Wayfair among firms fined millions for misleading sales tactics
The Competition and Markets Authority has fined Wayfair, Appliances Direct, and Gold's Gym £6m in total.
Key points
- The CMA fined Wayfair £4.8m and Appliances Direct £1.2m over misleading time-limited offers.
- Gold's Gym was fined £48,000 for not disclosing total membership prices.
- Appliances Direct and Gold's Gym will refund customers a combined £440,000.
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has fined three retailers for misleading sales practices. Online furniture retailer Wayfair was fined £4.8m and electronics retailer Appliances Direct £1.2m over time-limited offers that misled customers.
Gold's Gym was fined £48,000 for failing to tell customers the total price of memberships. Appliances Direct and Gold's Gym will together refund customers £440,000, the BBC understands.
Refunds for affected customers
Thousands of Appliances Direct customers will receive refunds averaging £25 each. The BBC understands 726 Gold's Gym customers will get refunds of up to £50.
At a time when many households are carefully managing their budgets, people shouldn't lose out because of misleading sales tactics.
— Hayley Fletcher
What the CMA said
Hayley Fletcher, the CMA's senior director for consumer protection, said households managing tight budgets should not lose out because of misleading sales tactics. She said businesses must treat customers fairly and comply with the law, or face hefty fines.
The BBC has contacted Wayfair, Appliances Direct and Gold's Gym for comment.
