Vic: Victorian shoppers fleeced by dodgy scales and petrol pumps

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2000
Vic: Victorian shoppers fleeced by dodgy scales and petrol pumps

Rigged petrol pumps and dodgy shop scales are reportedly cheating tens of thousands
of Victorians.

The Herald Sun says dozens of successful prosecutions have spurred Trade Measurement
Victoria to step up its random checks to catch cheating businesses.

It says between July last year and June this year the weights watchdog has caught 48
service stations short-changing motorists at the pump.

The agency also caught out 18 supermarkets rigging the scales on delicatessen items
and it found 42 cases where pre-packaged food in shops and supermarkets was below the
stated weight.

Some businesses were given warnings but 66 repeat offenders were fined a total of $27,000.

The newspaper says authorities expect to catch even more cheats over the next 12 months
because food rip-offs are on the rise.

AAP RTV nl/jx

KEYWORD: RIGGED ( MELBOURNE)

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.