Consumer Protection

• Balga man sells two vehicles online with incorrect odometer readings
• Fined $1,600 on each charge for false or misleading representations
• Seller had previously been prosecuted for unlicensed dealing

An online car seller has been fined $3,200 by the Perth Magistrates Court for misleading two buyers by falsifying odometer readings.

Wesam Hamed Mohammed of Balga was also ordered to pay costs of $682 when convicted on 14 April 2023 of breaching the Australian Consumer Law by making false or misleading representations.

• Repairer takes payments from vehicle owners with little work carried out
• Three Perth consumers left out of pocket and their vehicles unusable
• Case highlights the dangers to consumers of paying too much money upfront

A Port Kennedy vehicle repairer has been ordered by the Perth Magistrates Court to pay $48,492.59 in fines, compensation and costs after accepting payments from consumers but failing to complete the work.

Next time you spot a bill in the letterbox, it could be worth looking into whether you’re being charged extra to receive this correspondence in the mail and how you might avoid paying the fee if so.

A growing number of service providers now charge a fee to cover the costs of printing and posting your bill. That list recently expanded to include Telstra, which reportedly cited ‘environmental reasons’ as the reason many of its customers would need to pay $2.20 each time they received a bill in the mail after 20 May 2023.

• Thornlie man convicted of selling 103 vehicles after deciding not to renew licence
• Consumer Protection warning to illegal dealers – “we will prosecute”
• Public urged to dob-in unlicensed motor vehicle dealers

Buying and selling more than 100 vehicles in six months has seen a car seller who deliberately decided not to renew his dealer’s licence fined $47,600 by the Armadale Magistrates Court.

• Albany real estate sales representative convicted of misleading a property buyer
• Told buyer she could move into a unit declared non-habitable
• Buyers urged to make own enquiries if in doubt about council approvals 

Wrongly telling a homebuyer she could live in a dwelling that had been deemed ‘non-habitable’ by local government authorities has seen a former real estate sales representative convicted and penalised nearly $5,300 following action by Consumer Protection.

• Safety warning for parents about the dangers of eRideables
• Quarter of drowning deaths in young children occurred in a pool in 2022-23
• Trampolines and Christmas presents with button batteries can be hazardous

With the warm weather here already, Consumer Protection has some timely safety tips for families to enjoy a safe summer.

A fun way for kids to zip around outdoors is on a motorised scooter, but it is important to remember these devices are not toys and can be dangerous if used incorrectly.

• Devastating Mariginiup bushfire a likely target for callous scammers
• Donors urged to be wary of fake websites and bogus social media posts
• Advice to only donate via Lord Mayor’s Distress Fund or licensed charities

Kind-hearted Western Australians looking to donate to the victims of the Mariginiup bushfire are being warned by Consumer Protection to be wary of scammers who may set up fake charity fundraisers.

• Scammers steal nearly $400,000 from WA online shoppers so far in 2023
• Check delivery timeframes for online items to avoid missing Christmas deadline
• 33 extra trading hours approved to make Christmas shopping more convenient

Online shoppers are urged to be on high alert for scams and to remember their consumer rights in the lead up to major retail events like the Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Boxing Day sales.

• Distressed consumers are being misled following accidents
• 55 complaints against Specialized Tilt Tray and Towing Services in 17 months
• Non-disclosure agreements may contain unfair contract terms

Consumer Protection is warning consumers about a tow truck company believed to be misleading consumers and then asking them to sign non-disclosure agreements to have their vehicle released from their holding yard.

Unsolicited sellers come in all shapes and sizes, trying to grab your attention to buy or sign up for their products or services.