Consumer

Topics

Referral selling

Referral selling is when a consumer is persuaded to buy goods or services by promises of a rebate, commission or other benefit for supplying information that helps the trader sell to other consumers, and the consumer does not get the promised benefit unless some other event happens after the...
Sales practices
26 Feb 2014

Pyramid schemes

Pyramid schemes make money by recruiting businesses or people rather than by selling real and legitimate products or services – even if a product or service is involved. These schemes inevitably collapse and new members can lose a lot of money. It is illegal for any business or person to...
Sales practices
26 Feb 2014

No refunds

WATCH
Telling consumers about their rights When it comes to consumer guarantees, you must be very careful about what you say to consumers about their rights, and the wording of any signs, advertisements or any other documents. What you cannot tell a consumer You must not tell a consumer that a consumer...
Returns and cancellations
26 Feb 2014

Cancelling a supply / service

A supplier must meet the consumer guarantees for providing services: with due care and skill; which are fit for any specified purpose; and within the time specified, or within a reasonable time (when no time is set). What is ‘reasonable’ will depend on the nature of the services. If services fail...
Returns and cancellations
26 Feb 2014

Refund

You must repay any money paid by the consumer for the returned goods, and return any other form of payment made by the consumer, for example, a trade-in. If this is not possible, you must refund the consumer the value of the other form of payment. You must not: offer a credit note, exchange card or...
Returns and cancellations
26 Feb 2014

Replacements

You must provide goods of the same type and similar value. If such a replacement is not reasonably available, the consumer may choose a repair or a refund. The consumer must return goods to you. If this involves significant cost to the consumer, you must collect the goods at your own expense – see...
Returns and cancellations
26 Feb 2014

Repair

What if I can’t repair the goods? If a supplier cannot repair the goods—for instance, because the supplier does not have parts—or cannot do so within a reasonable time, the consumer can: reject the goods and seek either a refund or replacement; or have the goods fixed elsewhere and claim reasonable...
Returns and cancellations
26 Feb 2014

What is covered?

Which goods are covered and what guarantees apply. Which goods are covered? Goods are covered when sold in trade or commerce and bought by a consumer. Second-hand, leased or hired goods are also covered. Some consumer guarantees apply regardless of whether the goods are sold in trade or commerce –...
Guarantees and warranties
25 Feb 2014

Extended warranties (Business)

Some suppliers or manufacturers offer extended warranties to lengthen the coverage of their basic manufacturer’s warranty. Usually, consumers are offered the chance to buy an extended warranty after, or at the time, they buy the goods. Example: When a consumer buys a deck chair the retailer says...
Guarantees and warranties
25 Feb 2014

Express warranties and warranties against defects

Suppliers and manufacturers often make extra promises (sometimes called ‘express warranties’) about such things as the quality, state, condition, performance or characteristics of goods or services. These promises are not necessarily about what will happen if the product or services fail but rather...
Guarantees and warranties
25 Feb 2014

Pages

Publications

Repairs to your Motor Vehicle

READ
For most people a motor vehicle will be the second most expensive purchase they will make. In terms of maintenance it will likely be the most expensive. It is in your best interest to find a vehicle...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
04 Dec 2023

Motor vehicle sales and repairs - An industry guide to the ACL

READ
This guide provides information on the ACL for the motor car and motorcycle sales and repair industries. It covers issues about which industry bodies have requested more detailed guidance and which...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
13 Jan 2023

Motor Vehicle Repair Licence Frequently Asked Questions

READ
Motor Vehicle Repairers Licensing Frequently Asked Questions
Consumer Protection
Information
30 May 2014

Disposing of uncollected goods

READ
Publication last updated 21 April 2021 A guide to the correct procedures to dispose of uncollected goods. Though this guide was developed in partnership with the MTA, it is not just for the motor...
Consumer Protection
Guide / handbook
04 Dec 2023

Travel and Accommodation - An industry guide to the ACL

READ
This guide provides information on the ACL for travel and accommodation businesses. This guide is relevant to you if your business: provides holiday accommodation provides travel; for example,...
Consumer Protection
Guide / handbook
09 Jan 2017

Help for victims of fraud (Project Sunbird)

READ
Help for Victims of Fraud
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
05 Feb 2015

Personal services - An industry guide to the ACL

READ
Personal services - An industry guide to the ACL This guide provides information on the ACL for businesses which provide personal services; for example, hairdressing and beauty services, furniture...
Consumer Protection
Guide / handbook
09 Jan 2017

Electrical and whitegoods - An industry guide to the ACL

READ
This guide provides information on the ACL for electrical and whitegoods businesses. It covers key aspects of the law such as refunds, replacements and repairs, focusing on issues where: industry...
Consumer Protection
Guide / handbook
09 Jan 2017

Small Business Self Assessment Checklist

READ
Small Business Self Assessment checklist
Consumer Protection
Checklist
29 May 2014

If they don't pay - What happens if court or tribunal orders are not paid?

READ
There are a number of different orders you can seek to enforce a court or tribunal decision in your favour. Claims in the Magistrates Court The Magistrates Court deals with cases where the total...
Consumer Protection
Brochure
27 Mar 2018

Pages

Announcements

Choose solar installer wisely to avoid being burnt

High complaint numbers prompt reminder to research solar installers Issues involve poor quality parts, installers not using due care and skill Some complaints about companies that have gone out of business WA consumers looking to install home solar energy systems are urged to select their installers carefully, following a high number of complaints reported to Consumer Protection. So far this year...
Consumer Protection
Media release
14 Sep 2022

Retail trading hours for National Day of Mourning

National Public Holiday to honour life and service of Queen Elizabeth II Normal public holiday trading hours will apply for Thursday 22 September Metropolitan Perth trading hours will be 11am to 5pm, in accordance with the Retail Trading Hours Act 1987 (WA) The State Government will apply normal public holiday trading hours for the one-off National Public Holiday to honour Queen Elizabeth II. The...
Consumer Protection
Media release
13 Sep 2022

Inspections give South West dealers and repairers a tick of approval

Vast majority of dealers/repairers inspected found to be complying with the law Inspections carried out in Busselton, Dunsborough and Margaret River areas Three vehicles issued with defect notices and one unlicensed repairer found A sweep of parts of WA’s South West by Consumer Protection automotive officers has recently given the vast majority of motor vehicle dealers and repairers in the area a...
Consumer Protection
Media release
12 Sep 2022

New button battery rules see unsafe Royal Show items identified

The contents of 131 showbags and 20 stall products inspected for safety A total of 34 items failed to meet product safety standards Most items identified did not comply with new button battery rules Product safety inspections of toys and novelty items being sold in showbags and by stallholders at this year’s Perth Royal Show have resulted in 34 items identified that do not comply with product...
Consumer Protection
Media release
08 Sep 2022

Commissioner's Blog: Celebrating 50 years of protecting consumers

With Consumer Protection recently celebrating its 50 th anniversary in Western Australia, we have been reminded that while many things have changed over the last five decades, there is also so much that has remained the same. Back in the early 1970s, second-hand cars accounted for 40 per cent of the complaints we handled, while travel agents, tenancy and product safety were the other big issues...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Sep 2022

Alert to Perth motorists - fill up now to beat the petrol price rise

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 7 September 2022), Perth’s average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 23 cents per litre (cpl) to 177.4 cpl. 7-Eleven, Ampol, BP, Caltex Woolworths and Coles Express hiking between 33-41 cpl up to 189.9 cpl;...
Consumer Protection
Media release
06 Sep 2022

Fake social media accounts used to scam eager renters

Fake social media ads use stolen images of legitimate rental properties Desperate people looking for rentals vulnerable to falling victim $41,000 lost to rental scams already this year, exceeding last year’s total People eager to secure a rental property amid WA’s tight market are falling victim to scammers using social media accounts to post fake ‘to let’ ads. So far this year, WA ScamNet at...
Consumer Protection
Media release
02 Sep 2022

Act on domain name changes to prevent corporate identity theft

Domain name versions without .com, .net, .org etc. will soon be publicly available Businesses and organisations urged to register the .au only version of their name Failing to register .au versions could result in identity theft and financial loss Businesses and organisations are urged to take urgent action on planned domain name changes to prevent the possibility of their corporate identity...
Consumer Protection
Media release
25 Aug 2022

Alert to Perth motorists - fill up now to beat the petrol price rise

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. After today it is likely motorists will have to wait for two weeks before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 24 August 2022), the average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 21 cents per...
Consumer Protection
Media release
23 Aug 2022

Commissioner's Blog: Don’t be drawn in by fake Aboriginal art

With their mesmerising patterns, earthy tones and Dreamtime narratives, it’s little wonder that Aboriginal art and crafts are displayed on walls in homes right across the world. While much of the allure of buying your own piece of Aboriginal artwork is knowing it has been created by an Aboriginal person, a new report demonstrates why there’s a good chance this may not be the case. During its...
Consumer Protection
Media release
19 Aug 2022

Pages

Subscribe to Topics
Subscribe to RSS - Consumer