSelect's system – meaning that the plan that was recommended

to consumers was not necessarily the best price or the most suitable. Australia's consumer watchdog the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it estimates that

during this time period hundreds of thousands of consumers visited the website. "iSelect was not upfront with consumers that it wasn't comparing all plans offered by its partner

retailers," ACCC chair Rod Sims said. "In fact, about 38 per cent of people who compared electricity plans with iSelect at that time may have found a cheaper plan if they had

shopped around or used the government's comparison site Energy Made Easy. "iSelect received commissions from the retailers when those consumers selected a plan via the iSelect

website or call centre." The Federal Court found that iSelect misrepresented the price of some plans it recommended to almost 5000 consumers. In some cases, due to technical errors,

iSelect recommended electricity plans that underestimated the real cost by up to $140 per quarter. "iSelect's misleading conduct may have caused some consumers to switch

electricity providers or plans on the basis of a price that was understated or without being aware that a cheaper plan was available," Mr Sims said. "It can be complex and

confusing for consumers to compare prices and other features of electricity services in a bid to get the best deal for what often is a major household expense. "Comparison sites need to

make it very clear if their recommendations are influenced or limited by commercial relationships." Users do not need to pay to use iSelect's services; the comparison site is paid

fees and commissions by its partner retailers when a consumer uses the service to purchase an energy plan. In a statement to shareholders, iSelect said the concerning aspects of its service

were caused by a coding error and customers were informed of the correct payable amount in "welcome packs". "The ACCC and iSelect made joint submissions to the Court in

relation to the appropriate relief and the Court has declared, among other things, that certain statements appearing on iSelect's energy website in the period 13 November 2016 to 6

December 2018 concerning aspects of its comparison service were, or were likely to be misleading," iSelect told the ASX. "Because related disclosures were not adequate and

similarly that in the period March 2017 to November 2019, as a result of a coding error iSelect had understated the amount payable under energy plans for a number of NSW consumers. "The

parties jointly submitted that the amount was corrected in welcome packs made available to those consumers who had statutory rights allowing them to walk away from plans if they wished

to." iSelect said there is no evidence of deliberate intent to mislead customers. "The joint submissions by the ACCC and iSelect acknowledged that there is no evidence that iSelect

intended to mislead consumers or deliberately contravene the law," the comparison site said. "The joint submissions also acknowledged the corrective action taken by iSelect after

it was notified of the ACCC's concerns, including increasing the prominence of disclaimers on our website, as well as iSelect's cooperation, including initiating settlement

discussions, and its compliance program." _Beyond Blue's Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service is a 24/7 service free of charge to all Australians. __Visit the site here__ 

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