Consumer Protection

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.

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.

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.

A wedding photographer/videographer has been fined $4,500 by the Perth Magistrates Court and ordered to pay $5,650 in compensation to three consumers for supplying promised photo and video packages either too late or not at all.

Baby bath aids such as plastic recliners, cradles or seats, have become increasingly popular with parents as they provide support for babies and young children in the bath.

But it is important to remember that they are not safety devices or a substitute for adult supervision and support. Children have drowned while using a bath aid as they can easily slip off and become submerged under water, tip over when the suction cups come loose or climb out.

A Shenton Park property manager has been reprimanded and fined $13,000 by the State Administrative Tribunal for making unauthorised withdrawals from a real estate agency’s trust account.

Rhonda Denise Reid, who was a Director of the Nedlands agency, also failed to act fairly and honestly by making 13 unauthorised withdrawals totalling $36,290 between May 2014 and June 2016 without the knowledge of the agency’s licensee. Ms Reid’s registration had already expired so an order for her licence to be disqualified could not also be made.

An illegal motor vehicle dealer has been fined $25,000 and ordered to pay costs of $916 after being convicted in the Perth Magistrates Court of buying and selling vehicles without a licence.

These days, it pays to be extra vigilant on social media. Like-harvesting, or like-farming as it is also called, is a scam perpetuated throughout Facebook and features bogus pages designed to do nothing more than “harvest” your likes.

The content pulls at your heartstrings or offers big prizes leading you to like, share and comment. Recently, a fake Virgin Australia page offering a trip to Hawaii collected several hundred thousand likes this way before being shut down.

A Noranda real estate agent has been fined $800 and ordered to pay costs of $900 by the Perth Magistrates Court for making unauthorised withdrawals from the agency’s trust account and failing to have the account audited.

The agent, who was granted a spent conviction order, made two unauthorised withdrawals from the trust account – $450 in October 2016 and $1,350 in November 2016 – to pay a tradesperson for repairs on a South Perth rental property that were not completed.

A dealership which specialised in selling luxury motor vehicles on consignment and its Director have been fined a total of $90,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court for breaking laws designed to protect consumers.