With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
The product, membership or subscription may say “free trial” but in many cases it turns into an automatic charge or renewal and consumers need to be aware of this marketing trap.
We receive many complaints and enquiries from consumers who report receiving unexpected charges resulting from the automatic charging or renewals of products or services they have purchased, usually online.
With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
Changes to the way several new TV channels broadcast is causing reception issues for some television users, and sellers of TVs or set top boxes should attune to this.
With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
Cots are supposed to be a place for babies to rest and sleep safely but Kidsafe WA reports that 51 children attended Princess Margaret Hospital in 2014/2015 with cot-related injuries.
If you buy or receive a second-hand cot, it may not meet current Australian safety standards, increasing the risk of injury to any baby placed in that cot. For example there is a minimum and maximum gap allowed between cot bars to ensure infants do not trap their head or limbs.
Consumers can be forgiven if they feel overwhelmed or confused by the myriad of insurance options currently being advertised.
At the end of every financial year health insurance providers’ start talking about tax, surcharges and rebates but don’t let this rush you into a poor decision.
Health insurance is a complex area and your needs may change with time so when you are looking to take out or review your health insurance policy there are a number of consumer tips that can help you with your decision.
The Australia wide roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) commenced on 1 July 2016.
To coincide with this, new information guides have been released for consumers with disabilities about their rights and businesses with useful information about their obligations under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
Whether you have been renting a home for many years or are just about to jump into the rental market for the first time, it’s important to be aware of your rights and responsibilities.
Residential tenancy matters make up a large part of the work we do at Consumer Protection. Our contact centre refers more than 100 calls from tenants each week to our Property Industries team for assistance.
Part of our role is to provide free advice to all parties in a residential tenancy agreement, look into complaints and, wherever possible, help settle disputes.
An Ellenbrook man has been fined $700 by the Midland Magistrates Court for advertising his motor vehicle repairer services while not having a licence.
Victor James Wright had advertised his mechanical repairs and servicing business on a website (www.ellenbrookauto.com.au) under the name of Ellenbrook Auto Services since October 2016. This business name was registered between July 2014 and February 2016 while Mr Wright had never held a motor vehicle repairers certificate.
An unlicensed motor vehicle dealer in Armadale has been fined $1,000 and ordered to pay costs of $569 after being convicted in his absence by the Perth Magistrates Court on 9 November 2018.
Hussein Hadi had bought and sold 13 vehicles from October 2016 to November 2017 without a licence in breach of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said unlicensed car dealers are jeopardising consumers’ rights.
Many of us have fond memories of splashing around in a portable pool as a child and, as the weather warms up, we’ve launched a campaign to remind parents and carers to make these pools safe.
Portable pools – ranging from small blow-up or plastic paddling or kiddie pools to bigger wading pools, inflatable spas or high-sided flexible plastic pools on a frame – can be popular in summer as a cheap alternative to below-ground pools but they are just as dangerous.
A tree lopper has been fined $6,000 and ordered to pay costs of $887 by the Perth Magistrates Court for breaching his customers’ consumer rights to a cooling off period.
Mitchell Craig Grisbrook of Connolly, trading as Elite Trees, today pleaded guilty to four charges of failing to comply with laws related to unsolicited consumer agreements involving two home owners.
