Consumer Protection

Regional Express Airlines Limited (Rex) has agreed to review its refund policies and procedures to ensure ongoing compliance with the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) when flights are cancelled or delayed, as part of an enforceable undertaking agreed between Consumer Protection and Rex.

The airline has agreed to modify some terms and conditions on its website that had the potential to mislead consumers by giving the impression that a refund was not available under any, or very limited, circumstances.

With their ornate design and intricate mosaic patterns, it’s hardly surprising that Turkish-style lamps are a popular decorative feature in many Western Australian homes.

But just because they are beautiful, it’s important to remember that lamps are an electrical item that can pose a serious safety risk if they haven’t been approved for sale in Australia.

Members of Perth’s Chinese community have lost more than $175,000 so far this year to phone scams after they were threatened with arrest or deportation unless they paid fees.

There have been 17 reports from people who have been targeted by the scammers this year, with four victims claiming to have lost individual amounts of $30,000; $13,800; $71,500 and $60,000.

A motor vehicle dealer who sold on consignment has been disqualified from holding a licence for eight years, starting from 19 November 2020, after being convicted of deceiving owners about the sale price and failing to comply with laws relating to consignment sales.

Fortune tellers have been gazing into crystal balls for centuries and remain a popular destination for people seeking guidance in their lives today.

While many clairvoyants conduct their business with little controversy, in recent months Consumer Protection has become aware that scammers offering ‘psychic’ readings are ramping up efforts to extract money from unsuspecting shoppers at suburban malls.

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 to be resolved.

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 complainants are from Golden Bay, Maddington, Midvale, Thornlie, Rockingham, Haynes, Harrisdale and Kelmscott

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.  

The scheme is predicted to be successful because cargo shipment companies regularly have urgent requirements for extra containers and will pay premium prices.

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 scammers who tried to hijack the live stream also tried to lure viewers away from other Facebook Live events being run by universities in Australia.

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.