Consumer Protection

A photographer of new-born babies was arrested and has appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court today on six charges of accepting payments from consumers but failing to supply some of the images to parents, an alleged breach of the Australian Consumer Law.

An arrest warrant was issued against Melissa Sheed of Aubin Grove after numerous attempts by Consumer Protection to serve her with a court summons failed.

Commissioner for Consumer Protection Lanie Chopping is pleased that this case is finally before the courts.

Consumer Protection is advising caution for Christmas shoppers with a wider availability of credit options including ‘buy now, pay later’ schemes and payday loans which could leave consumers drowning in debt. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen increasing use of ‘buy now, pay later’ schemes which allow shoppers to take possession of the goods straight away while paying off the purchase price in instalments.

With Black Friday sales coming up and many people doing their Christmas shopping online this year, Consumer Protection is warning consumers that scammers are out to take your money with fake retailer websites, social media pages and classified ads.

So far this year scammers have stolen a staggering $1.1 million from 418 WA victims in ‘buying and selling scams’ which, according to new figures from WA ScamNet, more than triples the losses from the whole of 2019 when 255 victims reported total losses of $319,100.

A Perth modelling agent has been ordered to pay almost $12,000 in fines, costs and compensation by the Perth Magistrates Court for taking payments from aspiring male models but failing to deliver what he had promised.

WA consumers are being warned about an asbestos and demolition operator who is misleading the community, by falsely claiming to hold valid WorkSafe licences which have expired or were once held by companies that have since been liquidated.

An Ellenbrook real estate agency has been reprimanded and fined by the State Administrative Tribunal for employing an unregistered sales representative.

HKY Real Estate Pty Ltd was fined $7,000 while the unregistered sales representative Shane David Penny was fined $1,500, in addition to costs of $500 each for breaching the Real Estate and Business Agents Act.

Consumer Protection is advising WA holidaymakers to carefully consider the terms and conditions of their travel bookings in relation to cancellations or postponements, with recent border openings expected to spark a travel surge particularly over the Christmas and summer holiday season.

Travellers should consider what their options might be if border closures or restrictions are re-imposed before or during their dates of travel.

A property manager employed by a Mandurah real estate agency has been fined $6,000 and ordered to pay $400 costs by the Mandurah Magistrates Court for taking money from the agency’s trust account for her own purposes.

Kylie Jo-Anne Thomas was convicted on 8 December 2020 of making unauthorised withdrawals from the trust account in breach of the Real Estate and Business Agents Act.

A holiday safety consumer alert has been issued by Consumer Protection following the recent tragic death of a two-year-old girl who was strangled by a blind cord at her home on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast last month.

With children spending more time at home over the summer holiday season, the young child’s death is a grim reminder that parents and carers must be vigilant to the dangers in the home or, if going away, in the holiday accommodation.

• Late or no deliveries of flowers and gifts may be a major issue for consumers
• Keep photos and receipts of online purchases as proof
• Check online reviews before making your purchase.

Flowers and gifts that don’t arrive in time or arrive but are not what was ordered, are the main consumer issues that can dampen the love this Valentine’s Day (14 February).

Shoppers are being advised to seek delivery guarantees so that the flowers or gifts will arrive in time for the special day, especially if ordering online.