Consumer

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Nominating for a Consumer Protection Award The frequently asked questions below provide some helpful information about the Consumer Protection Awards such as the essential entry requirements, how to apply for an award and the judging process. When do nominations open and close? Nominations open and...
Consumer Protection Awards
It’s your choice You have the right to decide who tows your car and where it is towed – you don’t have to choose the first tow truck that arrives at the scene after an accident or breakdown. You can choose to have your car towed directly to a repairer, your home, or a storage yard. If possible,...
Servicing, repair and towing
Western Australian electrical safety regulations require all lighting points to have earth protection using a conductor connected to the main earth of the building’s electrical installation. The earthing conductor must be connected to a suitably robust earthing terminal of the lighting point (...
Electrical installations
A national safety alert has been issued for several open-flued gas heaters that, under certain circumstances, may produce too much carbon monoxide – potentially causing serious health risks to users. Building and Energy is urging owners of these gas heaters to stop using them immediately. The...
Gas appliances
Stay safe and warm this winter
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Tickticktick2, by sgrove
You can’t see it or smell it. But while your gas heater is running, poisonous carbon monoxide could be spilling into your home. Unserviced gas heaters can spill carbon monoxide (CO) – a gas that you can’t see or smell but can make...
Gas appliances
Safety advice for using open flued gas space heaters Negative pressure can occur when there is not enough ventilation in a home and an exhaust fan or range hood is operating. If an open flued gas space heater is operating at the same time as an exhaust fan, it may cause the gas heater to...
Gas appliances
Building and Energy encourages Western Australians to take simple steps to protect themselves against home fires as more people purchase and use equipment and devices with lithium-ion batteries. The following information will help consumers avoid the fire risk while enjoying the undoubted...
Electrical appliances
Restaurants and cafes that charge a surcharge on certain days do not need to provide a separate menu. However, the menu or pricing display must include wording that ‘a surcharge of [percentage] applies on [the specified day or days]’ . This statement must be displayed in a transparent and prominent...
Store policies and sale practices
Quad bikes have a number of design features that create risks for users, particularly when used on uneven or sloped ground. Losing control of a quad bike can cause it to flip or roll over causing death or serious injury. About quad bikes A quad bike (also known as an all-terrain vehicle or ATV) is...
Product safety for consumers
Consumer Protection has a number of policies which articulate the principles that underpin our work. These policies guide our approach to promoting fair trading and consumer protection, whether we are providing information and advice, helping consumers resolve disputes or investigating complaints...
About us

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Publications

Operators and residents of residential parks and lifestyle villages Changes are on the way! From 31 January 2022, changes to the Residential Parks legislation take place. This will affect your...
Consumer Protection
Brochure
10 Dec 2021
Progress report on local government’s four yearly inspections of private swimming pool safety barriers 2020-21. This Report is the third annual report on the progress of local governments’ pool inspection programs and is in response to recommendation 7 of the Ombudsman WA report Investigation into ways to prevent or reduce deaths of children by drowning , tabled in Parliament on 23 November 2017.
Building and Energy
Reports
02 Dec 2021
As part of its function, Building and Energy provides an avenue for both consumers and builders to resolve disputes relating to workmanship issues in connection with a regulated building services and...
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
22 Oct 2021
This guide to your rights when shopping answers many common consumer questions and explains your rights under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). What if a supermarket scanner charges me too much?...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
21 Oct 2021
Misleading behaviour Misleading or deceptive behaviour is when a shop owner or trader presents an incorrect view about the price, value or quality of goods or services to you. A shop owner can break...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
21 Oct 2021
Estimates and quotes are different ways of putting a price on a job or service before the job is done. What is a quote? A quote is the total amount a tradesperson agrees it will cost to do a job or...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
21 Oct 2021
When buying expensive goods, including fridges, washing machines and televisions, there are many options available to help you make these purchases. Saving If you know you’re going to have to come up...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
21 Oct 2021
Before you buy a mobile phone or sign up to a contract you should be aware of these 10 things. 1. Shop around Look at many different types of plans, pre-paid, capped and monthly because call costs...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
21 Oct 2021
What is book-up? Book-up is short term credit offered by a shop owner that lets you buy goods or services and pay for them later. Some shop owners will charge a fee for allowing you to use book-up...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
20 Oct 2021
Experience tells us rogue traders are deliberately preying on Aboriginal consumers either door-to-door or over the phone in a telemarketing style. Don’t Come Knocking - The Australian Consumer Law...
Consumer Protection
Promotions
08 Jul 2022

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Announcements

Devastating Mariginiup bushfire a likely target for callous scammers Donors urged to be wary of fake websites and bogus social media posts Advice to only donate via Lord Mayor’s Distress Fund or licensed charities Kind-hearted Western Australians looking to donate to the victims of the Mariginiup bushfire are being warned by Consumer Protection to be wary of scammers who may set up fake charity...
Consumer Protection
Media release
28 Nov 2023
New Consumer Justice Strategy initiatives identified Call for banks and industry to do more on scam protection Tenancy law reforms, automotive industry compliance are other top priorities Lobbying Australian banks to improve scam prevention strategies, tightening tenancy laws, and improving support for vulnerable Western Australians are among the upcoming consumer focused priorities for the Cook...
Consumer Protection
Media release
24 Nov 2023
Scammers steal nearly $400,000 from WA online shoppers so far in 2023 Check delivery timeframes for online items to avoid missing Christmas deadline 33 extra trading hours approved to make Christmas shopping more convenient Online shoppers are urged to be on high alert for scams and to remember their consumer rights in the lead up to major retail events like the Black Friday, Cyber Monday and...
Consumer Protection
Media release
23 Nov 2023
Buying or renting a residential property involves significant financial transactions which, increasingly, are targets for scammers. Over the last 12 month, WA ScamNet received 129 complaints of real estate and rental scams that left 74 West Australians almost one million dollars, in total, out of pocket. Rental and real estate scammers try to trick you out of your money when you need to transfer...
Consumer Protection
Media release
22 Nov 2023
PLUMBERS LICENSING BOARD – MEDIA STATEMENT A Butler plumber has been fined $5,500 for working beyond the scope of his licence and not rectifying a defective water heater that could have scalded users. At Armadale Magistrates Court on 29 September 2023, Julian Francis North (TL12335) pleaded guilty to two charges brought by the Plumbers Licensing Board. Mr North holds a plumbing tradesperson’s...
Building and Energy
Media release
22 Nov 2023
Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. After today motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 22 November 2023), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 34 cents per...
Consumer Protection
Media release
21 Nov 2023
Distressed consumers are being misled following accidents 55 complaints against Specialized Tilt Tray and Towing Services in 17 months Non-disclosure agreements may contain unfair contract terms Consumer Protection is warning consumers about a tow truck company believed to be misleading consumers and then asking them to sign non-disclosure agreements to have their vehicle released from their...
Consumer Protection
Media release
21 Nov 2023
Unsolicited sellers come in all shapes and sizes, trying to grab your attention to buy or sign up for their products or services. Traditionally, salespeople knock on your door to deliver a sales pitch in-person and Consumer Protection has regulations that control when they can visit you. Should you make an agreement with a door-to-door seller, they must provide a copy of the signed contract and...
Consumer Protection
Media release
15 Nov 2023
Mandatory professional development to continue for WA real estate and settlement industries Ongoing education and training to maintain faith and confidence in industry participants Agents to administer and self-fund program The Cook Government has again thrown its support behind mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for everyone employed in the real estate and settlement sectors to...
Consumer Protection
Media release
15 Nov 2023
Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. After today motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 15 November 2023), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by over 34 cents...
Consumer Protection
Media release
14 Nov 2023

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