The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is taking the operators of Brisbane based car and truck hire company Abel Rent a Car to court over misleading advertising claims.

The ACCC has said that the company, which is owned by Nonchalant Pty Ltd, failed to include additional mandatory fees, such as a vehicle registration recovery fee and administration fees, in the car and truck hire prices they advertised to customers.

These extra undisclosed costs were additional to the advertised prices, and customers did not have a choice as to whether they wanted to pay them or not.

“Businesses cannot advertise a price for their goods or services then later add additional mandatory fees and charges, which make the total cost more expensive than initially represented,” said Rod Sims, chairman, ACCC in a statement.

The company has offices located throughout Queensland, including Northgate, Greenslopes, Beenleigh, Coolangatta, the Gold Coast and Tweed Heads.

At the directions hearing, which will be heard on March 14 at the Federal Court in Brisbane, the ACCC will hope to see that the company is subject to declarations, penalties and costs.