Solar energy retailer True Value Solar has stopped offering customers incentives for publishing positive reviews online following an investigation by the nation's competition regulator.
The company had offered customers a free solar panel service valued at $199 for publishing a positive review on Product Review's website between February 2015 and September 2015, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says.
The free solar panel service was only offered to customers who indicated that they had had a positive experience with True Value Solar, and were, therefore, likely to provide a positive review.
The offer of the incentive was not disclosed in the review.
"Businesses that offer incentives for unbalanced positive reviews risk misleading consumers and breaching the Australian Consumer Law," ACCC deputy chair Michael Schaper said.
"Online reviews provide consumers with important information based on the experiences of others. Consumers rightfully expect reviews to be genuine and independent to help them make informed purchasing decisions," Dr Schaper said in a statement on Monday.
Following contact by the ACCC, True Value Solar immediately discontinued its incentives program.
The company also agreed that if it were to re-introduce a similar program down the track, incentives would be offered to all customers regardless of their review. Also, any incentive offer would be prominently disclosed to readers of the review.
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