Commissioner's Blog: Extra shopping hours and gift buying tips

With Acting Consumer Protection Commissioner David Hillyard

Extended retail trading hours for the Christmas period began on the 5th of December for the Perth metropolitan area, giving shoppers an extra 51 hours to find gifts for family and friends.

Major retailers are allowed to open as early as 7am on weekdays and Saturdays, 8am on Sunday and close later at 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Commissioner's Blog: Renovation risks

With Acting Consumer Protection Commissioner Gary Newcombe

Are you planning home improvements? Perhaps a TV show like ‘The Block’ has inspired you to renovate. Consumer Protection has some important recommendations for you to consider before you hire tradespeople to carry out jobs at your property.

Our top tip is NOT to pay large amounts of money for nothing in return.

Commissioner's Blog: Have your say on laws affecting WA’s motor vehicle industry

With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection Gary Newcombe...

Consumer Protection is seeking feedback on various options for changes to the laws regulating the buying, selling and repair of motor vehicles in Western Australia.

These laws impact consumers who buy motor vehicles (including cars, caravans, camper vans and motor cycles) from dealers, as well as consumers who have any of these vehicles repaired.

Commissioner's Blog: Shop smart - remember receipts

With Acting Consumer Protection Commissioner Gary Newcombe

Technology that allows us to ‘tap and go’ or pay with a wave of a card can be convenient and of benefit to people who don’t want to carry cash. However, when contactless transactions become paperless, as is often the case, there can be issues for consumers who later want specific breakdowns of what they paid or to challenge a business after the fact.

Commissioner's Blog: Avoid a funeral RIP-off

With Acting Consumer Protection Commissioner Gary Newcombe...

You may have seen or heard adverts about ways to pay for your funeral in advance to take the pressure off your family when the time comes. A funeral could cost thousands of dollars depending on the kind of service you want, which means planning ahead is a good idea. However, paying for funeral cover can be expensive and complex. One of the easiest ways is simply to save.

Commissioner's Blog - Laws around car sales and repairs offered online

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Anne Driscoll

People who sell cars on a regular basis need to hold a motor vehicle dealers' licence.  In fact, the law says that if you sell more than four cars a year you may be asked to substantiate why you do not hold a dealers licence. 

If it is purely for personal use and is not connected to running a de-facto business buying cars privately and then on-selling them privately is accepted but it may not make the vehicle seller exempt from the law, which applies to backyards as well as car yards.