Singapore's State Courts have ordered Triple Lifestyle Marketing, a retailer of alkaline water filtration systems, to stop making false claims and misleading consumers about its products and maintenance service packages, The Straits Times report.

According to reports, the company has claimed that its alkaline water prevents illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and back pain, but no study backs the claim.

According to one judgment filed early this March, the company had proclaimed that its products were accredited and that it was "trusted by more than 50,000 customers and voted #1 on social media".

469 Complainants Slam Company for False Claims

Straits Times tells us that the court also ordered the company's sole director and shareholder, Tan Jia Huang, to stop knowingly aiding, permitting, or procuring his company to make false claims. The courts ruled that Triple Lifestyle Marketing had engaged in unfair practices under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act.

After receiving 469 complaints from the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) against the retailer between January 2018 and October 2022, the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) applied for a court order against the company in November 2022. To verify the complaints, CCCS conducted an investigation and conducted customer interviews.

According to investigations, these customers were misled about the effectiveness of alkaline or filtered water in preventing diseases such as osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, kidney disorders, and other conditions. Triple Lifestyle Marketing also made several false claims, including that Thomson Medical Centre was a customer and its products were accredited.

What's Next?

CNA reports that Triple Lifestyle Marketing and its director, Tan, have been ordered by the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) to publish a public notice in several newspapers, namely Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao, Berita Harian and Tamil Murasu, and on their website regarding the court orders made against them. The notice must be posted by March 29 and must include details of the court orders. 

They must also notify consumers about the court order in writing before signing any contract with them. Furthermore, they must inform CCCS in writing of any changes to their business premises, internet address, legal entity, or employment status.

They are also required to pay $12,000 in costs to CCCS for the court proceedings. This action by CCCS serves as a warning to businesses that engage in unfair practices against consumers. 

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"The injunction orders obtained against Triple Lifestyle Marketing send a strong signal to the marketplace that businesses that engage in persistent unfair practices to take advantage of consumers cannot be tolerated," said Case President Melvin Yong on Facebook on Tuesday. 

He added that Case would continue to work with CCCS and industry stakeholders to review how the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act can be strengthened for swifter action to be taken against errant businesses and for affected consumers to be compensated fairly.

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