Mosaic Brands Ordered to Pay $25m in Consumer Law Penalties

Published: 28 August 2025

The former owner of fashion brands Noni B, Rivers, Katies, Rockmans, Millers, Autograph, Beme, Crossroads and W. Lane has been hit with one of the largest penalties in recent years for breaches of Australian Consumer Law.

Mosaic Brands breached Australian Consumer Law, leading to $25m in penalties for misleading and deceptive conduct.

According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the Federal Court has ordered Mosaic Brands Limited—now in liquidation—to pay $25.05 million after findings of widespread misconduct involving online sales, delivery failures, and misleading refund policies.

What Happened?

Between 2021 and 2022, Mosaic Brands:

• Accepted payment for more than 739,000 items but failed to deliver them within promised timeframes—or at all.

• Never delivered at least 4,213 items, despite taking payment.

• Misled customers by claiming refunds for faulty goods were only available within six months of purchase, when in fact consumer rights under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) have no fixed expiry and depend on what is “reasonable.”

The Court found that Mosaic’s warehousing and logistics systems were deficient and defective, leaving customers waiting weeks or months for orders. More than half the affected items were dispatched 30 or more days late, with some delayed over 40 days.

In one reported case, a consumer never received their goods and waited six months just to secure a refund.

ACCC’s Message to Retailers

ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe made it clear:

“Delivery times matter and it is unacceptable to mislead consumers about this aspect of a sale.”

She also warned that excessive delivery delays and misleading refund policies could expose online retailers to substantial penalties.

Why This Matters for Businesses

This case is a strong reminder that:

• Consumer guarantees cannot be excluded, limited, or misrepresented.

• Refund rights extend beyond arbitrary deadlines set by a retailer.

• Supply chain and logistics failures can quickly turn into costly breaches of the ACL.

For businesses—particularly those operating online—compliance with the ACL isn’t optional. With the ACCC actively targeting misleading conduct in domestic supply chains, the risks of non-compliance are higher than ever.

Bane Legal Services Can Help You Find the Right Lawyer

At Bane Legal Services, we understand how complex consumer law compliance can be—especially for retailers balancing online sales, logistics, and customer rights.

We are not a law firm and we do not provide legal advice. Instead, we act as your trusted legal matchmaker, connecting you with experienced commercial and consumer lawyers who can help safeguard your business and prevent costly mistakes.

If you’re concerned about consumer law compliance or want peace of mind that your terms, policies, and supply chains meet legal standards, we can connect you with the right lawyer for your business needs.

This article is based on the official ACCC media release, which you can read in full here: ACCC Media Release – Mosaic Brands penalties.