There’s a new Consumer Protection Senior Regional Officer for the Great Southern. Steph Marsh spent her first week in the job training at Consumer Protection’s Perth HQ but is now permanently based at the office on Aberdeen Street in Albany. Steph has lived and worked in Albany for the past eight years at the Department of Communities, supporting children and families. She is looking forward to...
The average price of unleaded petrol (ULP) is set to increase by more than 15 cents per litre (cpl) to 150.4 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up this public holiday Monday to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 4 June 2019, most BP sites are increasing their ULP price to 159.9 cpl (hiking by 29 cpl). Most Caltex sites are increasing their ULP price to 157...
A Perth car dealership and a salesperson managing the business have been fined $31,500 in total for duping consignors who they were selling vehicles for. PAG (WA) Pty Ltd , trading as Xoticar of Welshpool and Mr Zeljko Grujin each pleaded guilty to a total of seven contraventions of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act (MVDA) and two breaches of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) at the Perth Magistrates...
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection, David Hillyard Enthusiasts refer to it as retail therapy, but it can also be incredibly frustrating to circle packed car parks, push your way through hordes of shoppers or visit the shops only to find the item you want isn’t even available. Perhaps that accounts for Australians spending an estimated $27.5 billion dollars online last year, according to...
The average cost of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 17 cents per litre (cpl) to 155 cpl tomorrow (28 May 2019), so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 28 May 2019, most BP, Caltex, Caltex Woolworths and 7-Eleven sites are increasing their ULP price to 161.9 cpl (increasing by between 25 cpl to 30 cpl). Most Puma...
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard In the past few weeks, several major retailers have announced closures and subsequent closing down sales. Many of us find the promise of major sale savings too tempting to pass up, and while they can be a great opportunity to bag a bargain, it’s important to consider what it means when it comes to warranties and guarantees, or your return,...
A bikini business ended up in deep water and was fined $30,000 after Consumer Protection prosecuted the online swimwear seller for misleading customers about refund and returns rights. Frankii Swim Pty Ltd must also pay costs of $546.30 after a sentencing hearing at the Perth Magistrates Court on 17 May 2019, for three breaches of the Australian Consumer Law. The charges for false and misleading...
The State Government has approved an extra four hours of trading for general retail shops in metropolitan Perth on both Western Australia Day and the Queen’s Birthday public holidays. The extension to permitted opening times means general retail shops will be able to trade any time between 8am and 6pm on Monday, 3 June 2019 (Western Australia Day) and Monday, 30 September 2019 (Queen’s Birthday...
The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by over 16 cents per litre (cpl) to 156 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 21 May 2019, most Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 164.9 cpl (increasing by 26 cpl). Most BP sites are increasing their ULP price to 163.9 cpl, most Caltex...
Selling cars without a motor vehicle dealer’s licence has cost a Perth man $5,000 after he was fined by the Perth Magistrates Court in a case brought against him by Consumer Protection. In addition to being fined $5,000, 32-year-old Rainer Puhmas from Innaloo was ordered to pay costs of $525.50 after pleading guilty by letter during the hearing on 3 May 2019. Rainer Puhmas bought 17 cars and sold...
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard Are your airbags safe? Car owners across Western Australia are reminded to check whether they have faulty Takata airbags as the Department of Transport exercises its powers to cancel vehicle licences if owners do not respond to notices to replace deadly Alpha airbags. Quarterly recall figures show that around 2.8 million faulty Takata...
The average cost of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 18 cents per litre (cpl) to 158.2 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 14 May 2019, most Caltex and Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 165.9 cpl (increasing by 24 to 26 cpl). Most BP sites are increasing their ULP price to 161.9...
A Malaysian international student studying in Perth has lost $13,782 to a phone scam after she was threatened with having her visa cancelled and being deported. The scammers, pretending to be from the Immigration Department, cold-called her and demanded she pay the money immediately to avoid arrest, instructing her to pay by purchasing Google Play cards at Aldi supermarkets. After purchasing the...
Consumer Protection is warning the WA community not to deal with the seller of food vans and trailers who has accepted more than $70,000 from small business operators but has failed to supply them or provide refunds. Cody Raymond Williams , sole Director of CLC Group Pty Ltd trading as CLC Fabrications (unregistered) , has taken deposits and, in some cases, the full amount from six people who...
The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 14 cents per litre (cpl) to 156.8 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 7 May 2019, most Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 165.9 cpl (increasing by 23 cpl). Most BP and Caltex sites are increasing their ULP price to 163.9 cpl,...
A photographic business that specialises in taking photos of new-born babies is the subject of a Consumer Protection public warning following complaints about unacceptable delays in supplying the images to parents. Nine complaints have been lodged against Melissa Sheed Photography of Aubin Grove with some of the parents waiting for more than a year to receive the photos of their babies. The...
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard Consumer Protection WA and our counterpart agencies across Australia are reminding people with disability of their consumer rights as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) continues to roll out. The NDIS brings extensive change for people with disability and for businesses or providers in the scheme. Since the NDIS began its...
Consumer Protection and the WA Police Force are alarmed at the high number of incidents of home owners utilising the services of unlicensed security installers, and may be unknowingly inviting criminals into their home. These possibly dodgy businesses and individuals advertise their services on websites such as Gumtree as well as on social media, offering to install alarm systems, CCTV cameras,...
A decorative alcohol-fuelled (ethanol) burner exploded in a suburban backyard in Perth’s southern suburbs at the weekend, prompting a reminder to consumers that certain table-top models have been banned. The explosion on Saturday evening 27 April 2019 is believed to have been sparked by a burner being re-fuelled while still lit and injured four people, including a child, who were taken to...
The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) is conducting a stakeholder satisfaction survey to invite feedback on our services and our role as a regulator. The results will help DMIRS focus on business areas and services that need performance improvements. If you subscribe to a DMIRS email newsletter or subscriber news service, you may be contacted by email and invited to take...
Two Perth seniors have lost money to scammers, claiming to be from the NBN or a telco, who have adopted tactics aimed at accessing their computers and bank accounts while preventing them from making calls to their family or their bank. An 81 year old man received a call from someone claiming to be from the NBN and, as he had been connected to the NBN just the day before, he thought it was a...
The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by about 19 cents per litre (cpl) to 158.4 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 30 April 2019, most Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 164.9 cpl (hiking by 24 cpl). Most BP and Caltex Woolworths sites are increasing their ULP price to 163...
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection, David Hillyard Families, friends and the rural communities in which they live are mourning the deaths of two boys aged under ten who lost their lives recently in separate quad bike accidents in WA and Tasmania. The tragic accidents occurred on farms and involved rollovers, a common set of circumstances when we look at the statistics. On average, 16...
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard A flurry of bills has depleted your bank account, but you suddenly need a new fridge and one of your favourite brands is on super-special. It’s a tempting scenario: the chance to receive a product or service immediately without paying for it straight away. As the term suggests, buy-now-pay-later...
The average cost of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 14 cents per litre (cpl) to 154.8 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 23 April 2019, most Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 163.9 cpl (increasing by 25 cpl). Most BP, Caltex Woolworths and 7-Eleven sites are increasing their ULP...
