Following allegations that the supermarkets Woolworths and Coles misled customers by promising better prices, a new class action has been launched against the two.
The law firm Gerard Malouf & Partners is seeking to secure financial compensation for consumers in Australia.
It is estimated that the payouts could range from around $200 to over $1300.
The goal of the class action is to reclaim the difference between the prices that were advertised and the actual prices of the products that were purchased at both Woolworths and Coles.
Gerard Malouf, the chair of the class action, said that it was an important step in protecting the rights of consumers.
In response to the legal action launched by the competition watchdog, both Woolworths and Coles released statements on September 23.
They noted that they would defend themselves against the allegations.
The ACCC claimed that both companies misled customers by advertising misleading deals on hundreds of products, such as toothpaste and Tim Tam.
During the time of the crisis, the two major supermarkets launched their own campaigns to help consumers make ends meet.
For its “Down, Down” campaign, Coles encouraged cost-conscious shoppers to use its website to find great deals.
Similarly, for Woolworths’ “Prices Dropped” campaign, the ACCC estimated that the company sold millions of products at discounted prices.
According to Gina Cass Gottlieb, the ACCC’s chair, the watchdog would seek significant penalties against the two supermarkets if the legal action against them is successful.