Consumer

Topics

Complaint letter samples

If talking it over doesn’t work, put it in writing. You may find it useful to use one of the sample letters below as a guide for writing a complaint letter. Useful complaint letter tool Visit the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) website for guidance on writing a complaint...
Complaints
19 Feb 2014

Talk to the trader

Tips on how to approach an issue with a business or trader to get a mutually acceptable solution.
Complaints
19 Feb 2014

Enforcement

Information about Building and Energy's Enforcement Branch.
Enforcement
19 Feb 2014

Owner-builder application

Becoming an owner-builder To become an owner-builder, you must first obtain owner-builder approval from the Building Services Board, and then a building permit from your local government. The process and related form to become an owner-builder was amended in March 2023 to streamline determination...
Becoming an owner-builder
19 Feb 2014

Owner-builders' responsibilities

Responsibilities Before taking on a building project as an owner-builder you should be aware that owner-builders take on many of the responsibilities of a registered builder. These responsibilities include: complying with all building standards including the Building Code of Australia and safety...
Responsibilities
19 Feb 2014

What is an owner-builder?

If you are thinking about owner-building your own home or small commercial building, you will need to have been granted owner-builder approval from the Building Services Board before you can be granted a building permit from your local government authority. Owner-builder approvals can only be...
Responsibilities
19 Feb 2014

Prescribed appointors' responsibilities

This information applies to construction contracts entered into before 1 August 2022. For contracts entered into on or after 1 August 2022 see the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021 webpages. Practice directions Confidentiality A prescribed appointor must keep...
Information for prescribed appointors
19 Feb 2014

Multiple pricing

Multiple pricing occurs when a supplier displays more than one price for the same item or service. If a supplier displays the same item with more than one price then they must sell it for the lowest displayed price or withdraw the item until the price is corrected. A price published in a catalogue...
Pricing
13 Feb 2014

Rounding

Consumer Protection often receives complaints about incorrect rounding of prices by retail and fast food outlets. There are rules in place for businesses when it comes to dealing with small change transactions and we’d like to hear from customers who believe those rules are being broken. In...
Pricing
13 Feb 2014

Country of origin claims

WATCH
Country of origin labelling is a notice or label on products to let your customers know what country a product came from. In Australia misleading country of origin labelling is prohibited. If you sell food in retail stores in Australia, country of origin food labelling laws apply to your products...
Advertising and promotion
13 Feb 2014

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Publications

Resolving payment disputes in construction contracts

READ
Using adjudication to resolve payment disputes Every day, individuals and organisations enter into contracts for building and construction work. Sometimes disputes arise over payment. The...
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
22 Jan 2019

Building your new home – a checklist

READ
This booklet provides a guide to each stage of building or renovating your home.
Building and Energy
Brochure
16 May 2014

Building for better protection in bushfire areas

READ
This guide is provided to assist homeowners be aware of the regulated construction requirements and building standards for new homes and to assist those who wish to upgrade their existing homes for...
Building and Energy
Brochure
22 Oct 2015

Balconies and decks – a guide to maintenance

READ
This brochure will assist owners with the safety aspects of balconies, decks and other external structures which may be of a sufficient height above ground level to put family members and friends at...
Building and Energy
Brochure
16 May 2014

Response to application for adjudication – Form 4

READ
This form includes all the requirements of the Construction Contracts Act and the associated Regulations. Further requirements have been included by the department in the interest of assisting...
Building and Energy
Form – application
22 Jan 2019

Application for adjudication – Form 2

READ
This information applies to construction contracts entered into before 1 August 2022. For contracts entered into on or after 1 August 2022 see the Building and Construction Industry (Security of...
Building and Energy
Form – application
28 Jul 2022

Authority to represent at conciliation

READ
This form is to be submitted to the Complaints Branch of Building and Energy where a party to a complaint wants to be represented by another person in a conciliation hearing.
Building and Energy
Form – notification
03 Dec 2018

Disciplinary complaint form

READ
This is the approved form for lodgement of a disciplinary complaint about a registered building service provider or approved owner-builder under section 15 of the Building Services (Complaint...
Building and Energy
Form – application
06 May 2024

Notice of proposed complaint

READ
Proforma notice of proposed complaint under the Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Regulations 2011 .
Building and Energy
Form – notification
23 Oct 2018

BA24 – Application for modification or non-application of building standard

READ
Application for Modification or Non-Application of Building Standard
Building and Energy
Form – application
04 Jul 2016

Pages

Announcements

Fake social media accounts used to scam eager renters

Fake social media ads use stolen images of legitimate rental properties Desperate people looking for rentals vulnerable to falling victim $41,000 lost to rental scams already this year, exceeding last year’s total People eager to secure a rental property amid WA’s tight market are falling victim to scammers using social media accounts to post fake ‘to let’ ads. So far this year, WA ScamNet at...
Consumer Protection
Media release
02 Sep 2022

Act on domain name changes to prevent corporate identity theft

Domain name versions without .com, .net, .org etc. will soon be publicly available Businesses and organisations urged to register the .au only version of their name Failing to register .au versions could result in identity theft and financial loss Businesses and organisations are urged to take urgent action on planned domain name changes to prevent the possibility of their corporate identity...
Consumer Protection
Media release
25 Aug 2022

Alert to Perth motorists - fill up now to beat the petrol price rise

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. After today it is likely motorists will have to wait for two weeks before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 24 August 2022), the average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 21 cents per...
Consumer Protection
Media release
23 Aug 2022

Commissioner's Blog: Don’t be drawn in by fake Aboriginal art

With their mesmerising patterns, earthy tones and Dreamtime narratives, it’s little wonder that Aboriginal art and crafts are displayed on walls in homes right across the world. While much of the allure of buying your own piece of Aboriginal artwork is knowing it has been created by an Aboriginal person, a new report demonstrates why there’s a good chance this may not be the case. During its...
Consumer Protection
Media release
19 Aug 2022

Hi Mum, bye money – the scam that pulls on parents’ heart strings

Scammers target parents, pretending to be children needing urgent money Losses from WA victims amount to almost $120,000 Parents urged to verify sender before sending money or credit card details A growing number of victims in WA are falling for a text scam that targets parents who receive desperate messages for help from impostors pretending to be their son or daughter. In the past two months,...
Consumer Protection
Media release
18 Aug 2022

$30,000 in fines for dangerous electrical error – Wesco Electrics (1966) Pty Ltd and Paul Michael Thomas

Potential risk to residents or tradespeople accessing the switchboard $25,000 fine for electrical contractor and $5,000 fine for electrical worker Metal meter enclosure not bonded to earth and socket outlet wired incorrectly An electrical contractor and electrician have been fined $25,000 and $5,000 respectively after wiring errors left parts of a Kalamunda property unprotected against electrical...
Building and Energy
Media release
15 Aug 2022

Western Derby footy fans warned about buying fake tickets

Fake tickets have been detected at Optus Stadium events Warning that scammers will prey on Western Derby fans prior to bouncedown Consumers urged to only buy tickets from the authorised selling agent WA footy fans desperate to buy tickets to tomorrow’s Western Derby at Optus Stadium are being warned about potential scams. There are concerns by stadium management that fake tickets may have been...
Consumer Protection
Media release
12 Aug 2022

Commissioner's Blog: Congratulations to Consumer Protection Award winners

Every day across Western Australia there many individuals and organisations fighting for the rights of WA consumers and a number of these outstanding efforts have been recognised in this year’s Consumer Protection Awards. One such person is Mary Martin, who received the 2022 Rona Okely Award for an individual who has given their time, energy and experience for the betterment of others. Through...
Consumer Protection
Media release
10 Aug 2022

Alert to Perth motorists - fill up now to beat the petrol price rise

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 10 August 2022), Perth’s average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 24 cents per litre (cpl) to 181.3 cpl. Coles Express and Ampol hiking between 37-42 cpl up to 195.9 cpl; Puma up to 195.7 cpl; BP up to 191...
Consumer Protection
Media release
09 Aug 2022

Ticket re-selling website Viagogo investigated under WA scalping laws

Investigation into tickets allegedly sold for more than the allowed 110 per cent. Viagogo urged to do more to prevent illegal ticket sales on their website. Evidence that some tickets on Viagogo are at least double the original price. Consumer Protection is investigating ticket re-selling website Viagogo for possible breaches of WA’s anti-scalping laws and is alerting WA ticket buyers. The...
Consumer Protection
Media release
05 Aug 2022

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