Two fire protection service providers have admitted misleading clients about services not provided, following investigations into the industry by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
An injunction was issued against Chubb Fire by the Federal Court in Brisbane following alleged failurse to provide contracted inspection, testing and maintenance to some customers’ fire alarm systems between 1992 and 1998.
“By Chubb Fire’s own admission, it missed at least one annual alarm system test for approximately 80 per cent of its customers over the period 1996-1997. Some buildings received no annual service for either year,” ACCC chairman Professor Allan Fels said.
Customers included a private hospital, a nursing home, a brewery, a rugby club and a railway station.
“This conduct could have had life-threatening consequences,” he said.
“Such conduct is also blatantly misleading and in contravention of the Trade Practices Act.”
The injunction follows court orders against Tyco Australia Pty Ltd trading as Wormald Fire Systems in December 1999.
