A smartwatch designed to enhance child safety is facing scrutiny after numerous parents report significant issues. Concerns range from inaccurate location tracking
showing children hundreds of kilometers away from their actual locations to billing discrepancies and difficulties cancelling service plans.
The Telecommunication Industry Ombudsman has expressed concern over these reports, notably as the holiday season approaches. They warn that “unwitting parents could buy these watches for their kids.”
Tracking Troubles and Customer Frustration
Marina haddow purchased a Moochies smartwatch for her 10-year-old son,who has autism. She hoped the device would allow her to track his journey to school on the bus and provide a way for him to contact her in an emergency.
Moochies smartwatches are marketed specifically for children,allowing up to 10 phone numbers to be loaded onto an internal SIM card for calls. They also boast GPS tracking software for parental monitoring and an SOS button for emergency interaction.
“Marina says the ordeal of trying to get the watch to work was a nightmare” .
the watches retail for $266 on the Moochies website. Ms. Haddow purchased her son’s watch second-hand and encountered difficulties reactivating the SIM card. She was informed that it wasn’t registered to her and needed to be returned to the company in queensland for a replacement.
parents Left Frustrated After Moochies Smartwatches Fail to Deliver
Parents are expressing frustration over faulty Moochies smartwatches, with one mother recounting her battle to get a refund for months of unusable service. After purchasing a Moochies watch for her son, one mother discovered the device was plagued with issues, leaving her unable to track her son’s location accurately and rendering the call function useless.
Moochies watches are still for sale on Harvey Norman’s website. (Supplied)
Adding to her dismay, the mother was initially charged for four months of service on a SIM card that had been replaced. After contacting Moochies for a refund, her request was denied until she provided proof of the SIM card replacement thru a previous email from the company. even then, it took a month for Moochies to acknowledge her claim and issue the refund.
“I would have no idea where he was — it was never even slightly accurate.”
The story highlights the troubling experiences some parents have faced with Moochies smartwatches, raising concerns about product reliability and customer service.
Australian parents are voicing frustration over faulty Moochies smartwatches, experiencing issues ranging from non-functioning call features to inaccurate location tracking. The problems persist despite the parent company, Moochies Holdings Pty Ltd, going into liquidation last year.
One concerned parent discovered charges on her account for a SIM card associated with a Moochies watch, even though she had never activated it. “It was so frustrating,” she explained.
The ordeal prompted her to cancel a second SIM plan she had purchased for a different Moochies watch,highlighting the difficulties customers face when trying to resolve issues.
The ABC has spoken to numerous parents who have encountered similar problems. Some report the watches failing to make calls, while others experience inaccurate location tracking, showing their children in distant locations or even in the middle of the ocean.
Liquidation and Ongoing Sales
Adding to the confusion, Moochies smartwatches continue to be sold at major retailers including Harvey Norman, Dick Smith, Kogan, Mobileciti, and Amazon, despite the company’s liquidation. Previously,they were also available at Big W and JB HiFi.
The first payments made by one customer were processed by Moochies Holdings Pty Ltd, the company that entered liquidation last year.Telstra, wich previously provided SIM cards for Moochies devices, confirmed it terminated its contract with the company in March 2024 after the liquidation.
A Telstra spokesperson clarified the situation: “we ended our wholesale agreement with Moochies in March 2024, after they had gone into liquidation. At that time, we were in contact with all active customers directly, providing them with three months of free service to give them time to move to another device. Telstra Wholesale disconnected all services on 30 June 2024.”
The continued availability of Moochies smartwatches for sale raises questions about consumer protection and the responsibility of retailers to ensure the products they offer are from solvent and reputable companies.
The Australian advertising landscape continues to evolve, with emerging trends and consumer complaints shedding light on the industry’s direction. From controversial KFC commercials to mobile billboards advertising adult services, recent examples expose the spectrum of marketing tactics employed.
Retailer Responsibility in Product Liquidation
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) recently issued a statement emphasizing the responsibility of retailers who sell products from suppliers that have entered administration or liquidation. Retailers must inform consumers of any potential limitations this may impose on products and offer refunds for non-functional items.
Major retailers such as Big W,JB HiFi,and Harvey Norman did not respond to requests for comment on this issue.
Mobileciti,another retailer that sold products from Moochies – a company that went into liquidation in 2022 – stated they were unaware of the liquidation and,thus,did not inform customers. Mobileciti confirmed receiving complaints about malfunctioning watches and offered case-by-case warranty claims.
A Google listing for Moochies currently indicates the company is permanently closed.
Allegations of Insolvent Trading: A Deep Dive
Documents submitted by Moochies’ liquidators to the Australian Securities and investments Commission (ASIC) in October 2023 revealed that Moochies Holdings held an exclusive license to sell children’s smartwatches manufactured by Funtastic Limited, based in China.
A restructuring in December 2021 resulted in the Australian company becoming a holding company for two UK subsidiaries: Moochies Technologies Ltd and Moochies Trading Ltd.
Timelio,a finance company and secured creditor owed over $1.1 million, appointed a receiver to oversee the Australian holding company.
Kids Tech Co. , a company specializing in children’s smartwatches, has met a troubled end after being placed into receivership and ultimately ceasing operations. The closure followed the bankruptcy of former directors Adrian Lisle and Ryan O’Neill, who were based in the UK and unable to repay outstanding debts.
mr. O’Neill, who described his background as encompassing both legal and political spheres, expressed deep personal regret over the bankruptcy, calling it “the most humiliating experience” he had faced.
Both directors claimed they were pressured into signing a personal guarantee agreement with Timelio, a financial services provider.
While acknowledging that technological challenges are common, particularly with wearable devices targeting a young demographic, Mr. Lisle maintained that Kids Tech Co. had invested heavily in research and growth to create a world-leading product.
Mr.Lisle stated that he had severed all ties with the company since its launch.
Liquidators uncovered evidence suggesting the company may have been insolvent as early as July 2022,accumulating over $3 million in debt during this period.
investigations by the liquidators identified potential breaches of the Corporations Act by the directors, citing several red flags, including:
failure to fulfill two payments to the Australian taxation Office, totaling almost $50,000
a meagre cash balance of just $1,432
outstanding payments of $43,864 to two creditors, with invoices overdue by 90 days
Bank statements obtained by the ABC revealed ongoing monthly SIM card charges attributed to “Kids Tech Co.”
Kids Tech Company Ltd. is registered in the UK, with its sole director listed as Patricia Lisle, the 83-year-old mother of one of the original company’s directors.
Parents Frustrated by Unanswered Cancellation Requests for Kids Smartwatches
Several parents have expressed frustration over their unsuccessful attempts to cancel subscriptions for children’s smartwatches, citing unanswered requests and ongoing payments despite their efforts to terminate the service.
the company behind these smartwatches, Kids Tech Co, was previously advertised alongside another children’s tech brand, Moochies, at a trade show broadcast on YouTube in February 2024.
Kids Tech Co’s SIM cards operated on the Vodafone network through the wholesaler Pivotel. Pivotel’s chief executive, Peter Bolger, confirmed past and current agreements with both kids Tech Co and Moochies. While acknowledging the wholesale relationship, Mr. Bolger stated he had “no information at all on how many people may be having problems” with the network.
A Vodafone spokesperson maintained that the network functioned as intended and that no issues had been raised by wholesale partners such as Pivotel.
Kaue Garcia, former director of Kids Tech Co, asserted that any cancellation problems had been resolved and that a direct link on the company website allows customers to request cancellations. ”This is how it is working, and is being processed in a timely manner,” he emphasized.
Though, customers interviewed by the ABC dispute this claim, stating they have experienced ongoing challenges with cancelling their subscriptions and continued deductions from their bank accounts despite their cancellation requests.
Adelaide mum Morgaan Wilson, such as, purchased a smartwatch for her 12-year-old child but has encountered difficulties in cancelling the subscription.
Parents Left High and Dry by Faulty Kids’ Smartwatches
Parents across Australia are expressing frustration over defective Moochies smartwatches designed for children, with complaints spanning several years.
several parents have come forward detailing their experiences with the malfunctioning devices, which were marketed as safety tools for young children.
One mother, Ms.Wilson,purchased a Moochies smartwatch from Big W for her son in August. Despite her son’s eagerness to walk to school by himself,the watch proved useless. “It was just a disaster,” she lamented. After months of waiting for a response from the company, Ms.Wilson was forced to cancel her credit card to prevent further charges.
She later received a barrage of emails from Kids Tech Co, the company behind Moochies, stating that payments for her account were unsuccessful. “I received four emails about my payments being unsuccessful in eight days,” Ms. Wilson recounted.
Another parent, Benny herbert, faced an equally frustrating situation. His son received a Moochies Odyssey smartwatch as a birthday gift a few weeks ago. While the initial SIM plan sign-up went smoothly, the watch itself never functioned.
“I’ve tried on my phone and can’t even log into her account or create one of my own, it just gets stuck on the loading screen … Loading, loading, loading and nothing happens,” Mr. Herbert explained.
Harley Jones, a Melbourne father, shared a similar story.He purchased a Moochies watch a few years ago to ensure his young daughter’s safety. however, the watch malfunctioned, displaying her location in the middle of the Indian Ocean and rendering the messaging and call functions useless.
“I was outraged by the lack of communication from the company,” Mr. Jones said.
Telco Ombudsman Steps In
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) has confirmed receiving “a small number” of complaints regarding Moochies watches in the past year.
“Consumers told us they couldn’t contact Moochies, were unable to cancel their contracts, or stop Moochies from debiting their accounts,” a spokesperson for the Ombudsman stated.
The TIO recently contacted Moochies and learned that the company is ceasing its membership with the ombudsman and is in administration.
The TIO is currently investigating whether the administrator will handle outstanding customer complaints. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) declined to comment on the situation. This is a great start to a news article about the downfall of Kids Tech Co. and the ongoing issues parents are facing. Here are some thoughts and suggestions for improvement
**Strengths:**
* **Clear and concise writng:** The article is easy to read and understand.
* **Well-structured:** The use of headings and paragraphs helps to break up the facts and make it more digestible.
* **Strong opening:** The first paragraph effectively summarizes the main points of the story.
* **Inclusion of multiple perspectives:** You include quotes from the directors, liquidators, and affected parents, which provides a balanced view of the situation.
**Areas for improvement:**
* **More detail on the company’s history:** Provide more context about Kids Tech co., its products, and its target audience.
* **Expand on the financial issues:** Delve deeper into the company’s financial troubles. What caused the insolvency? Were there other red flags besides the ones mentioned?
* **Develop the parent stories further:** Share more specific examples of the cancellation problems parents are facing. What steps have they taken to try to cancel their subscriptions? What response (or lack thereof) have they received from the company?
* **Investigate potential legal ramifications:** Are there any legal actions being taken against the directors? Are affected parents considering legal options?
* **Fact-checking and sourcing:** Make sure all facts and figures are accurate and properly sourced. Include citations for quotes and data.
**Additional suggestions:**
* **Consider adding a timeline of events.** This could be a helpful way to visualize the company’s rise and fall.
* **Include visuals:** Use photos and graphics to make the article more engaging.
* **Look for expert opinions:** Reach out to consumer protection agencies,legal experts,or tech analysts for their perspectives on the situation.
* **Follow up:** This is an ongoing story. Keep track of developments and publish updates as they become available.
By expanding on these points, you can create a compelling and informative news article that sheds light on the collapse of Kids Tech Co. and the challenges facing its customers.
this news article excerpt highlights a pressing issue for parents: difficulties cancelling subscriptions and malfunctioning smartwatches marketed towards children.
HereS a breakdown of the key points:
**Problems with Cancellations:**
* Parents are expressing frustration over their inability to cancel subscriptions for Kids Tech Co smartwatches.
* They report unanswered cancellation requests and continued billing despite attempts to terminate service.
* While the company claims cancellations are being processed promptly, customers dispute this, stating they are still facing ongoing issues.
**Malfunctioning Smartwatches:**
* Parents are reporting widespread problems with Moochies smartwatches,also produced by Kids Tech Co.
* These watches, marketed as safety devices, are allegedly malfunctioning, with reports of inaccurate location tracking, inoperable calling and messaging features, and general unresponsiveness.
* The lack of customer service and difficulty resolving these issues is adding to the frustration.
**lack of Accountability:**
* The article mentions difficulties contacting both Kids tech Co and Moochies directly.
* While vodafone, whose network the smartwatches use, claims no issues exist with its service, Pivotel, the wholesaler, acknowledges agreements with both companies but hasn’t accessed data about potential problems.
* The involvement of the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) suggests a systemic issue requiring external intervention.
**Impact on Parents:**
* Beyond financial losses due to continued billing, parents are expressing distress over the lack of reliability and support from the companies involved.
* Their primary concern is the safety and well-being of their children, which these malfunctioning devices are failing to provide.
**Next Steps:**
The article suggests that the
TIO is investigating the complaints and attempting to resolve the issues. this investigation could shed light on the extent of the problem and possibly lead to action against the companies involved.
It’s crucial for parents to be aware of these issues and carefully consider the risks before purchasing these specific smartwatches for their children.
Kids Tech Co’s SIM cards operated on the Vodafone network through the wholesaler Pivotel. Pivotel’s chief executive, Peter Bolger, confirmed past and current agreements with both kids Tech Co and Moochies. While acknowledging the wholesale relationship, Mr. Bolger stated he had “no information at all on how many people may be having problems” with the network.
A Vodafone spokesperson maintained that the network functioned as intended and that no issues had been raised by wholesale partners such as Pivotel.
