Thorn in payout

RADIO Rentals owner Thorn Group has been hit with almost $22 million in refunds and penalties after breaching consumer credit laws more than 280,000 times.

The corporate regulator said that, between 2012 and 2015, the company had overcharged and failed to make proper inquiries into the financial situation of customers before signing them up to lease household goods.

Under an enforceable undertaking with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Thorn has agreed to return $13.8 million to customers who paid too much, $11.8 million of which it has already handed over.