A Claremont property management agency has been reprimanded, fined $8,000 and ordered to pay costs of $2,000 by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) on 13 June 2019 for trust account errors and other breaches of the law. Gemranch Nominees Pty Ltd , trading as TM Residential and Executive Leasing , had breached the Real Estate and Business Agents Act and the Code of Conduct for Agents and Sales...

An unlicensed motor vehicle dealer has been fined $5,000 and ordered to pay costs of $943.50 by the Perth Magistrates Court after pleading guilty on 10 June 2019. Daniel Alan Hodgins of Baldivis had purchased and sold 16 motor vehicles between April 2017 and July 2018 without a licence, in breach of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act. Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said unlicensed...

With the end of the financial year looming, Consumer Protection is warning WA taxpayers to be aware of scam attempts that usually accelerate over the next six months. Tax scams continue to take a large financial toll on Western Australians who are usually cold-called by criminals pretending to be from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and demanding a fictitious tax debt be paid immediately. In...

Home owners can be reassured that WA’s building regulator is taking action on standards, compliance and dispute resolution across the industry, according to retiring Building Commissioner Ken Bowron. Mr Bowron leaves Building and Energy (formerly the Building Commission and Energy Safety ) today after 10 years, including 18 months at the helm of the combined division within the Department of...

The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by 17 cents per litre (cpl) to 145.6 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 11 June 2019, most Caltex sites are increasing their ULP price to 155.9 cpl (hiking by 29 cpl). Most BP sites are increasing their ULP price to 154.9 cpl, most 7-Eleven sites to 153.9...

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard Consumer Protection has concerns about the value of add-ons such as extended warranties, rust proofing, paint and fabric protection, and window tinting being sold at the point of sale to people purchasing motor vehicles in Western Australia. Before saying ‘yes’ to after sales products, ask yourself why the manufacturer is not providing...

A Perth business that failed to provide documents to State Government electrical safety inspectors has been fined $25,000 on appeal after the Supreme Court ruled that the original $3,000 penalty was manifestly inadequate. Jason Aaron Nominees Pty Ltd , based in Willetton, was resentenced for breaching the Energy Coordination Act by not providing records requested by Energy Safety (now Building...

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...

Properties for sale or rent Under the Electricity Regulations 1947 all residential premises sold, rented or hired must have all socket outlets and lighting final sub-circuits protected by at least 2 RCDs. It is also essential to ensure that there are no more than 3 final sub-circuits per RCD and the lighting circuits (if 2 or more) are separated over the RCDs. Further details appear in the...

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...