Carbon tax claims only a phone call away

The local printing industry might still be working out how to incorporate the Federal Government’s carbon tax to be introduced next month, but with a new carbon claims hotline launched this week by the competition watchdog, businesses will need to be careful not to pass on unnecessary expense to customers.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced on 18 June the launch of its new Carbon Claims Hotline. The hotline was set up by the ACCC for customers and businesses suspecting false price claims have been made about carbon price.

ACCC chairman, Rod Sims (pictured), said in a statement that the new hotline would make it easier for consumers and small business to alert the ACCC if what they are seeing in a seller’s pricing structure does not look right.

“The ACCC is concerned that consumers may be duped into accepting a price increase for a product or service because of the carbon price, when the carbon price is not actually the cause,” said Sims. “While businesses are free to set their own prices, if they make claims about the impact of the carbon price these need to be truthful and have a reasonable basis.”

With businesses, councils, and many other organisations already set to increase prices of goods and services to help absorb the predicted cost of the carbon tax, it is important that price increases remain within reasonable and accurate guidelines. Sims said businesses that stay within appropriate pricing guidelines would have no cause to worry about the new carbon claim phone service.

“A business that makes a good faith, reasonable approach to calculating the carbon price for their business has nothing to fear from the ACCC. However businesses seeking to mislead consumers by making false price claims about the carbon price can expect a call from the ACCC,” he said.

To report a claim or to find out more about the ACCC’s role in relation to carbon price claims, or two obtain a range of associated publications for businesses and consumers alike, visit www.accc.gov.au/carbon.

Suspect claims should be reported to the new hotline: 1300 303 609.