Alleged misleading practices spark large-scale lawsuit involving hundreds of customers
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Many shoppers have been drawn to offers promising easy upgrades and flexible payments.
For a long time, these deals seemed like the perfect solution for those wanting new gadgets without the upfront cost.
Now, a growing group of customers claims the experience wasn’t quite what they signed up for.
The class action, spearheaded by Carter Capner Law, alleges that Harvey Norman and its finance partner, Latitude Finance Australia, misled customers with their interest-free promotions.
Many customers say they were promised straightforward, interest-free payment plans, only to be hit with a barrage of hidden fees, charges, and—most shockingly—credit cards they never really wanted.
It all came to a head after a Federal Court ruling in October 2024 found that Harvey Norman and Latitude Finance had indeed misled consumers with their '60-month interest-free, no deposit' campaign.
The ruling was upheld on appeal in September 2025, paving the way for this new legal challenge.
According to Peter Carter, director at Carter Capner Law, the issue wasn’t just a few rogue salespeople.
The misleading promotions were everywhere: in-store, on TV and radio, and in catalogues.
Customers thought they were signing up for simple monthly instalments, paying off their goods over time with no nasty surprises.
But the reality was very different. To access the 'interest-free' deal, customers were required to sign up for a credit card—often a GO Mastercard from Latitude Finance.
Many didn’t realise this until after the fact, and the credit cards came with setup fees, monthly service charges, and, in some cases, eye-watering credit limits they never asked for.
One Adelaide shopper, for example, bought a TV and PlayStation 4, only to discover he’d been signed up for a $10,000 credit limit, a $25 setup fee, and monthly charges that started at $5.95 and later increased to $8.95.
Another customer in Goulburn, NSW, thought he was getting a laptop on interest-free terms, but ended up with a $2,500 credit card and fees that would add up to $550 over five years.
Harvey Norman and Latitude Finance tried to argue that consumers should have known the deal was 'too good to be true.'
But the Full Federal Court wasn’t having it. The judges pointed out that there was no reason for shoppers to doubt the simple, clear terms advertised.
After all, if a major retailer says 'no deposit, no interest,' why would you expect a catch?
The court also noted that the national advertising campaign ran thousands of times between January 2020 and August 2021, reaching millions of Australians.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) raised concerns that the ads failed to make it clear that a credit card was required, along with all the associated fees.
This isn’t Harvey Norman’s first brush with controversy. Just last year, the company faced another class action—this time over 'junk' extended warranties that, according to Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, offered 'no real value' to customers.
It seems the retail giant has a bit of a track record when it comes to questionable sales tactics.
If you’ve shopped at Harvey Norman in the past few years and signed up for an interest-free deal, you might be affected.
The class action aims to recover financial losses for group members, including all those hidden fees and charges.
Even if you haven’t joined the lawsuit, it’s a timely reminder to always read the fine print—especially when it comes to finance deals.
Have you ever been caught out by a 'too good to be true' finance deal? Did you shop at Harvey Norman and end up with a credit card you didn’t want? We’d love to hear your stories—share your experiences in the comments below.
Read more: ‘A substantial markup’: Why a top online store is facing court over customer charges
For a long time, these deals seemed like the perfect solution for those wanting new gadgets without the upfront cost.
Now, a growing group of customers claims the experience wasn’t quite what they signed up for.
The class action, spearheaded by Carter Capner Law, alleges that Harvey Norman and its finance partner, Latitude Finance Australia, misled customers with their interest-free promotions.
Many customers say they were promised straightforward, interest-free payment plans, only to be hit with a barrage of hidden fees, charges, and—most shockingly—credit cards they never really wanted.
Hundreds join class action over claims of misleading interest-free payment deals at Harvey Norman. Credit: Facebook
It all came to a head after a Federal Court ruling in October 2024 found that Harvey Norman and Latitude Finance had indeed misled consumers with their '60-month interest-free, no deposit' campaign.
The ruling was upheld on appeal in September 2025, paving the way for this new legal challenge.
According to Peter Carter, director at Carter Capner Law, the issue wasn’t just a few rogue salespeople.
The misleading promotions were everywhere: in-store, on TV and radio, and in catalogues.
Customers thought they were signing up for simple monthly instalments, paying off their goods over time with no nasty surprises.
But the reality was very different. To access the 'interest-free' deal, customers were required to sign up for a credit card—often a GO Mastercard from Latitude Finance.
Many didn’t realise this until after the fact, and the credit cards came with setup fees, monthly service charges, and, in some cases, eye-watering credit limits they never asked for.
One Adelaide shopper, for example, bought a TV and PlayStation 4, only to discover he’d been signed up for a $10,000 credit limit, a $25 setup fee, and monthly charges that started at $5.95 and later increased to $8.95.
Another customer in Goulburn, NSW, thought he was getting a laptop on interest-free terms, but ended up with a $2,500 credit card and fees that would add up to $550 over five years.
But the Full Federal Court wasn’t having it. The judges pointed out that there was no reason for shoppers to doubt the simple, clear terms advertised.
After all, if a major retailer says 'no deposit, no interest,' why would you expect a catch?
The court also noted that the national advertising campaign ran thousands of times between January 2020 and August 2021, reaching millions of Australians.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) raised concerns that the ads failed to make it clear that a credit card was required, along with all the associated fees.
This isn’t Harvey Norman’s first brush with controversy. Just last year, the company faced another class action—this time over 'junk' extended warranties that, according to Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, offered 'no real value' to customers.
If you’ve shopped at Harvey Norman in the past few years and signed up for an interest-free deal, you might be affected.
The class action aims to recover financial losses for group members, including all those hidden fees and charges.
Even if you haven’t joined the lawsuit, it’s a timely reminder to always read the fine print—especially when it comes to finance deals.
Read more: ‘A substantial markup’: Why a top online store is facing court over customer charges
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