The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has begun Federal Court proceedings against a franchise selling personalised chocolates for alleged trade practices contraventions.  

The ACCC has alleged that Personalised Chocolates 4U Pty Ltd marketed and sold franchises by making false, misleading and deceptive representations including representations that essential software and a manual would be provided when they were not, and that franchise fee refunds would be available on certain conditions when some of these conditions were impossible to meet.  

It is also alleged that PC4U is now promoting itself as a licence system when it is a franchise and that the company failed to comply with various obligations under the Franchising Code of Conduct.  

The sole director, Troy Patching, also has action against him for alleged involvement in PC4U’s conduct.  The matter is listed for a scheduling conference in Sydney on 28 August 2009