Consumer Protection

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard

The Christmas shopping period has now begun and it’s important for consumers to remember a few key tips to ensure they actually get what they pay for when buying gifts for family and friends.

Many post-Christmas complaints received by Consumer Protection relate to gifts bought online that don’t arrive on time, so it’s important to confirm that delivery can be guaranteed before Christmas Day when placing an order.

Buying a second-hand car can be a smart way to save money, but it’s important to be aware of the hidden risks that can come with used vehicles.

Most people assume a vehicle's odometer is a reliable measure of how far it has travelled, but this may not always be the case. Misrepresenting the number of kilometres a vehicle has travelled to attract a higher price is a calculated deception that takes advantage of an unsuspecting buyer and is a serious breach of consumer law.

Consumer Protection regularly reminds consumers in Western Australia about their rights and the regulations in place to protect them, but what happens when you actually need to make a formal complaint about a retailer or business?

The first step in the process is always to approach the trader and attempt to get a remedy for the issue. We have a handy checklist on our website to guide you through the process, or you can call us for advice on 1300 30 40 54.

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard 

In the past few weeks, several major retailers have announced closures and subsequent closing down sales.

Many of us find the promise of major sale savings too tempting to pass up, and while they can be a great opportunity to bag a bargain, it’s important to consider what it means when it comes to warranties and guarantees, or your return, replacement or refund rights. 

Consumer Protection has issued on-the-spot fines to four fuel retailers in Perth and Albany after they breached laws relating to fuel pricing.

Each were issued infringement notices of $1,000 with two service stations overcharging and two others displaying the wrong price prior to the 6am changeover.

An Albany fuel retailer had overcharged 2.4 cents per litre (cpl) for ULP for more than seven hours after the 6am changeover. A Perth fuel retailer had overcharged 2 cpl for ULP for more than an hour after the 6am changeover.

This publication provides tenants, landlords, property managers and real estate agents with guidelines on the Commissioner determinations for a pet request in a rental home. 

Visit the Commissioner determinations webpage for more information.

This Strategy is built on three pillars that will guide Consumer Protection’s overall operation of being Responsive, Engaged and Accountable.