Announcements

Showing 51 - 75 of 2035 results

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) is set to increase by around 30 cents per litre (cpl) to 134.5 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers, if they can, to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Wednesday 26 August 2020, most branded retailers are hiking their ULP price: Caltex and Coles Express hiking by 41-42 cpl up to 145.9 cpl; Caltex Woolworths...
Consumer Protection
Media release
25 Aug 2020

STA Travel in administration – advice for affected consumers

Consumer Protection has issued advice for customers who are still owed money by student travel agency STA Travel Pty Ltd which has today gone into external administration. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Consumer Protection has received 27 complaints against STA Travel. 15 consumers received full or partial refunds, 7 received credits and the remaining five were not able...
Consumer Protection
Media release
21 Aug 2020

Commissioner's blog: Should you buy-now, pay-later?

The way we shop may have changed forever following the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Life in lockdown meant cash transactions plummeted in favour of a number of contactless payment methods, including buy-now, pay-later schemes. Often described as the ‘modern-day lay-by’, buy-now, pay-later arrangements allow you to receive goods and then pay off the amount in instalments further down the track...
Consumer Protection
Media release
20 Aug 2020

Unregistered painter’s brush with the law – Christopher Robert Larden

An Innaloo tradesman has been fined $1,500 and ordered to pay almost $600 in costs after he falsely presented as a registered painter and carried out painting work that requires registration. Christopher Robert Larden did not appear at Armadale Magistrates Court on 4 August 2020 when he was sentenced for breaching WA’s building registration laws, which stipulate that only a registered painting...
Building and Energy
Media release
19 Aug 2020

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) is set to increase by over 28 cents per litre (cpl) to 132.9 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers, if they can, to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Wednesday 19 August 2020, branded retailers are hiking their ULP price: Coles Express hiking by up to 41 cpl up to 145.9 cpl; Caltex and Caltex Woolworths up...
Consumer Protection
Media release
18 Aug 2020

Reporting wage theft in WA

Western Australian workers can find out how to report deliberate underpayment of wages or entitlements at www.wagetheft.wa.gov.au . The Reporting wage theft in Western Australia website assists workers with how to: seek help with resolving an underpayment issue or unpaid annual or long service leave; report wage theft anonymously to the relevant government department; or seek help with unpaid...
Labour Relations
Department News
17 Aug 2020

Assessment of building services practitioner fitness and propriety at renewal

Every building services practitioner who intends to apply for or renew their registration must satisfy the Building Services Board (the BSB) that they are a fit and proper person. This is a legislative requirement, set out in section 17(1)(c) of the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 (the BSRA). The BSB has a policy that outlines how the fitness and propriety of a building services...
Building and Energy
Department News
17 Aug 2020

Commercial kitchens inspection program raises concerns

A WorkSafe proactive inspection program looking at safety issues in commercial kitchens in various workplaces has raised some concerns.
WorkSafe
Media release
14 Aug 2020

Patio tradie takes $18,000 in deposits without doing any work (Nicholas Kay / Better Priced Patios)

Consumers seeking the services of a patio installer are warned to beware of a man who advertises via Facebook Marketplace. Nicholas (Nick) Kay of Forrestdale, trading as Better Priced Patios (unregistered) , has taken deposits totalling $18,120 from eight people since October 2019 for the construction of seven patios and a carport, but has failed to carry out the work or provide any refunds. The...
Consumer Protection
Media release
13 Aug 2020

Commissioner's blog: Be in the know about demos

There’s a lot to like about demonstrator vehicles – they’re practically new cars with very few kilometres that sell for cheaper prices than you’d otherwise pay for a genuine new motor. Another bonus is that clock only starts ticking on the time aspect of the manufacturer’s warranty (e.g. 5-years) on the date of purchase by a consumer and not while it’s in the dealership’s possession. Conversely,...
Consumer Protection
Media release
13 Aug 2020

Advice for ‘Aussie Sheds Albany’ customers affected by bankruptcy

Consumer Protection has issued advice for customers of Aussie Sheds Albany affected by the bankruptcy of its sole proprietor Armand Javellana . The business closed this week after taking payments from consumers for the construction of sheds but has failed to supply the materials or complete the work. So far 38 consumers have reported paying a total of almost $500,000 for work yet to be commenced...
Consumer Protection
Media release
13 Aug 2020

First step towards better consumer protection in the tow truck industry in WA

Consumer Protection has launched a period of community and industry consultation with the view of determining whether the regulation of tow truck businesses and those working in the tow truck industry in WA is required. This consultation is prompted by community concerns about the conduct of some tow truck operators and reports of unscrupulous tactics being used to gain business from consumers...
Consumer Protection
Media release
11 Aug 2020

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) is set to increase by over 28 cents per litre (cpl) to 132.6 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers, if they can, to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Wednesday 12 August 2020, most branded retailers are hiking their ULP price: Caltex Woolworths and Coles Express hiking by between 40 and 42 cpl up to 143.9...
Consumer Protection
Media release
11 Aug 2020

Consumer complaints mount against Albany shed seller – warning issued (Aussie Sheds Albany / Armand Javellana)

Consumer Protection is warning consumers about an Albany shed seller who appears to have accepted a large amount of money in deposits and full payments but has failed to deliver. In the past week, Consumer Protection has received 19 complaints against Armand Javellana , trading as Aussie Sheds Albany , from customers who claim to have paid a total of $226,000 but construction of their sheds is...
Consumer Protection
Media release
10 Aug 2020

Northern suburbs builder cautioned over contract – Dwayne Alcock

The Building Services Board has issued a formal caution to a Mullaloo builder after his partner’s business entered into a contract to do a $300,000 commercial fit-out, but the registration and building approval documents were issued to him as an individual building contractor. In 2018, the City of Joondalup received a building permit application and a notice of completion that identified Dwayne...
Building and Energy
Media release
06 Aug 2020

South West builder on notice for work without permit – Matthew Dean Jansen

A Bridgetown builder has been formally cautioned for carrying out work without a building permit and failing to follow the required plans and standards. The Building Services Board found Matthew Dean Jansen (BC101487, BP101779) breached WA’s building registration laws during a home construction project in Bridgetown, which he took over in April 2019 after the original builder went into...
Building and Energy
Media release
06 Aug 2020

Vehicle parts seller to pay $26,000 for operating a ‘Ponzi scheme’ business (Gordon German / Green Oval Experience)

A man who operated a business selling specialist motor vehicle parts as well as conducting driver training courses was fined $10,000 by the Armadale Magistrates Court on 31 July 2020 and ordered to pay compensation to his disappointed customers amounting to $16,003. Gordon German , trading as Green Oval Experience formerly operating in Canning Vale, was also ordered to pay costs of $225.90. Mr...
Consumer Protection
Media release
06 Aug 2020

Live stream scammers target Consumer Protection Awards

Live stream scammers have targeted the Western Australian Consumer Protection Awards virtual event on Facebook prompting a warning from the consumer watchdog’s fraud prevention section WA ScamNet. Due to COVID-19, the Consumer Protection Awards March 2020 in-person event was postponed and then cancelled, leading to a virtual Awards ceremony for the first time. Commissioner Lanie Chopping says...
Consumer Protection
Media release
06 Aug 2020

Commissioner's blog: Sea container investments not so water-tight

If you’ve seen an advert promising big returns on an investment in shipping containers, then our advice is to consider whether it may be a scam or Ponzi scheme. WA ScamNet is aware of $800,000 of losses in Western Australia so far to a venture called Pacific Tycoon, which advertises investments in shipping containers and promises returns of up to 20 per cent when they lease it out on your behalf...
Consumer Protection
Media release
06 Aug 2020

Illegal appliances spark electrical safety alert and infringements

WA’s energy safety regulator is urging consumers, sellers and importers to check that household electrical equipment is approved for sale in Australia after two retail chains each received $5,000 fines for selling illegal and potentially hazardous lamps. Building and Energy issued the infringement notices after a site inspection revealed some Turkish-style lamps in the stores lacked the required...
Building and Energy
Media release
05 Aug 2020

Advocates for WA’s vulnerable consumers become award winners

Community service providers that offer support to some of our most vulnerable consumers have been recognised in the Consumer Protection Awards, along with a program to prevent infant sleeping deaths and a regional reporter. The 2020 winners were announced at a 'virtual' event on the Consumer Protection Facebook page after the awards ceremony in March was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions...
Consumer Protection
Media release
05 Aug 2020

1 January 2021 pay rates now available

New versions of the WA award summaries and the Minimum pay rates for award free employees are now available which include the pay rates that come into effect from the first pay period on or after 1 January 2021. In June the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission issued the 2020 State Wage Case decision, which grants a 1.75% per week increase in the state minimum wage and WA award...
Labour Relations
Department News
05 Aug 2020

Illegal dealing in 52 motor vehicles results in fine for Applecross man

A 53 year old Applecross man was fined $4,500 by the Perth Magistrates Court on 24 July 2020 after pleading guilty to buying and selling 52 motor vehicles without a licence. The man, who was granted a spent conviction, had traded the vehicles between May 2018 and November 2019 in most cases using Gumtree. Not having a licence for this level of trading breaches the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act...
Consumer Protection
Media release
04 Aug 2020

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) is set to increase by 28 cents per litre (cpl) to 132.9 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers, if they can, to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Wednesday 5 August 2020, most branded retailers are hiking their ULP price: Coles Express and Caltex Woolworths hiking by up to 40 cpl up to 143.9 cpl; 7-Eleven up...
Consumer Protection
Media release
04 Aug 2020

Commissioner's blog: Travel - to cancel or not to cancel?

If you’re a Western Australian who loves to travel, then odds are high you’ve had a trip cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Hopefully your refund or remedy was sorted quickly, but if not, you’re certainly not alone. Complaints to Consumer Protection were five times higher in the period from March 1 2020 until now, compared with the same period last year. Of the 625...
Consumer Protection
Media release
30 Jul 2020

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