Amway refutes unfair practice charges

Direct selling major Amway India, whose operations in Kerala recently faced allegations of unfair practices, today said the company was a victim of a 'misinformation' campaign and it had not committed any wrong.

"We are surprised at false information is being spread here in Kerala about Amway. We stand committed to the ethics of legitimate direct selling," William S Pinckney, Amway India's MD and CEO, told reporters here today.

He was referring to the searches conducted in the business offices of Amway in the state during action against fraudulent business activities like "money chain".

Pinckney and other Amway officials claimed that the action against the company was taken by the police and other official agencies concerned, on the basis of some individual complaints pertaining to 2002 and 2003 without verifying the facts properly or hearing the company's version.

 

The complaints, made by some sellers in the chain, pertained to unsold products. Had they approached the company, they would have been refunded their money as Amway offered 100% money back guarantee, they said.

They said they would explain these things before the official committee set up by the state government to work out modalities for tackling fraudulent business activities by differentiating them from genuine and fair business operations like direct selling.