Consumer Protection

A holiday safety consumer alert has been issued by Consumer Protection following the recent tragic death of a two-year-old girl who was strangled by a blind cord at her home on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast last month.

With children spending more time at home over the summer holiday season, the young child’s death is a grim reminder that parents and carers must be vigilant to the dangers in the home or, if going away, in the holiday accommodation.

Consumers buying e-scooters or e-skateboards as Christmas gifts this year are being urged to consider the safety and road rules relating to these products before purchasing.

The growing popularity of what are referred to as ‘personal mobility devices’ is leading to a growing need for these devices to be used safely, especially in the wake of the death of a 24 year old man who fell from an electric skateboard in Carnarvon last week.

The growing number of complaints against a Melbourne-based furniture removalist that operates nationally has sparked concern with a public warning being issued by Consumer Protection.

The warning relates to Ajanvi Pty Ltd, trading as My Moovers and operating the website www.mymoovers.com.au, which has attracted complaints from 47 consumers in WA so far this year. The warning relates only to this specific business entity, and not to any other business with a similar sounding name.

Building and Energy and Consumer Protection have joined forces to warn parents and retailers about the risks and rules when using and selling portable pools this summer.

Building and Energy oversees WA’s swimming pool safety barrier standards, which are enforced by local governments, while Consumer Protection regulates product safety.

On average, one child a year drowns in a portable pool in Australia and many more non-fatal incidents result in hospitalisation and long-term injuries. The most at-risk age group is under five.

WA tenants and landlords who are struggling financially due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic have one last chance to apply for a grant of up to $2,000 to go towards paying their rent this Christmas.

Phase two of the WA Government’s Residential Rent Relief Grant Scheme (RRRGS) means that tenants who have lost their job as a result of COVID-19 and are suffering financial hardship can apply to have four weeks’ rent, to a maximum of $2,000, paid directly to their landlord. Landlords given the grant must reduce the tenant’s rent by the amount received.

Consumer Protection is again warning WA home owners about a tradesperson who has allegedly taken payments for fencing and paving services, but failed to carry out the work.

Since October 2020, Trevor Potter (who also goes by his middle name ‘James’) of Yanchep, trading as Bluesky Worx (unregistered), has allegedly taken deposits of approximately $16,000 from a number of consumers who are yet to receive either the goods or services, or a refund.

The complainants are mostly situated in the northern suburbs of Perth.

Costco’s fuel outlet at Perth Airport offered motorists the cheapest petrol in 2020 with FuelWatch, which is celebrating its 20^th anniversary, releasing its annual list of sites that consistently have bargain prices.

On average, the Costco price for ULP was 95.1 cents per litre (cpl) over the year but is only available to members, so FuelWatch has also awarded the number one spot to Liberty at Gosnells, open to the general public, with an annual ULP average of 102.9 cpl.

• Thornlie couple lose their home purchase savings in a payment redirection scam
• Settlement agent’s email used by scammers looked almost the same
• Property buyers and sellers should be suspicious of payment demands by email

A Thornlie couple’s dream of buying their first home in Australia has been shattered after scammers stole almost $133,000 after cloning the settlement agent’s email address.

• Prepaid funeral funds to be placed in secure investments
• Code provides greater transparency and disclosures in contracts
• A 30 day cooling off period will now apply

A new mandatory code of practice is now in force for WA’s prepaid funeral industry which aims to safeguard the estimated $170 million being held to pay for future funerals.

The new code which began on 1 March 2021 will ensure that the funds will be managed within secure investments under the name of the client until they are required.