Consumer Protection WA has given its seal of approval to 270 Perth Royal Showbags after product safety inspectors checked about 1500 toys and novelty items that will be sold at the Claremont Showground.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard says the majority of toys and novelty items have been ticked off as safe for kids to have bags of fun with.
Consumer Protection is offering some reassurances for residents of two WA retirement villages affected by the Settlers group of companies being placed into receivership.
Administrators and receivers have been appointed to the company which operates a total of 463 units at Settlers Lakeside village in Ravenswood near Mandurah and Settlers Ridgewood Rise near Butler, as well as two villages in Queensland and one in New South Wales.
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
Perhaps it’s the recent cold weather or maybe use of tax refunds but many Western Australians seem to be booking trips to tropical destinations – Consumer Protection has seen an increase in complaints from holiday-buyers.
One example involves purchases of discount return flights – Perth to Bali for as low as $99 – via a travel agent on Facebook. Despite paying, consumers were not able to get seats on a plane for their desired dates and were asked to cough up more money. We are inviting complaints.
A company and its Director have been ordered to pay a total of almost $77,000 in fines, consumer compensation and costs by the Perth Magistrates Court after taking substantial deposits from WA consumers for sheds but then failing to supply them.
Shed Systems Pty Ltd, formerly operating in Malaga and Northbridge, and sole Director David Walter Ah Chee were each fined $12,000 on 16 August 2019 after pleading guilty to six charges under the Australian Consumer Law of accepting payment for goods but failing to supply them within a reasonable time.
A motor vehicle repairer has been banned from holding a licence for three years, fined $3,000 and reprimanded by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) after he admitted being involved in corrupt activities related to vehicle examinations.
Peter William Horn of Bibra Lake had breached the Motor Vehicle Repairers Act by engaging in conduct which renders him unfit to be a licensee both as an individual motor vehicle repairer and as a business operator.
Two men who have admitted being involved in corrupt activities related to vehicle examinations have been reprimanded, fined and disqualified from holding motor vehicle repairer licences by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT).
Alfonso Berardis, a former Director of IPM Enterprises Pty Ltd of Spearwood, was disqualified from holding or obtaining a motor vehicle repairer’s business licence for ten years and a repairer’s certificate for four years. He was fined $1,500 and ordered to pay $500 in costs.
Four mobile phone businesses in Perth have had their identities stolen as part of a Facebook scam which is claiming many victims around Australia.
The logos, ABNs, contacts and other details of the companies are being used in bogus Facebook Marketplace ads which feature mobile phones for sale at heavily discounted prices.
Buyers who respond to the ads are directed to a fake Facebook page and then communicate directly with the scammers who demand payment upfront, but the phones are never delivered.
A Balga man has been fined $4,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court on 5 July 2019 after pleading guilty to operating a large car dealing operation without a licence.
Wesam Mohammed had bought and sold more than 80 vehicles from June 2017 to August 2018. He was also ordered to pay $426 in costs.
In considering the penalty, Magistrate Young took into account the guilty plea and the fact that Mr Mohammed now has a licence, but said it was important the Court impose a penalty to ensure a culture of compliance in the community.
Consumer Protection is reminding Western Australians how important it is to use licensed repairers to service or fix cars.
Backyard or bush mechanics operate in WA and even though Consumer Protection aims to identify them and stop them, the community can help by always choosing licensed repairers, to protect themselves and their vehicles.
