澳大利亚证券和投资委员会（ASIC）对Harvey Norman和Latitude Financial两家公司共处罚5500万澳元，理由是两家公司在2020年1月至2021年8月期间发布了具有误导性的广告宣传1。广告宣传的是60个月免息付款方案，但隐瞒了消费者需要办理信用卡并支付额外费用的关键信息1。其中，Harvey Norman被罚3500万澳元，Latitude Financial被罚2000万澳元1。
根据ASIC的调查，在2021年3月16日至8月11日期间办理GO Mastercard并使用该60个月免息方案的消费者需要支付最少537澳元的额外费用1。ASIC主席Sarah Court表示："消费者有权知道这个优惠涉及的不仅仅是60期付款"1。法官Michael O'Bryan在判决中指出："Harvey Norman展现出不同程度的悔过态度，公开声明显示对消费者伤害的漠视"1。根据判决，两家公司还被责令在其网站首页发布更正广告90天1。
Australia's Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has imposed combined penalties totaling $55 million against Harvey Norman and Latitude Financial for conducting a deceptive advertising campaign promoting a 60-month interest-free payment scheme between January 2020 and August 2021 1. Harvey Norman will pay $35 million while Latitude Financial faces a $20 million penalty 1. The enforcement action revealed that both companies obscured a critical detail from consumers: accessing the interest-free offer required obtaining a credit card and incurring additional fees 1.
Consumers who applied for the GO Mastercard between March 16 and August 11, 2021, and utilized the 60-month interest-free arrangement faced minimum additional costs of $537 1. ASIC Chair Sarah Court stated that "consumers have a right to know that this offer involves more than just paying in 60 instalments" 1. Beyond the financial penalties, both companies must publish corrective advertisements on their website homepages for 90 days 1.
The first finding of violations was made in October 2024, with an appeal subsequently dismissed in September 2025 1. Judge Michael O'Bryan observed that "Harvey Norman demonstrated varying degrees of contrition, with public statements indicating indifference to consumer harm" 1.
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