With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
If you don’t know much about iTunes gift cards, that’s music to scammers’ ears. Fraudsters call out-of-the-blue pretending to be a representative of a government agency, such as the Australian Tax Office (ATO), or they might pose as a utility company – they say you owe money and make threats to scare you, claiming you can pay off the debt with iTunes cards.
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
Did you know you’ll pay more when buying foreign cash at the airport than at any other location? Also debit or credit cards are usually the cheapest option for buying things overseas.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) research, to help us with foreign money purchase decisions, found:
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe
Aside from your home, your car is likely to be your biggest asset. Unlicensed motor vehicle dealers can pose a huge, unnecessary risk to your vehicle and to the safety of your family. Buying a vehicle from an unlicensed dealer increases the risk of it being substandard, dangerous and possibly unroadworthy. By engaging the services of an unlicensed dealer, you may also be foregoing your consumer rights to a remedy on the vehicle if something goes wrong.
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
I remember the first time we held the Consumer Protection Awards in 2004 and I’m proud that the annual event has become firmly fixed in the Western Australian calendar as an opportunity to acknowledge community contributions to consumer protection.
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
It’s been more than 10 years since Western Australia’s tenancy laws were reviewed and times have certainly changed. So, Consumer Protection is set to review the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 and we are going to want to hear from you.
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
Seeing the recent bushfires is horrifying for most of us and we just want to help somehow. But unfortunately scammers see it as an opportunity to impersonate charities, or create fake charities. This can happen online, via social media or website pop-ups, or in person, such as at your front door or on the street.
It’s doubly cruel because not only does it con the donor out of their money, it also denies the true cause much-needed funds for those truly affected.
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
Did you know that currently when you build a home in Western Australia, such as a one or two storey house, there are no mandatory inspections during, or at the end of, construction?
In a recent social media survey run on Consumer Protection’s Facebook page, 55% of respondents wrongly thought local government WAS required to carry out inspections of home building work during construction of single residential dwellings.
Have you ever engaged a dealer to sell a car or caravan on your behalf? This is known as ‘consignment selling’ and the laws that regulate this method of sale are currently under review, with a ban being considered as one of the options.
For those who don’t want to negotiate the sale of their vehicle privately, selling on consignment is a viable option but it comes with risk.
Our sunny skies have paved the way for a booming solar panel industry in Western Australia, as many households look for ways to cut their power bills while also reducing their carbon footprint.
Rooftop solar has become so popular in fact, it’s estimated that 300,000 WA households already have panels installed, accounting for one-fifth of the electricity produced in our main network.
Even though there’s a lot to love about this renewable, some consumers have come to Consumer Protection with complaints about poor quality parts, companies going broke and pushy sales tactics.
The State Government will strengthen regulations for family day care operators to improve child safety at residences with swimming pools, spas or water features.
