Methven fined $50,000 for misleading customers

Shower unit from Methven. Photo / Supplied

Bathroom manufacturer and supplier Methven has admitted nine breaches of the Fair Trading Act for misleading consumers about potential water savings when using its Satinjet shower range.

Methven was yesterday fined $50,000 and ordered to pay costs at the Waitakere District Court.

Methven extensively advertised the energy and water savings to be had from installing a Satinjet shower head, with a 9 or 14 litre flow restrictor, between May 2008 and February 2009.

But a Commerce Commission investigation revealed 60 per cent of New Zealand showers already flow at a rate of nine litres per minute or less without the Satinjet head.

The commission's enforcement manager Greg Allan said many consumers decided to buy products based on what was good for their budgets and for the environment, and Methven's advertising would have lead them to believe they were making such decisions.