Consumer

Topics

Credit card chargeback

A chargeback is the reversal of a disputed transaction back to your credit card account. Chargebacks are only available on credit cards or if you use the ‘credit’ option on a debit or travel card. It is NOT available when you pay with cash, eftpos, BPAY, direct debit, money transfer or cheque...
Refunds and returns
08 Nov 2016

Improving the interaction between residential tenancy laws and family violence restraining orders

Introduction Tenancy laws in WA are under review as part of the Government’s family violence reform plan and community feedback is now invited. The purpose of this options paper is to seek stakeholder feedback into preferred drafting options to amend the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 so that...
Consultations and reports
26 Oct 2016

Western Australian Products Symbol Act 1972

WATCH
The Western Australian Products Symbol Act 1972 (the Act) authorises the use of the WA Birthmark symbol (a prescribed symbol) to distinguish and promote the sale of products made in Western Australia. A person who sells any product, the production and preparation of which is substantially carried...
Information standards
26 Oct 2016

Music festivals and outdoor events

Music festivals are high-risk business ventures, susceptible to major changes or cancellations due to a unique set of planning challenges, such as inclement weather, natural disasters, venue suitability, and artist availability. When things go wrong and a festival is cancelled or does not match the...
Your consumer rights
20 Oct 2016

Button batteries

Every week, around 20 Australian children present to an emergency department following exposure to button batteries, including ingestions and insertions. Keep products with button batteries out of sight and out of reach of small children. Button batteries are found in many common household products...
Product safety for consumers
20 Sep 2016

Boarders and lodgers review

Consumer Protection is seeking community feedback about whether new laws should be introduced to regulate boarding and lodging in WA. Status: CLOSED , Friday 30 June 2017 Background Boarders and lodgers are currently not covered by the Residential Tenancies Act , although boarding premises...
Consultations and reports
15 Sep 2016

Ladder safety matters

In one year in Australia, 1668 people aged 65 years and over were hospitalised because they fell from a ladder. Sixty-two per cent of those injuries occurred in or around their home. Ladder related injuries among men aged 65 years and older is steadily increasing in Australia. The national...
Product safety for consumers
09 Sep 2016

Helpful contacts for people with disability

Consumer Protection advice line Consumer Protection's Advice Line provides “on-the-spot” information, advice and assistance about scams and general issues in the marketplace, particularly consumer and trader rights and responsibilities. Phone: 1300 304 054 email WA ScamNet The National Disability...
People with disability
18 Aug 2016

Air travel for people with a disability

Thousands of people with all types of disability regularly travel by air. However, you may not know what to expect, particularly if it is your first time flying or you are travelling on a different airline. Service and travel procedures may vary between airlines and airports. Planning your travel...
People with disability
17 Aug 2016

National Relay Service

The National Relay Service helps deaf, hearing and/or speech-impaired people to make and receive phone calls. The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety uses NRS to ensure our contact numbers are accessible to people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment. To access a...
Accessibility
29 Jun 2016

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Publications

False billing and unsolicited invoices fact sheet

READ
Consumer Protection has had a number of recent reports from sporting associations that have received an unsolicited invoice for payment for services that they have not ordered. Busy small businesses...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
21 Nov 2017

Australian Consumer Law - Refunds and returns

READ
Refunds and returns sign sample We are not required to provide a refund or replacement if you change your mind. But you can choose a refund or exchange if an item has a major problem. This is when...
Consumer Protection
Flyers
07 Nov 2017

The Australian Consumer Law and your safety

READ
You are entitled to expect safe goods and services From 1 January 2011, every Australian consumer will be protected in the same way under the Australian Consumer Law from unsafe consumer products and...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
02 Nov 2017

Supplementary report – Perth Children’s Hospital audit: fire walls

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An audit of contractor and product performance in the construction of fire walls at the new Perth Children’s Hospital.
Building Commission
Reports
23 Oct 2017

Final Report 2016 - 2017

READ
The department's final annual report for 2016-2017 presents information on its statutory compliance, financial, non-financial and operational performance, in accordance with the requirements of the...
Corporate
Reports
16 Oct 2017

Dispute with a business? A consumer guide to finding help ACL

READ
About this guide This guide will help you find assistance when you are in dispute with a business. Your rights when you buy, hire or lease goods, or pay for services, are set out by the Australian...
Consumer Protection
Information
11 Oct 2017

The Australian Consumer Law and your business

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Simpler regulation for your business From 1 January 2011, every Australian business will have the same rights and responsibilities under the Australian Consumer Law. By knowing your rights and...
Consumer Protection
Information
11 Oct 2017

General Inspection Report One: A general inspection into metal roof construction

READ
A general inspection report into the construction of sheet metal clad timber framed roofing in Perth metropolitan and South West regions.
Building Commission
Reports
10 Oct 2017

Fire safety in existing apartment buildings

READ
While apartment living has many advantages, the fire at the Grenfell Tower in London and other fire events in Australia and around the world have highlighted the importance of fire safety in high-...
Building Commission
Fact sheet
03 Oct 2017

Home safety for baby takeway tips

READ
To keep your baby safe, please follow our tips.
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
22 Sep 2017

Pages

Announcements

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average cost of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 17 cents per litre (cpl) to 153.1 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 14 August 2018, most BP, Puma and Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 159.9 cpl (an increase of between 20 cpl and 26 cpl). Most 7-Eleven sites are increasing...
Consumer Protection
Media release
13 Aug 2018

Builder fined for not supervising dig (Brad Ross Homes Pty Ltd and Bradley William Ross)

Lesmurdie-registered builder Brad Ross Homes Pty Ltd (BC12915) and its director and nominated supervisor Bradley William Ross (BP12915) have each been fined $3,000 by the Building Services Board for negligent conduct. The findings relate to building services carried out at a property in Cottesloe. The Board found the company had been negligent by: failing to ensure that soil excavation on the...
Building Commission
Media release
10 Aug 2018

Unlicensed dealer fined $15,000 after selling 38 motor vehicles (Steven Jeffrey Land)

Buying 46 motor vehicles and then selling 38 of those without a licence has resulted in a $15,000 fine for a Thornlie man who often conducted the illegal transactions from his home. Steven Jeffrey Land entered a guilty plea at the Armadale Magistrates Court on 7 August 2018 and was also ordered to pay costs of $964.10. The offences were carried out between 25 June 2016 and 24 February 2018. Mr...
Consumer Protection
Media release
09 Aug 2018

Unlicensed dealer fined $9,500 in relation to 18 cars bought and 12 sold (Grant William James Hislop)

A Huntingdale man has been fined $9,500 by the Joondalup Magistrates Court for selling vehicles from his home without a licence. Grant William James Hislop failed to appear in court on 3 August 2018, and the matter proceeded in his absence. Mr Hislop was convicted of unlicensed motor vehicle dealing in relation to 18 cars that were bought, and then 12 sold, during a 12 month period. Costs of $205...
Consumer Protection
Media release
09 Aug 2018

Take the pressure down: water heater explosion prompts maintenance reminder

Some quick checks and routine maintenance could have prevented the explosion of a storage water heater outside a home in Perth’s north, according to Building and Energy inspectors who attended the site. The incident is a timely reminder for owners of all storage water heaters – gas, electric and solar – to follow the recommended maintenance schedule, which usually involves simple checks every few...
EnergySafety
Media release
08 Aug 2018

Commissioner's Blog: Watch out for payment interception scams

Making payments online is now a routine part of life for many consumers but we all need to stay vigilant both at home and in the workplace where interception scams continue to be an issue. Many of us are already aware that we should take precautions when paying online for goods but consumers may not realise that payment scams can target anyone exchanging money, including business and property...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Aug 2018

Commissioner's Blog: Avoid paying extra fees for paper billing

Many consumers may not realise that some companies charge extra fees to send bills by mail to cover their printing and postage costs, but there are ways to avoid paying these charges. F or many consumers, the simplest option is to receive your bills electronically – by email or via the company’s app. Check the company’s website or contact the company directly to find out how you can change to...
Consumer Protection
Media release
03 May 2018

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by 19 cents per litre (cpl) to 154.2 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 7 August 2018, most Caltex Woolworths, Puma, BP and Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 159.9 cpl (an increase of between 22 cpl and 28 cpl). Most 7-Eleven sites are...
Consumer Protection
Media release
06 Aug 2018

Commissioner's Blog - Have your say on fitness industry

Many of us know someone who has signed up to join a gym and then fails to use their membership - but just what are your consumer rights and does the Fitness Industry Code of Practice need to be updated? The fitness industry in Australia is growing and generated an estimated $229.2 million in profits in 2017-2018 alone, with about 450 gyms and fitness centres operating in WA. Attending a gym or...
Consumer Protection
Media release
19 Jul 2018

$3.8 million annual return to consumers as a result of dispute resolution

WA consumers have recouped a total of $3.85 million in the 2017/18 financial year as a result of Consumer Protection’s dispute resolution efforts. The bulk of the consumer redress achieved was for motor vehicle buyers who had just over $2 million returned to them either by manufacturers or dealers, mostly in the form of refunds for faulty vehicles or upgrades to a newer model of car, truck, four-...
Consumer Protection
Media release
02 Aug 2018

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