Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Australian Consumer Watchdog Takes Valve To Court

Posted by samzenpus on from the time-to-sue dept.

angry tapir writes The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, a government funded watchdog organization, is taking Valve to court. The court action relates to Valve's Steam distribution service. According to ACCC allegations, Valve misled Australian consumers about their rights under Australian law by saying that customers were not entitled to refunds for games under any circumstances.

6 of 139 comments (clear)

  1. G'Day Valve, by mjwx · · Score: 4, Funny

    I bought ya Bioshock Infinite game on sale last weekend.

    It's shithouse, I want me 22 bucks back ya flamin mongrels.

    Yours sincerely,
    Alf Flamin Stuart.

    --
    Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  2. Welcome to Australia, Ferengi. by Jimbookis · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have noticed when purchasing new items these days that there are slips of paper reminding consumers of their rights and whatever the company bandies about as company policy cannot trump Australian consumer law, ever. We do refunds here. Suck it up.

    1. Re:Welcome to Australia, Ferengi. by Brulath · · Score: 5, Informative

      It's pretty straight forward, if it breaks within the expected tolerances and lifetime that the average consumer would expect, and is critical to the operation of the device, they must repair, replace, or refund it. If it's a major fault that would've prevented its purchase in the first place, they must refund. If it costs over either $10,000 or $40,000 (I don't recall which off-hand, as it's rarely relevant) then it falls under different warranties, but anything under those is protected.

      It basically says "buyer beware" is bullshit and sellers are responsible for providing quality products, not misleading people into buying crappy ones. Though you can still provide crappy products that work just well enough to not be considered broken - they're usable, at least.

    2. Re:Welcome to Australia, Ferengi. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Reading about the US I really like consumer protection laws in Germany. Everything is so much more consumer friendly and open. Companies have to identify themselves (i.e. have an imprint), all taxes have to be included in prices and if you buy something you have all kinds of rights (two week period to send stuff back/cancel contracts, two year warranty on physical items and such) that cannot be taken away by ToSs.

      It's such a different culture. US companies often struggle because they're used to the whole "corporations first" mindset.

    3. Re:Welcome to Australia, Ferengi. by GNious · · Score: 5, Informative

      Apple tried this in Europe - in Denmark, a government body created a letter people could print out and take to the stores to remind the company about legal requirements and rights.

  3. Re:Umm by Barny · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Yeah, but they don't give you the refund because of consumer law, they give it to shut you up.

    I have gotten refunds off them in the past, and mentioned this law in the request and they stated it doesn't apply to them. I guess the ACCC think otherwise.

    --
    ...
    /me sighs