Consumer

Announcements

Consumer law provides protection for Western Australians

It has been more than five years since the Australian Consumer Law commenced (1 January 2011) but our interaction with the WA community frequently highlights that some people are not aware of the automatic legal rights consumers have when buying goods and services. When you buy a product or service from a business you are entitled to ‘ consumer guarantees’ that your purchase is: of acceptable...
Consumer Protection
Department News
03 Jun 2016

Commissioner's Blog: Second hand cots may be unsafe

With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard Cots are supposed to be a place for babies to rest and sleep safely but Kidsafe WA reports that 51 children attended Princess Margaret Hospital in 2014/2015 with cot-related injuries. If you buy or receive a second-hand cot, it may not meet current Australian safety standards, increasing the risk of injury to any baby placed in that...
Consumer Protection
Department News
16 May 2016

Commissioner's Blog: Reception issues for TV buyers

With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard Changes to the way several new TV channels broadcast is causing reception issues for some television users, and sellers of TVs or set top boxes should attune to this. Until recently, all networks were broadcasting in either standard definition or high definition using the MPEG-2 video format. Now, however, some high definition...
Consumer Protection
Department News
12 May 2016

Commissioner's Blog: Automatic renewals

With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard The product, membership or subscription may say “free trial” but in many cases it turns into an automatic charge or renewal and consumers need to be aware of this marketing trap. We receive many complaints and enquiries from consumers who report receiving unexpected charges resulting from the automatic charging or renewals of...
Consumer Protection
Department News
05 May 2016

Commissioner's Blog: Have you bought a recalled product?

With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard You may have seen or heard about a Samsung washing fire at a rental property in Wanneroo recently. Early indications are that it was a top loader which is subject to a national product safety recall and I would like to use the case as a reminder about recalled products that pose a threat to public safety. Under the Australian...
Consumer Protection
Department News
27 Apr 2016

Commissioner's Blog: Crowd funding

With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard Crowd funding is an increasingly popular way for people to raise money for a variety of causes using the internet. If an online crowd funding campaign is regarding a work-related or leisure-based project we see this as peer-to-peer lending. However, when the fundraising is for a charitable purpose Consumer Protection is interested...
Consumer Protection
Department News
13 Apr 2016

New fact sheet – Roof-mounted evaporative coolers

From 8 April 2016 new roof-mounted evaporative coolers being installed on residential buildings that are located in a designated bush fire prone area must be fitted with non-combustible covers. The Building Commission has produced a new fact sheet Roof-mounted evaporative coolers to explain the risks and requirements. For further information please contact the Building Commission on 1300 489 099...
Building and Energy
Department News
11 Apr 2016

WA Interim Ban on Hoverboards

IMPOSITION OF INTERIM BAN ON HOVERBOARDS THAT DO NOT MEET SPECIFIC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS I, MICHAEL MISCHIN, Minister for Commerce, pursuant to section 109(1)(a) of the Australian Consumer Law (WA), impose an interim ban on consumer goods of a kind specified below, because it appears to me that these goods, or a reasonably foreseeable use of these goods, may cause injury to any person. The effect...
Consumer Protection
Alert
01 Apr 2016

Commissioner's Blog: Say yes to receipts and check your bills

With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard Next time you’re asked ‘would you like a receipt?’ say yes and be sure to check it. Contactless technology that allows us to pay with a wave of a card seems to be resulting in a lower take-up of receipts and this becomes a problem when there’s a query about how much was charged and what for. If you fail to obtain proof of the...
Consumer Protection
Department News
30 Mar 2016

Commissioner's Blog: White van speaker scam

With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard You only have to look up ‘white van speaker scam’ online to find out it happens all over the world and it’s been going on for years. At the moment back of vehicle sellers are currently popping up in metropolitan Perth and regional WA and we want to make sure people steer clear of them. Reports received by Consumer Protection recently...
Consumer Protection
Department News
21 Mar 2016

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