Consumer Protection

• Strong demand results in 730% increase in complaints over five years
• Delivery delays for new models and sale of flood-affected used vehicles blamed
• Consumer Protection recovered $6 million for vehicle buyers in the past two years

The number of consumer complaints relating to the sale of defective second-hand motor vehicles in WA has skyrocketed, increasing 730% over the past five years and reaching a peak in 2022.

• Kimberley flood donors urged to verify that charities are genuine
• Scammers may set up fake charities on social media and fundraising sites
• Advice to only donate to licensed charities and do an online check

Generous Western Australians wanting to donate to victims of the Kimberley floods are being warned to watch out for scammers who often exploit these events by setting up fake charities.

• Inflated UFC tickets contravening WA’s anti-ticket scalping laws may be cancelled
• Risk of refused entry to fans with tickets sold for more than ten per cent mark-up
• Advice for ticket holders who have purchased from unauthorised resellers

Consumer Protection is again warning consumers who may have purchased inflated tickets from unauthorised resellers to the upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC 284) at Perth's RAC Arena, that there is a high risk they may be refused entry, or that their tickets will be cancelled.

• Unlicensed motor vehicle repairer to pay $2,000 fine and $566 in costs
• Repairer advertised services via Facebook and a website
• Consumers urged to do licence checks before engaging repairers

An Ellenbrook motor vehicle repairer has been fined $2,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court for carrying out mobile mechanical repairs without a licence.

Victor James Wright was also ordered to pay costs of $566 when convicted in his absence on 16 December 2022 of breaching the Motor Vehicle Repairers Act.

• Repairer ordered by SAT to pay total of $4,676 in fines and costs
• Failed to provide a police clearance as required by certificate condition
• Also failed to advise changes of address as required by law

Failing to comply with a condition attached to his certificate has resulted in a $3,000 fine and a reprimand for a Perth motor vehicle repairer.

• LED String Fairy Lights Net Mesh does not comply with electrical safety standards
• Buyers of this product must discontinue use and unplug immediately
• One consumer has reported an electrical shock injury needing hospital treatment

Consumers are being urgently warned about dangerous Christmas lights that have caused an electric shock injury and are believed to have been sold recently in WA.

It can be disappointing missing out on tickets to a favourite artist or sports team. Some ticket buyers may even be willing to fork out hundreds of dollars extra to an online ticket reseller just to be able to go to the event.

There is some good news for consumers and their wallets with the Australian Government introducing a new event ticketing standard to help ticket buyers make informed decisions when purchasing tickets from online resellers for events across Australia.

• National and state consumer laws will be consistent with automatic updates
• WA parliament has the option not to adopt changes if any concerns
• Amendments will benefit WA consumers and businesses

National changes to consumer laws will be more easily and more quickly reflected in state laws with a new mechanism now being adopted.

• Agency and supervisor fined $7,000 each for failing their legal obligations
• Sales rep fined $2,000 after working for nine months without registration
• Reminder to real estate industry to be aware of their duties under the law

A North Perth real estate agency, its supervisor and an unregistered sales representative have been fined a total of $16,000 by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) as a result of disciplinary action by Consumer Protection.

• Critical warning when using rechargeable batteries
• Number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries rising sharply
• Think twice before buying rechargeable devices without original charger

Take charge of your safety. That is the message for everyone buying or receiving a lithium-ion powered gift this Christmas.

Consumer Protection is warning that lithium-ion battery chargers, and the way they are used, can be more dangerous than the devices they power. In some cases deadly.