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 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.
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.
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe
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.
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.
The excitement of buying a puppy as a gift for Christmas has turned to disappointment for many consumers who have been scammed out of their money.
In recent cases, two Perth consumers reported losing $2,350 each after making payments via a fake website French Bulldog Rehoming. Consumer Protection is working towards having the website closed down.
New laws supporting children’s safety have come into force for tenants who are now allowed to fix furniture to the walls of their rental home and the landlord can only object in limited circumstances.
Changes to the Residential Tenancies Act aim to prevent injuries and deaths caused by furniture and electronic equipment such as TVs falling on top of young children. On average since 2001, one child a year has died in Australia from toppling furniture with many more suffering serious injuries.
The growing rate of WA households installing solar PV systems has been mirrored by a growing rate of complaints to Consumer Protection.
In the past 12 months, more than 200 people have reported having issues following the installation of a solar system at their property. Complaints relate to the performance of their solar system, including the panels and inverter, as well as other issues relating to who is liable for providing a remedy to consumers, unsolicited consumer agreements and companies going out of business.
The landlord of a Darch rental property has been fined $4,000 by the Joondalup Magistrates Court for failing to lodge a bond with the Bond Administrator and was ordered to pay back the $1,400 bond to his tenant.
Ive Cvitan of Darch entered into a rental agreement with the tenant in May 2017 when the $1,400 bond was paid and a receipt was issued, however Mr Cvitan did not provide the tenant with the completed agreement nor give them a property condition report.
