Apple have been forced to offer refunds to all Australian customers of their new iPad after the country’s consumer watchdog accused the tech giant of making ‘misleading’ claims concerning the tablet’s 4G capabilities.
According to reports out this week the Curpertino-based firm have been forced to contact Australian customers to offer a full refund after The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found the latest iPad could not connect to fourth-generation internet networks in Australia.
Apple advertised their new iPad with ‘WiFi and 4G’, however it quickly became apparent that the tablet was in fact not compatible with Australia’s one and only 4G network provided by Telstra Corp, prompting the ACCC to take legal action.
Because the new iPad can’t actually connect to any 4G network in the country, the ACCC has accused Apple of using misleading advertising to promote the new iPad and has called on the company to change all advertising immediately.
Following complaints, Apple have now agreed to make customers in the country more aware of the technical glitch and have offered to email all owners of the new iPad to offer them their money back.
The ruling has been closely monitored by Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority. The body is now currently in the process of assessing whether Apple has broken advertising laws in the UK too, however with no national 4G network currently in Britain, the decision is likely to be much less clear cut.
“The Advertising Code states that ads must not mislead the consumer by omitting material information or by presenting it in an unclear, unintelligible or ambiguous way,” commented the body in a statement.
“Without going through due process we can’t say whether the ad is likely to be problematic. If anyone has concerns about the iPad ad then they can lodge a complaint with us and we will establish whether or not there is a problem under the Code.”
