NBN reseller slapped with fine for claiming ACCC endorsement

Melbourne-based satellite broadband reseller Activ8me has been forced to pay a $12,600 penalty after claiming the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission had endorsed its services.

The advertisement in question.

The ACCC today said Activ8me had published a claim on its website and its Facebook page that it had been “named Australia’s #1 Sky Muster provider by the ACCC".

The claim was based on an ACCC NBN wholesale market report that listed Activ8me as having the largest number of satellite services in operation.

The ACCC said this did not equal an endorsement of Activ8me over other providers.

In both instances Activ8me had prominently displayed the ACCC's logo next to the statements.

“The ACCC does not endorse or approve particular businesses and it is imperative that consumers trust our name and logo when it is used,” ACCC commissioner Sarah Court said.

“As soon as we became aware of the misuse of our report findings and logo, we contacted Activ8me and issued an infringement notice. Activ8me has since removed the representations. 

"This penalty serves as a warning to companies that we will act swiftly if they misrepresent the ACCC.”

Activ8me paid the penalty on March 1. The ACCC noted this was not an admission of guilt by the provider.