Everyone has the right to privacy in their own homes, and those living in rental properties across Western Australia are certainly no exception.
Claims of private landlords and property managers arriving unannounced for inspections, maintenance and rent collection are fairly common issues reported to Consumer Protection – in the past two years, our team has fielded 177 enquiries and 36 complaints from tenants on this front.
Western Australians who have made financial donations to charities in the last 10 years or more are being urged to beware of scams following reports of a major data breach of a telemarketing company holding donor information from Australian charity organisations.
Many shoppers like to ‘tap-and-go’ when paying for purchases, while others like to hand-over cash, but one thing all consumers have in common is the right to receive a receipt if they want one.
Consumer Protection was concerned recently to hear claims that a retailer in WA had denied a consumer’s request for a paper receipt, citing ‘company policy’ and pointing them to their own bank statement for proof of purchase.
The search is on for outstanding individuals, organisations, groups and the media who advocate for and promote consumer rights in WA, with nominations open for the prestigious 20th anniversary Consumer Protection Awards.
Word of mouth recommendations in the real-world can be a useful tool when deciding which product or service to buy, however the same can’t always be said when seeking out this type of guidance online.
Nearly 40 per cent of consumers turn to the internet to read user reviews as part of their research, according to an investigation by consumer advocacy group CHOICE, but it may not be immediately obvious whether the experience you’re reading about belongs to a genuine customer or has been written by the business itself, a disgruntled ex-employee or even a competitor.
People seeking jobs with flexible work conditions such as working from home, have fallen foul of an employment scam that has so far claimed 20 victims in Western Australia who reported losing a total of $510,000.
The largest individual loss reported to WA ScamNet at Consumer Protection from March 2023 to June 2023 was $194,151 with the lowest being $350.
Consumer Protection has raised the alarm over a business that supplies and builds patios, carports, garages and sheds, after 60 WA consumers lodged complaints claiming goods and services were not supplied, or the work not carried out in a reasonable time.
Rising rents and a lack of available homes have prompted many Western Australians to seek out share houses as a way of keeping a roof over their heads at a price they can afford.
A Langford air conditioning business operator has been fined $15,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court for accepting large deposits from three consumers but failing to install the systems, despite numerous empty promises.
Consumer Protection warns WA consumers to exercise caution when buying vehicles from a licenced car dealer in Welshpool, after receiving 136 complaints relating to it selling unroadworthy vehicles which is a breach of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
