Announcements

Showing 801 - 825 of 1180 results

Real estate agent fined for failing to cooperate with audit (Greg O’Farrell)

A real estate agent has been fined $500 and ordered to pay costs of $553.90 by the Mandurah Magistrates Court for failing to cooperate with requests from the auditor during the termination audit of his previous business. Gregory James O’Farrell , former Director of O’Farrell Property Group Pty Ltd of Mandurah, did not renew the company’s triennial certificate and the business ceased to operate in...
Consumer Protection
Media release
11 Nov 2019

Commissioner's Blog: Time to nominate for the Consumer Protection Awards

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard I remember the first time we held the Consumer Protection Awards in 2004 and I’m proud that the annual event has become firmly fixed in the Western Australian calendar as an opportunity to acknowledge community contributions to consumer protection. Many individuals, organisations, businesses and media professionals are involved in helping...
Consumer Protection
Media release
08 Nov 2019

Alert issued after scammers steal $70,000 by cloning a settlement agent email

Home and business buyers as well as real estate and settlement agents in WA are urged to be on high alert after two payments totalling $70,000 meant for a Perth settlement agent were stolen by scammers. The scammers had cloned the settlement agent’s Yahoo email address, changing just one character, and sent a payment request for $48,000 to the buyer of a business. The email contained details of a...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Nov 2019

Caution urged when engaging budget and debt management services

Consumers facing financial difficulties are urged to exercise caution when approached by budget and debt management companies that charge fees for their services. Complaints have been received by Consumer Protection from consumers who claim that they are charged fees for services, which were not delivered and some have signed contracts without realising that this would lead to a caveat being put...
Consumer Protection
Media release
04 Nov 2019

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average cost of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 18 cents per litre (cpl) to 151 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 5 November 2019, most branded retailers are increasing their ULP price – Coles Express hiking by 29 cpl to 162.9 cpl, BP and Caltex to 159.9 cpl, 7-Eleven to 158.7 cpl, Caltex...
Consumer Protection
Media release
04 Nov 2019

National gift card law a win for consumers

New national gift card laws will come into effect tomorrow (1 November 2019) to help protect consumers from losing an estimated $70 million on gift cards each year. Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said the Australian Consumer Law was amended to ensure a consistent approach to gift cards, no matter where in Australia they are purchased. “Gift cards are big money in Australia,...
Consumer Protection
Media release
31 Oct 2019

Commissioner's Blog: Tree lopper businesses continue to flout local laws

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe We have had continuing reports of tree lopper businesses harassing customers, not removing debris, damaging property or not completing work. They distribute flyers and advertise their services on Gumtree, Facebook and supermarket noticeboards. They have been spotted mostly in the northern suburbs of Perth and in Fremantle. Some businesses...
Consumer Protection
Media release
28 Oct 2019

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by more than 18 cents per litre (cpl) to 152.7 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 29 October 2019, many BP and Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 163.9 cpl (hiking by 31 cpl and 29 cpl, respectively). Most 7-Eleven sites are increasing...
Consumer Protection
Media release
28 Oct 2019

Property manager and licensee to pay total of $9,700 over lapsed registration (Wendy Vettler / Teevor Pty Ltd t/as Remax Sunset Coast Real Estate / Thomas O’Rourke)

A real estate property manager and agency licensee have been ordered to pay a total of $9,700 by the State Administrative Tribunal after the property manager operated while her certificate of registration as a sales representative had expired. Property manager Wendy Maxine Caroline Vettler was fined $1,500 for breaching the Real Estate and Business Agents Act. Her employer Teevor Pty Ltd ,...
Consumer Protection
Media release
23 Oct 2019

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by over 19 cents per litre (cpl) to 155.1 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 22 October 2019, many BP and Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 164.9 cpl (hiking by 32 cpl and 27 cpl, respectively). Most Caltex sites are increasing their...
Consumer Protection
Media release
21 Oct 2019

Commissioner's Blog: Protect yourself, use a licensed motor vehicle dealer

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe Aside from your home, your car is likely to be your biggest asset. Unlicensed motor vehicle dealers can pose a huge, unnecessary risk to your vehicle and to the safety of your family. Buying a vehicle from an unlicensed dealer increases the risk of it being substandard, dangerous and possibly unroadworthy. By engaging the services of an...
Consumer Protection
Media release
17 Oct 2019

Tree lopper who wasn’t fair dinkum fined $3,000 (Siuosavaii Maiava trading as Fairdinkum Tree Services)

A tree lopper who accepted payment to cut down six trees but only chopped off branches on one has been fined $3,000 after pleading guilty to breaching the Australian Consumer Law. Siuosavaii Maiava trading as Fairdinkum Tree Services was also ordered to pay court costs of $2,307.50 when the Consumer Protection prosecution was heard at the Joondalup Magistrates Court on Friday 11 October 2019. In...
Consumer Protection
Media release
17 Oct 2019

Parliament passes laws to protect children from toppling furniture

Laws to allow renters to fix furniture to walls to prevent death or injury to children from toppling furniture have passed through State Parliament. The Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 amends the Residential Tenancies Act and means landlords must allow tenants, who submit a request form, to attach furniture to a wall to prevent a child, or a person with a disability, from...
Consumer Protection
Media release
16 Oct 2019

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average cost of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 19 cents per litre (cpl) to 155.5 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 15 October 2019, many BP sites are increasing their ULP price to 165.9 cpl (increasing by 33 cpl). Most Caltex and many Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 163...
Consumer Protection
Media release
14 Oct 2019

The hunt is on for Consumer Protection Award nominees

The hunt is on for people who have contributed to raising community awareness of consumer rights, either as an advocate or educator, to nominate for the Consumer Protection Awards 2020. Nominations have now opened for the awards which were won last year by a consumer researcher, a community legal centre, a family lobbying for toppling furniture laws and an ABC reporter. Each was presented with a...
Consumer Protection
Media release
11 Oct 2019

More retail trading hours for Perth shoppers at Christmas

Perth shoppers will have more time to buy gifts in the lead up to Christmas and take full advantage of the sales that follow with the McGowan Government extending retail trading hours. Commerce Minister John Quigley has approved an additional 35 hours of trading for general retail shops in the Perth metropolitan area from Saturday, December 7 until New Year's Day. The general shops can choose to...
Consumer Protection
Media release
11 Oct 2019

Rental property safety – being vigilant

We have received complaints from tenants recently about electrical hazards and gas leaks in rental properties. Issues include faulty electrical wiring, power sockets and appliances blowing, power shortages when raining, and water leaking onto electrical points. What to do if you suspect an electrical fault? At least two RCDs must be fitted before selling a home, in all properties constructed...
Consumer Protection
Media release
10 Oct 2019

Commissioner's Blog: Rental property safety – being vigilant

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe We have received complaints from tenants recently about electrical hazards and gas leaks in rental properties. Issues include faulty electrical wiring, power sockets and appliances blowing, power shortages when raining, and water leaking onto electrical points. What to do if you suspect an electrical fault? At least two RCDs must be fitted...
Consumer Protection
Media release
10 Oct 2019

Plea to consumers to heed washing machine recall after another fire

More than 6,600 dangerous Samsung top loader washing machines that have been recalled remain in WA homes, creating a serious fire hazard that put lives at risk. One of the recalled models caught fire in the laundry of an Armadale home unit on the evening of 1 October 2019 with fire units attending to extinguish the blaze. No one was hurt. This latest fire has prompted a renewed plea from Consumer...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Oct 2019

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 19 cents per litre (cpl) to 154.6 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 8 October 2019, many Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 167.9 cpl (hiking by 33 cpl). Many BP sites are increasing their ULP price to 163.9 cpl, most 7-Eleven...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Oct 2019

Facebook travel agency complaints going nowhere (Travel 2 Go / No Frills Travel / Nicole Bromage / Jacklene Torr)

Consumer Protection has been unable to secure refunds for more than 200 complainants who have paid over $200,000 between them for cheap flights or holiday deals from a Facebook travel agency. Affected consumers either could not get plane tickets for their desired dates or were asked to pay extra money and some flew to their destination but found they were not booked on return flights as expected...
Consumer Protection
Media release
04 Oct 2019

Kimberley communities targeted by promoters of a fraudulent tax scheme

Promoters of a fraudulent tax scheme are targeting residents in Kimberley communities with the promise of a large tax return, prompting a warning by Consumer Protection and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Reports from Derby, Fitzroy Crossing and surrounding areas have revealed that some taxpayers have been approached by promoters offering to help submit their tax returns with a guarantee of...
Consumer Protection
Media release
03 Oct 2019

Commissioner's Blog: New national gift card rules a win for consumers

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe Gift cards are big money in Australia, both for their convenience and flexibility. Unfortunately an estimated $70 million is lost each year due to uncertainty about expiry dates. Consumer Protection Western Australia received 116 gift card related complaints in the last year (September 2018–September 2019) with 26% of complaints about...
Consumer Protection
Media release
03 Oct 2019

Scammed tenant changes locks, moves in to rental to the surprise of the agent

A real estate sales agent who was showing a prospective tenant a rental property in Beeliar recently was surprised to discover that someone had changed the locks and had already moved in without the authority of the owner. The tenant moved in after responding to a rental accommodation advertisement on Gumtree which ended up being fake. He paid $2,000 to the scammers via a money transfer service...
Consumer Protection
Media release
01 Oct 2019

Avoid Perth petrol price rise

The average cost of unleaded petrol (ULP) is set to increase by around 17 cents per litre (cpl) to 156.4 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 1 October 2019, most Caltex and Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 167.9 cpl (increasing by between 28 cpl and 29 cpl). Many BP sites are increasing...
Consumer Protection
Media release
30 Sep 2019

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