Another US company thinks it is above the Law

A POPULAR gaming service Steam, owned by Valve, may have broken Australian law when it refused customers refunds they were entitled to.

After being contacted my several customers, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has initiated legal action against Valve. Valve’s main product, Steam, is one of the most popular ways for Australian gamers to download content. It’s like iTunes, but for PC games.

The consumer watchdog has accused Valve of telling customers they are not entitled to refunds under any circumstances. Valve has also allegedly told customers that it did not have to repair or replace or give a refund on a game when the customer didn’t take it up directly with the game developer.

The ACCC also alleged Valve told customers it was not subject to local consumer guarantees under the law.

A directions hearing has been set in the Federal Court on October 7.

ACCC chairman Rod Sims said: “The Australian Consumer Law applies to any business providing goods or services within Australia. Valve may be an American-based company with no physical presence in Australia, but it is carrying on business in Australia by selling to Australian consumers, who are protected by Australian Consumer Law.

“It is a breach of the Australian Consumer Law for businesses to state that they do not give refunds under any circumstances, including for gifts and during sales. Under the Australian Consumer Law, consumers can insist on a refund or replacement at their option if a product has a major fault.

“The consumer guarantees provided under the Australian Consumer Law cannot be excluded, restricted or modified.”

Valve chief executive Doug Lombardi told news.com.au in an email: “We are making every effort to cooperate with the Australian officials on this matter, while continuing to provide Steam services to our customers across the world, including Australian gamers.

He did not respond to more detailed questions put forward by news.com.au.

Valve has 65 million users worldwide.

http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/steamowner-valve-taken-to-court-by-accc-over-alleged-violations/story-fnkgdftz-1227041421564

I actually Quite like Steam and Valve but
Suck it Bitch
We are Aussies and we Will not be treated like Shit!! WE are no Right-less US consumers!!!!
Apple had trouble with this too because it also ILLEGAL to say You wont cover it WHEN the Law say you have too.
And Consumer rights are non-surrender-able meaning Term and conditions are literally not worth anything at all here. You cannot forfeit for right to refund they can NOT place conditions on the refund/replacement.

“It is a breach of the Australian Consumer Law for businesses to state that they do not give refunds under any circumstances, including for gifts and during sales. Under the Australian Consumer Law, consumers can insist on a refund or replacement at their option if a product has a major fault.
“The consumer guarantees provided under the Australian Consumer Law cannot be excluded, restricted or modified.”

“I hope that we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.” - Thomas Jefferson

Too bad, Tom -- it was a nice idea.

  BOTH Roosevelts and Eisenhower all warned the American people at various times what would happen if corporations (especially the financial institutions..) were to gain too much power and influence...
BUT would the American people listen ??   Like hell they would !
AND now they have to live with the consequences..

Caveat emptor !  And the US citizenry were "sold a pup" when their congress agreed to granting excessive "rights" to big companies.. And now it's being made even worse with more "free trade agreements" and fancy tax breaks and various Mickey Mouse court decisions giving more undeserved freedoms to big business by the year... ::lightsab::

ONLY need to see what corporations such as American Express, Apple, Campbell's soups, Coca Cola, Deckers corp., Exxon, GM, Heinz, Hewlett Packard, Peabody mining, Pepsi, and a host of other "giants" in their fields are getting away with on a daily basis ~ and let's not even mention how the top banks in the USA blatantly ripped off the rest of their country after the "GFC"..  ::sexbnan: