Customers of mobile trader Flexi Buy, who purchased goods but never received them, are being asked to contact the Commerce Commission.

In September, the Commission filed charges under the Crimes Act 1961 and the Fair Trading Act 1986, against Vikram Mehta, a former director of Flexi Buy.

The charges allege he obtained money from customers by deception and accepted payment from customers without intending to supply the goods they contracted to purchase.

In October, 10 charges were filed against the company, Flexi Buy Limited, for allegedly breaching the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003. These charges relate to Flexi Buy’s deceptive or misleading description of key information and its failure to disclose certain information including details being illegible and failure to disclosure the frequency and amount of payments.

The commission would like to hear from anyone who purchased goods from Flexi Buy between late 2012 and February 2014. A large number of customers have already been identified and spoken to, but there are many that have been unable to be contacted.

Flexi Buy sold mainly electronic goods such as smartphones, televisions and computers door-to-door. The goods were sold in a number of areas around the North Island including South Auckland, Whangarei, Tokoroa, Murupara, Porirua, Kaikohe, Hastings and Gisborne. It targets poorer communities with low-quality goods at higher prices than in retail outlets.

Mehta, the only operator who has been prosecuted out of 32 mobile business traders, lost a bid for name suppression as he is not high profile nor in risk of an impartial trial. He feels “singled out unfairly” by the commission.

Flexi Buy customers who did not receive their goods purchased between late 2012 and February 2014 and have not already contacted the commission are asked to get in touch with the commission on 0800 943 600.