Aero Fire faces fraud charges over fire extinguisher service claims

The Commerce Commission has filed charges against Aero Fire and its owner. Photo / 123RF

The Commerce Commission has filed charges against a company, and its owner, which supplies and services fire extinguishers.

Aero Fire Sales & Service Ltd and its sole director Mira Singh each face three charges under the Fair Trading Act of allegedly making false or misleading representations in relation to the installation, servicing and maintenance of fire extinguishers.

Singh faces a further charge under the Crimes Act of allegedly obtaining money by deception.

The commission alleges that between February 2015 and March 2017 Aero Fire and Singh told customers that fire extinguishers:

• had a maintenance history when they did not; for example, that an extinguisher had been pressure tested when it had not;
• were installed and serviced in accordance with the New Zealand Standard when they were not.

The commission also alleges that on one occasion in October 2014 Aero Fire and Singh claimed that an extinguisher required servicing every six months when that was not the legal requirement.

Aero Fire was issued a "stop now" letter in November 2017, asking it to cease engaging in misleading conduct, after the commission received complaints about the company during 2016.

Singh and Aero Fire are next due to appear in the Manukau District Court on October 4.

Aero Fire, which operates primarily in Auckland and Hamilton, offers fire extinguisher services to small businesses, including shops and restaurants.