Consumer Protection

• Candice Evans to lead the team in Consumer Protection’s Geraldton office
• Her experience in helping tenants will be useful in new role
• Consumer Protection’s presence in the region increases ability to deal with local issues

Consumer Protection has appointed a new senior regional officer to service the region which covers Geraldton and an area as far as Carnarvon, the northern Wheatbelt around Moora and remote communities such as Wiluna to the east.

• Bedrooms by Aura and Simone Lockett fined $15,000 for failing to deliver
• Court orders six consumers be paid about $36,000 in compensation
• Affected consumers from around Australia ordered items online and via Facebook

A Perth retailer of luxury designer furniture has been ordered to pay a total of $47,387.91 by the Perth Magistrates Court being a fine, costs and compensation after taking payments from consumers but, in most cases, not delivering the goods.

• 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.

• 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.

• Business operator takes consumer payments but fails to complete or deliver
• Aircon and trailer businesses promoted on Facebook
• Mr Feisst refuses to cooperate to resolve a large number of complaints

A Perth man who offers air conditioning installations and repairs as well as custom-built vehicle trailers has been taking consumers’ money but fails to complete the work or supply any goods or services at all, triggering a public warning from Consumer Protection.

• Cooling off period for fitness industry contracts now seven days
• Terms and conditions of contracts and pricing made clearer
• New mandatory Code of Conduct to prevent high pressure sales tactics

New rules that cover an expanded fitness industry in WA are now in effect, giving consumers a longer cooling off period, clearer contracts and notice prior to automatic renewals.

There’s no place like home, so when unexpected damage occurs to a rental property it’s important for tenants to be across their rights and know that they can come to us when issues aren’t fixed in a reasonable time.

Regardless of whether damage to a rental property occurs due to wild weather or a structural issue, the landlord is legally responsible for necessary repairs and maintenance to bring the property back to a liveable condition.

• 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).