Consumer Protection

• Encroachment of a garage into neighbouring property not disclosed before sale
• Agent told about the issue during appraisal but forgot about it
• Warning to agents to improve efforts to discover and disclose facts

Failing to disclose an encroachment issue prior to the sale of a Nedlands home has resulted in a real estate agency and its former Director being fined a total of $13,000 by the State Administrative Tribunal.

• A high number of unresolved consumer complaints prompts a public warning
• Business fails to collect skip bins within the agreed time of up to a week
• Some angry customers have been waiting for many months for pick-ups

A warning from Consumer Protection has been issued about a Perth skip bin supplier that fails to pick up the bins within the promised timeframe and, in one case, has failed to deliver after accepting payment.

• Banned from holding or obtaining a licence in the motor vehicle industry
• Ordered not to be involved with a motor vehicle business
• Imprisoned for stealing $181,250 from three other dealers

A Cloverdale motor vehicle dealer who was imprisoned after being convicted of stealing has been disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT).

• Travelling conmen offering to resurface bitumen driveways and car parks
• Work is usually sub-standard or incomplete and at an inflated price
• Warning to resist high pressure sales tactics and shop around

A warning from Consumer Protection that ‘Bitumen Bandits’ are operating in WA’s South-West following reports that they are approaching local businesses in the area.

• Warning to be aware of bogus calls claiming to be from government agencies
• Resist threats from scammers to pay a fake debt
• Hang up on these calls and contact government agency directly to verify

A plea from Consumer Protection for people to be aware of the various tax scams has been prompted by figures which show a large increase in losses suffered by WA victims.

If you’ve ever tried to compare health insurance or hotels to find the best deal, you will have likely encountered a commercial comparison site.

While these services can be a useful tool, it’s important to make sure you know how these sites work before relying on a comparison to choose a service provider.

Consumer Protection has received a higher number of enquiries and complaints about comparison sites in the past 12 months, mostly to do with COVID-19 related travel cancellations and people wanting refunds instead of vouchers or credits.

• Rivervale man fined $4,000 for dealing more than 40 vehicles with no licence
• Magistrate says licensing important for safety and protection of consumers
• Consumer Protection urges the community to report any illegal sales

A Magistrate has reminded the community that the licensing of motor vehicle dealers in WA is “not just red tape” as he fined a Rivervale man $4,000 for illegal sales while being unlicensed.

• Four consumers pay for decorative screens but get nothing in return
• Full refunds given two years later, just prior to Court appearance
• Business proprietors fined $5,000 each for accepting payments but failing to deliver

A producer of custom laser-cut panels, screens and gates who took consumers’ money but failed to deliver has received a $5,000 fine imposed by the Perth Magistrates Court on 14 May 2021.

• Ten infringement notices of $1,000 and one for $4,000 issued to fuel outlets
• Discrepancies found in price reported to FuelWatch or on signboard
• Fuel retailers warned to report and display prices that match bowser price

Infringement notices amounting to $14,000 have been issued by Consumer Protection to 11 fuel outlets in WA since 1 January 2020 over breaches of FuelWatch laws.