Announcements

Showing 1426 - 1450 of 2248 results

Commissioner's Blog: Rental property safety – being vigilant

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe We have received complaints from tenants recently about electrical hazards and gas leaks in rental properties. Issues include faulty electrical wiring, power sockets and appliances blowing, power shortages when raining, and water leaking onto electrical points. What to do if you suspect an electrical fault? At least two RCDs must be fitted...
Consumer Protection
Media release
10 Oct 2019

Restaurant owner fined for not providing employment records

A Perth restaurant owner has been ordered by the Industrial Magistrates Court to pay a penalty of $1,500 for failing to provide employment records to a State Industrial Inspector. Mr Kamran Beykpour, the owner of SafaCity restaurant in Mount Lawley, was also ordered to pay costs of $1,000 and to produce the required employment records within seven days. The Court matter arose from Mr Beykpour...
Labour Relations
Media release
09 Oct 2019

Warning to guard against heat stress at work

WorkSafe has issued a warning to guard against the effects of extreme temperatures in work environments following a forecast of above-average temperatures this summer. The Bureau of Meteorology last week issued their summer outlook, forecasting daytime temperatures that are very likely to be above average across Australia. WorkSafe WA Commissioner Darren Kavanagh today reminded employers and...
WorkSafe
Media release
08 Oct 2019

Plea to consumers to heed washing machine recall after another fire

More than 6,600 dangerous Samsung top loader washing machines that have been recalled remain in WA homes, creating a serious fire hazard that put lives at risk. One of the recalled models caught fire in the laundry of an Armadale home unit on the evening of 1 October 2019 with fire units attending to extinguish the blaze. No one was hurt. This latest fire has prompted a renewed plea from Consumer...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Oct 2019

Ex builder fined $2,000 for misleading conduct (Kimberley John Houlahan)

Western Australia’s Building Services Board has fined a former registered builder $2,000 for two counts of misleading conduct and twice failing to comply with an order of the Building Commissioner. Former Guilderton registered builder Kimberley John Houlahan (BP and BC10019) was fined in relation to four breaches of the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 for building work he had performed...
Building and Energy
Media release
07 Oct 2019

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 19 cents per litre (cpl) to 154.6 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 8 October 2019, many Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 167.9 cpl (hiking by 33 cpl). Many BP sites are increasing their ULP price to 163.9 cpl, most 7-Eleven...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Oct 2019

Facebook travel agency complaints going nowhere (Travel 2 Go / No Frills Travel / Nicole Bromage / Jacklene Torr)

Consumer Protection has been unable to secure refunds for more than 200 complainants who have paid over $200,000 between them for cheap flights or holiday deals from a Facebook travel agency. Affected consumers either could not get plane tickets for their desired dates or were asked to pay extra money and some flew to their destination but found they were not booked on return flights as expected...
Consumer Protection
Media release
04 Oct 2019

Kimberley communities targeted by promoters of a fraudulent tax scheme

Promoters of a fraudulent tax scheme are targeting residents in Kimberley communities with the promise of a large tax return, prompting a warning by Consumer Protection and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Reports from Derby, Fitzroy Crossing and surrounding areas have revealed that some taxpayers have been approached by promoters offering to help submit their tax returns with a guarantee of...
Consumer Protection
Media release
03 Oct 2019

Commissioner's Blog: New national gift card rules a win for consumers

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe Gift cards are big money in Australia, both for their convenience and flexibility. Unfortunately an estimated $70 million is lost each year due to uncertainty about expiry dates. Consumer Protection Western Australia received 116 gift card related complaints in the last year (September 2018–September 2019) with 26% of complaints about...
Consumer Protection
Media release
03 Oct 2019

Scammed tenant changes locks, moves in to rental to the surprise of the agent

A real estate sales agent who was showing a prospective tenant a rental property in Beeliar recently was surprised to discover that someone had changed the locks and had already moved in without the authority of the owner. The tenant moved in after responding to a rental accommodation advertisement on Gumtree which ended up being fake. He paid $2,000 to the scammers via a money transfer service...
Consumer Protection
Media release
01 Oct 2019

Electrical Focus Issue 1

The first issue of Building and Energy's Electrical Focus newsletter is now available online .
Building and Energy
Department News
01 Oct 2019

Cafe and restaurant employer audits now on the menu

Café and restaurant business owners will soon start receiving information on employment obligations under a new state-wide education campaign being run by the Wageline at the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. The campaign focuses on café and restaurant businesses in the state industrial relations system, which are those that operate as sole traders, unincorporated partnerships...
Labour Relations
Department News
01 Oct 2019

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average cost of unleaded petrol (ULP) is set to increase by around 17 cents per litre (cpl) to 156.4 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 1 October 2019, most Caltex and Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 167.9 cpl (increasing by between 28 cpl and 29 cpl). Many BP sites are increasing...
Consumer Protection
Media release
30 Sep 2019

Jeep parts seller fined $16,000 for non-supply (Aftermarket Jeep Parts Australia / James Bartlett)

A Perth-based online business that took money from consumers for Jeep parts and accessories and either failed to supply them or took a very long, unreasonable amount of time, has been fined $16,000 in a case brought by the Commissioner for Consumer Protection. James Bartlett trading as Aftermarket Jeep Parts Australia via the website aftermarketjeep.com.au pleaded guilty to wrongly accepting...
Consumer Protection
Media release
27 Sep 2019

Release of Beldon electrical accident report

Western Australia’s electrical safety regulator has concluded its investigation into the electrical accident that seriously injured a 12-year-old girl at a property in Beldon in March 2018. In a report released today, Building and Energy (formerly Energy Safety ) outlined the findings of its investigation into the cause of the accident. The investigation included on-site inspections and testing...
Building and Energy
Media release
27 Sep 2019

Commissioner's Blog: Avoid pet purchase problems

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe Buying a pet is not like your average purchase. The product, which might be a puppy, dog, kitten, cat, horse or rabbit is likely to become a loved member of your family and with you for its whole life. If you have a problem with the quality or there’s a defect, you’re unlikely to want to use potential consumer law rights to a replacement,...
Consumer Protection
Media release
26 Sep 2019

Consumers pay for motor vehicle parts that are not delivered (Gordon German / Green Oval Experience)

Consumer Protection is warning WA consumers about a business that has taken orders for Land Rover parts but has failed to deliver. Gordon German , trading as Green Oval Experience formerly operating as an auto parts store in Canning Vale, owes at least 15 customers a total of almost $50,000 in payments accepted for motor vehicle parts that have yet to be supplied. Complaints against the business...
Consumer Protection
Media release
26 Sep 2019

Transport company’s service so bad, it warrants a consumer warning (AAA Transporters / Snezanna Mladenis / Scott Ingram)

Delayed deliveries has resulted in numerous complaints being lodged with Consumer Protection, the WA agency warning consumers to stay clear of a vehicle transport business. Since May 2019 there have been 12 complaints lodged against Auto Transporters Pty Ltd , trading as All Australia Auto Transporters and AAA Transporters (unregistered) and MV Transporters Pty Ltd (formerly known as AA Auto...
Consumer Protection
Media release
24 Sep 2019

Ten year ban for real estate sales rep for deceptive conduct (Matthew Liscia)

A real estate sales representative has been disqualified by the State Administrative Tribunal from holding a certificate of registration for ten years after he misappropriated two payments totalling $21,000 into his personal bank account. Matthew Piero Liscia of Dianella was fined $2,000 for two breaches of the relevant real estate industry Codes of Conduct and was also ordered to pay legal costs...
Consumer Protection
Media release
23 Sep 2019

Painter fined for colourful claims – Geoffrey Stephen John Peacock

A tradesman has been fined $4,000 in the Geraldton Magistrates Court after he falsely presented as a registered painter and carried out painting work that requires registration. On 12 September 2019, Geoffrey Stephen John Peacock entered a written guilty plea for three charges brought by the Building Commissioner under WA’s building registration laws, which state that only a registered painter...
Building and Energy
Media release
23 Sep 2019

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 21 cents per litre (cpl) to 157.1 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 24 September 2019, most Caltex Woolworths sites are increasing their ULP price to 169.9 cpl (hiking by 35.2 cpl). Most Caltex and many Coles Express sites are increasing their...
Consumer Protection
Media release
23 Sep 2019

Commissioner's Blog: Buying foreign money

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard Did you know you’ll pay more when buying foreign cash at the airport than at any other location? Also debit or credit cards are usually the cheapest option for buying things overseas. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) research, to help us with foreign money purchase decisions, found: Consumers who bought USD200 in...
Consumer Protection
Media release
20 Sep 2019

Scammers use fake ‘Twiggy Forrest’ investment to fleece woman out of $670,000

Scammers promoting a fake investment scheme using an image of mining entrepreneur Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest have claimed a Bunbury woman as a victim who is reporting a total loss of $670,000. The woman found the investment scheme being promoted on Facebook and LinkedIn in March 2019 and said she has since made six payments to bank accounts in Australia and Germany as well as a credit card account...
Consumer Protection
Media release
19 Sep 2019

Dent in Bayswater panel beater’s ability to deliver services (Raymond Goodall / The Force in Smash Repairs)

A Bayswater panel beater who has taken money from customers but failed to complete the work is the target of a public warning by Consumer Protection as well as an appeal for vehicle owners to come forward. Raymond John Goodall , trading as The Force in Smash Repairs (deregistered) , has attracted numerous consumer complaints over many years and currently has dozens of vehicles that have been...
Consumer Protection
Media release
19 Sep 2019

Plans to scrap licences for auctioneers in WA

Removing the requirement to have a licence to be an auctioneer in WA is being proposed following a review of the Auction Sales Act. However, protections will be boosted with extra conduct standards and power for the Commissioner for Consumer Protection to take action to prevent unfit persons from working in the auction industry which covers the auctioning of all types of goods, including the sale...
Consumer Protection
Media release
17 Sep 2019

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