Consumer advocates have warned motorists to stay away from electrolysed rust reduction devices after Western Australian authorities proved the products don’t work.
WA Consumer Protection found the theory behind the computerised electronic corrosion inhibitors (CECI) – that rust is attracted to a sacrificial piece of metal using positive electrical current – could only work in practice if the car it was attached to was submerged in water.
As a result, an Enforceable Undertaking under the Australian Consumer Law has been made on behalf of all ACL regulators.
CECI distributors High Performance Corporation Pty Ltd (HPC) and MotorOne Group Pty Ltd (MotorOne) have been ordered to stop the sale of and secure refunds for consumers who bought the devices, which were falsely claimed to reduce rust and corrosion by as much as 80 percent in motor vehicles.
The device – which was often sold as part of a package of after-sales care products on new cars through vehicle dealerships, auto parts stores and window tinting outlets – connects to the vehicle’s battery and an earth point.
The makers of similar products are also being investigated by WA Consumer Protection, with prices of these devices ranging up to $4000.
NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe has warned NSW consumers not to waste their money buying the products.
HPC and MotorOne are prevented them from supplying, advertising or promoting CECI Units, or substantially similar devices, in Australia from December 31.
The undertaking also requires the distributors to write to retailers that sold their products to inform them of the availability of refunds to all consumers who paid hundreds of dollars per device over the period January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013.
WA Consumer Protection found the theory behind the computerised electronic corrosion inhibitors (CECI) – that rust is attracted to a sacrificial piece of metal using positive electrical current – could only work in practice if the car it was attached to was submerged in water.
As a result, an Enforceable Undertaking under the Australian Consumer Law has been made on behalf of all ACL regulators.
CECI distributors High Performance Corporation Pty Ltd (HPC) and MotorOne Group Pty Ltd (MotorOne) have been ordered to stop the sale of and secure refunds for consumers who bought the devices, which were falsely claimed to reduce rust and corrosion by as much as 80 percent in motor vehicles.
The device – which was often sold as part of a package of after-sales care products on new cars through vehicle dealerships, auto parts stores and window tinting outlets – connects to the vehicle’s battery and an earth point.
The makers of similar products are also being investigated by WA Consumer Protection, with prices of these devices ranging up to $4000.
NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe has warned NSW consumers not to waste their money buying the products.
HPC and MotorOne are prevented them from supplying, advertising or promoting CECI Units, or substantially similar devices, in Australia from December 31.
The undertaking also requires the distributors to write to retailers that sold their products to inform them of the availability of refunds to all consumers who paid hundreds of dollars per device over the period January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013.
