Accounting software developer Reckon has already fallen foul of the commission for allegedly misleading and deceptive conduct over its Quicken Personal software.
As a result Reckon has agreed to offer free software upgrades to 1750 customers and refunds to 119 other.
The agreement follows an ACCC investigation prompted by several complaints relating to the Share Portfolio service offered by Reckon with Versions 7 and 8 of Quicken Personal.
According to the commission packaging on the software advertised a 'one button update of your portfolio over the Internet'.
But earlier this year Reckon advised Version 7 users that the Share Portfolio download service would not operate after April 1 this year.
They could either upgrade to Version 8 at a cost of $109.95, or pay a subscription fee of $49.95 for access until the end of the year.
The ACCC decided this amounted to misleading and deceptive conduct because Reckon's advertising implied indefinite access to the Share Portfolio download service free of charge.
After discussions with the company it was agreed that Version 7 users who had subscribed to the share portfolio download service until December 31, 2001 would receive a full refund and those who upgraded to Version 8 rather than pay the subscription would be offered a free upgrade to Reckon's soon-to-be released Personal Plus Version 2002.
Acting ACCC chairman Rod Shogren described the result as 'a good outcome for Quicken users'
-They now have access to9 a new version and knowledge of the limitations on its use."
He said software companies must be aware of the effect of their advertising and must ensure consumer are fully aware of any limitations and conditions attached to advertised product features at the time of purchase.
