Consumer Protection

• Five individuals have become the first to face legal action under the McGowan Government’s new ticket scalping laws
• Infringement notices relate to the recent sold-out UFC 284 event in Perth, with further cases still under investigation
• Ticket mark-ups were up to 430 per cent of the original ticket price, exceeding the 10 per cent permitted
• Footy fans urged to be on the lookout for ticket scalpers ahead of next weekend’s AFL western derby

Consumer Protection is alerting Western Australian car buyers to check vehicle sales contracts before signing for the correct cancellation fees and terms and conditions.

Motor vehicle dealers in WA have been caught using incorrect or outdated sales contracts which state a cancellation fee that is higher than what is now legally allowed.

• Appeal to WA tenants and landlords to claim outstanding bond money
• More than $4 million being held, waiting to be returned to rightful owners
• Free, quick and easy online process to search for and claim money owed

Tenants and landlords in WA are being urged by Consumer Protection to check for unclaimed bond money which currently totals $4.15 million.

• Unlicensed motor vehicle dealer to pay $10,000 fine and $682 in costs
• 19 vehicles were sold between May 2021 and May 2022
• Consumers urged to report unlicensed motor vehicle dealers  

A man has been fined $10,000 by the Bunbury Magistrates Court for buying and selling motor vehicles without a valid motor vehicle dealer licence.

Bradley Christopher Diable was also ordered to pay costs of $682 when convicted on 3 April 2023 of breaching the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act.

• 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.

As the world shakes off the shackles of COVID-19, many Western Australians are feeling more confident about jetting off or setting sail for a holiday.

We therefore want to remind travellers about their rights under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) if something goes wrong with a travel product or service.

Beyond what is outlined in the terms and conditions, the travel provider is bound by the ACL to deliver a cruise, flight, tour or accommodation that meets the description or advertisement.  

• ​Coldplay fans urged to be on high alert for ticket scalpers and scammers
• Holders of inflated tickets may be at risk of being refused entry at Optus Stadium
• Report tickets being sold for more than a 10 per cent mark-up to Consumer Protection

The McGowan Government is warning Coldplay fans to be on high alert for ticket scalpers and scammers ahead of pre-sale tickets going on sale tomorrow, Monday, May 15, and general public tickets on Tuesday, May 16.

• Agency fined $6,000 and Director fined $4,000 for code of conduct violations
• Agency Director was also Director of a recommended maintenance company
• Agents reminded to always act in the best interests of their clients

A Canning Vale real estate agency has been fined by the State Administrative Tribunal for failing to act in the best interests of five of its clients in relation to property maintenance recommendations and arrangements.

• Mother’s Day online shoppers warned to be on alert for fake websites and scams
• Consumers urged to know their rights if gifts are faulty or they’ve been misled
• A reminder that gift cards now have a three-year minimum expiry limit

Consumer Protection is encouraging shoppers to be diligent when looking for Mother’s Day gifts, particularly online.

Consumers who increasingly rely on internet shopping for convenience and choice are being warned to be on alert for scams.

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.