Consumer Protection

After spending 43 years fighting for the consumer rights of everyday Western Australians, David Hillyard is retiring as Commissioner for Consumer Protection after taking a period of leave.

Before taking over the reins of Commissioner four years ago, David worked in many senior management roles where he was responsible for the regulation of the retail, service industries, motor vehicle sales and repair industries as well as the incorporated association and charity sectors.

People in WA wishing to donate to bushfire victims or to those fighting the fires during the current crisis are being urged by Consumer Protection to deal only with licensed charities to avoid being scammed or to avoid any doubt that the money will get to the right cause.

Fundraisers are also reminded that to collect money for a charitable purpose such as this requires a licence, or for a licensed charity to be involved.

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe

We have received complaints from tenants recently about electrical hazards and gas leaks in rental properties. Issues include faulty electrical wiring, power sockets and appliances blowing, power shortages when raining, and water leaking onto electrical points.

What to do if you suspect an electrical fault?

Consumers facing financial difficulties are urged to exercise caution when approached by budget and debt management companies that charge fees for their services.

Complaints have been received by Consumer Protection from consumers who claim that they are charged fees for services, which were not delivered and some have signed contracts without realising that this would lead to a caveat being put on their home, preventing it from being sold.

New national gift card laws will come into effect tomorrow (1 November 2019) to help protect consumers from losing an estimated $70 million on gift cards each year.

Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said the Australian Consumer Law was amended to ensure a consistent approach to gift cards, no matter where in Australia they are purchased.

“Gift cards are big money in Australia, both for their convenience and flexibility, but unfortunately an estimated $70 million is lost each year due to expiry dates,” Mr Hillyard said.

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe

A real estate property manager and agency licensee have been ordered to pay a total of $9,700 by the State Administrative Tribunal after the property manager operated while her certificate of registration as a sales representative had expired.

A tree lopper who accepted payment to cut down six trees but only chopped off branches on one has been fined $3,000 after pleading guilty to breaching the Australian Consumer Law.

Siuosavaii Maiava trading as Fairdinkum Tree Services was also ordered to pay court costs of $2,307.50 when the Consumer Protection prosecution was heard at the Joondalup Magistrates Court on Friday 11 October 2019.

We have received complaints from tenants recently about electrical hazards and gas leaks in rental properties. Issues include faulty electrical wiring, power sockets and appliances blowing, power shortages when raining, and water leaking onto electrical points.

A real estate sales agent who was showing a prospective tenant a rental property in Beeliar recently was surprised to discover that someone had changed the locks and had already moved in without the authority of the owner.

The tenant moved in after responding to a rental accommodation advertisement on Gumtree which ended up being fake. He paid $2,000 to the scammers via a money transfer service as a deposit for the tenancy which was advertised at $340 per week, $30 cheaper than the real asking price.