Business sales agent fined over unauthorised trust account withdrawal (Sigma Business Sales Pty Ltd / Michael Harrold)

  • Unauthorised withdrawal of a $50,000 deposit after business sale settlement
  • Business broker and his company fined a total of $7,000 plus $1,000 in costs
  • Warning that violations of trust account laws will not be tolerated

A West Perth business sales agent and his company have been fined by the State Administrative Tribunal after making an unauthorised $50,000 withdrawal from the agency’s trust account.

Commissioner's Blog: Tow truck reform on its way

Keeping your wits about you following a car accident or breakdown is not always easy – you may be in shock, the traffic behind you is probably piling up and your vehicle needs to be moved off the road to somewhere safe. 

The last thing any motorist needs in a stressful situation like this is to be threatened, misled or harassed by unscrupulous tow-truck drivers looking to get their business.

Fine for Mt Magnet landlord over tenancy bonds (Ian Black)

  • Landlord failed to lodge seven bonds with the Bonds Administrator
  • $1,000 fine after Consumer Protection takes prosecution action
  • Laws designed to keep tenants’ funds safe and secure

 A Mt Magnet landlord has been fined $1,000 and ordered to pay costs of $1,184.50 by the Perth Magistrates Court after being convicted of failing to lodge tenancy bonds with the Bond Administrator.

Fire risk recall for LG solar home energy batteries

  • Fire risk from several models of LG home energy storage batteries
  • 450 of the recalled batteries are estimated to have been installed in WA
  • Affected consumers should switch off the battery and contact LG or SolaX

WA’s electrical and product safety regulators are alerting consumers about a national recall of some LG-branded home energy storage batteries, which may overheat and ignite.

$40,000 fine for high number of illegal backyard vehicle sales (Jacob Hamilton / Hamilton Construction (WA) Pty Ltd)

  • 174 vehicles bought and 147 sold without a licence in about 12 months
  • Backyard operators robbing consumers of their rights
  • Public urged to report illegal operators to stamp out the practice

A sole director and his company have been fined a total of $40,000 for illegally buying and selling a high number of motor vehicles from his Stirling home without having a dealer’s licence.

Some fitness operators not pulling their weight on new consumer code

  • Action threatened against those who don’t comply with fitness industry rules
  • Most issues relate to membership cancellations and refunds
  • 37 complaints and 111 enquiries received so far this year

Consumer Protection will be cracking down on some fitness industry operators that are failing to comply with the new Code of Practice that came into effect on 1 July last year.

Commissioner's Blog: Flood cars – avoid buying a washed-up vehicle

The floodwaters may have subsided in Eastern Australia, but consumers in Western Australia are being warned to brace for the tsunami of flood-damaged cars headed our way.  

With as many as 20,000 vehicles damaged in the Queensland and northern New South Wales’ flood events earlier this year, there are fears many of these compromised vehicles will be transported across to WA and sold to unsuspecting buyers.

Water can affect a vehicle’s electrical systems and later cause corrosion, plus there could be problems getting it registered or even insured in WA.

Fears flood-damaged vehicles will be dumped on WA market

  • Real concerns that defective vehicles from flood areas will be sold in WA
  • Potential buyers urged to find out the vehicle’s full history before purchase
  • A number of checks can be carried out to make an informed decision

WA consumers are being warned to be vigilant with fears that flood-damaged vehicles from the eastern states will be sold in WA.

Consumer Protection urges buyers of second-hand vehicles to question the seller about the history of the vehicle and to specifically ask if it has been damaged by floodwaters or is a write-off.

Make Mother’s Day memorable for all the right reasons

  • Know your consumer rights before shopping for Mother’s Day gifts
  • Don’t be fooled by ‘was/now’ advertising, make sure discounts are genuine
  • Most gift cards have a minimum three year expiry date

Consumer Protection is reminding shoppers of their rights to help them find the best gift for Mother’s Day.

Executive Director for Consumer Protection Trish Blake is encouraging online or in-store shoppers to research their options before deciding to buy.

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