When Jeegar Rathod wanted to buy a mobile phone last year, some of his friends suggested the online store Android Enjoyed, as they said it was cheaper than other online electronic goods companies.
Mr Rathod ordered a $267 HTC U Play Dual 64GB 4G LTE Black mobile phone from the site on December 26 last year. He was still waiting for his order by the second week of February. After not receiving a response from the company, he cancelled his order.
It has been three months and he is still waiting to get his money back.
Jeegar Rathod's story is not uncommon; the most recent survey undertaken by the NSW Fair Trading complaints register puts Android Enjoyed at the top of the complaints list for the second month in a row.
Fair Trading says it received 50 complaints about Android Enjoyed in March, up from 45 in February.
NSW Minister for Better Regulation, Matt Kean, in a statement, said he had directed Fair Trading to investigate what further action can be taken against Android Enjoyed and its parent company, Digital Marketing and Solutions Pty Ltd.
He said it was clear Fair Trading’s past actions against Digital Marketing and Solutions, and its companies were not enough.
“Fair Trading has previously issued an enforceable undertaking against the company, and for a short time that appeared to be making a difference,” Mr Kean said. “But sadly it was short-lived, as they are not only back, but once again topping the list.”
Mr Kean also added that “..their disappointing business practices are totally unacceptable, and consumers shouldn’t have to cop that.”
Digital Marketing and Solutions' companies have appeared on the NSW complaints register several times since the register began operating in July 2016.
In September 2016, Fair Trading warned consumers about Android Enjoyed, Camera Sky and Klukkar after numerous complaints.
Shortly after the warning, Fair Trading announced the group’s parent company - then Digital Skies Group Pty Ltd - was co-operating with the investigation. About the same time, ownership of the websites was transferred from Digital Skies Group to Digital Marketing and Solutions.
Mr Rathod said such companies should not be allowed to operate. He reviewed the company's service on the Product review website, where other customers had shared similar experiences.
On 9th March, an Android Enjoyed official spoke to Mr Rathode on the online customer help chatbox saying who said that Android Enjoyed has been undergoing system enhancements, which had affected the timeline in processing refunds.
On 23rd April, Jeegar Rathod got another reply from the Android Enjoyed official, saying that they are still trying to resolve the matter.
Mr Rathod is planning to complain to NSW Fair Trading soon.
“There needs to be better regulations now to protect people from companies like this,” Mr Rathod said.
SBS Gujarati tried to call the company's "priority hotline" phone number on its website, with no success.
NSW Fair Trading publishes its Complaints Register every month, listing businesses that are the subject of 10 or more complaints to the agency in a single calendar month.
This month saw electronic retailer Kogan listed as the second most complained about company with 46 complaints, followed by Viagogo with 31, Apple with 30, and Samsung Electronics with 30.
If you have faced a similar issue, information about consumer rights and trader responsibilities are available on the Fairtrading website, or via phone on 13 32 20.
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