Consumer

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Lithium-ion battery safety

Building and Energy encourages Western Australians to take simple steps to protect themselves against home fires as more people purchase and use equipment and devices with lithium-ion batteries. The following information will help consumers avoid the fire risk while enjoying the undoubted...
Electrical appliances
08 Apr 2020

Restaurant surcharges

Restaurants and cafes that charge a surcharge on certain days do not need to provide a separate menu. However, the menu or pricing display must include wording that ‘a surcharge of [percentage] applies on [the specified day or days]’ . This statement must be displayed in a transparent and prominent...
Store policies and sale practices
12 Nov 2019

Quad bikes

WATCH
Quad bikes have a number of design features that create risks for users, particularly when used on uneven or sloped ground. Losing control of a quad bike can cause it to flip or roll over causing death or serious injury. About quad bikes A quad bike (also known as an all-terrain vehicle or ATV) is...
Product safety for consumers
23 Oct 2019

Consumer Protection Policies

Consumer Protection has a number of policies which articulate the principles that underpin our work. These policies guide our approach to promoting fair trading and consumer protection, whether we are providing information and advice, helping consumers resolve disputes or investigating complaints...
About us
17 Oct 2019

Regional Services Review Consultation Paper September 2019

Status: CLOSED, Submissions closed at 5pm on 28 October 2019 Background In late 2018, the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) commenced a Regional Services Review to improve service delivery to our regional customers. DMIRS staff and State and Local Government stakeholders...
Consultations
24 Sep 2019

Review of the Disposal of Uncollected Goods Act 2019

The Disposal of Uncollected Goods Act 1970 (DUG Act) is being reviewed to examine the processes for disposing of uncollected goods Status: CLOSED , closed 31 October 2019. Background The purpose of this review is to update the DUG Act’s provisions, which are outdated and do not take into account...
Consultations
26 Jun 2019

Electric shocks and reporting

Electric shocks from taps, pipes or appliances are warning signs that something could be wrong with the electrical wiring or applainces.
Reporting accidents
20 May 2019

Disciplinary and prosecutions media releases – Builders

The following media releases on disciplinary outcomes for building services providers have been issued in the previous six years. The list for each year appears in descending order. 2024 Second registration refusal for builder – Atalla Abbas trading as Consbuild Developments Lack of oversight costs...
Disciplinary and prosecution media releases
14 Mar 2019

Stay connected with Consumer Protection

You can keep up to date with Consumer Protection news and events by following our social media accounts: Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Connect with us on LinkedIn Follow us on Instagram You can also subscribe to our bulletins: WA ScamNet alerts FuelWatch alerts Property bulletins
Online resources
07 Feb 2019

House, pet or baby sitting services

Under the Australian Consumer Law, a business that provides a house sitting, pet sitting, baby sitting or cleaning service must meet service guarantees. How to protect yourself To reduce the chance of problems, consider doing the following: Contact several agencies before making a decision to get...
Services
29 Jan 2019

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Publications

Can I lodge a building service complaint?

READ
As part of its function, Building and Energy provides an avenue for both consumers and builders to resolve disputes relating to workmanship issues in connection with a regulated building services and...
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
22 Oct 2021

Ask Us: Your rights when shopping

This guide to your rights when shopping answers many common consumer questions and explains your rights under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). What if a supermarket scanner charges me too much?...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
29 Apr 2024

Ask Us: Unfair trading and you

Misleading behaviour Misleading or deceptive behaviour is when a shop owner or trader presents an incorrect view about the price, value or quality of goods or services to you. A shop owner can break...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
29 Apr 2024

Ask us: Estimates and quotes

Estimates and quotes are different ways of putting a price on a job or service before the job is done. What is a quote? A quote is the total amount a tradesperson agrees it will cost to do a job or...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
29 Apr 2024

Ask us: Buying big ticket items

When buying expensive goods, including fridges, washing machines and televisions, there are many options available to help you make these purchases. Saving If you know you’re going to have to come up...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
29 Apr 2024

Ask Us: Mobile phones

Before you buy a mobile phone or sign up to a contract you should be aware of these 10 things. 1. Shop around Look at many different types of plans, pre-paid, capped and monthly because call costs...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
29 Apr 2024

Ask Us: Book-up

What is book-up? Book-up is short term credit offered by a shop owner that lets you buy goods or services and pay for them later. Some shop owners will charge a fee for allowing you to use book-up...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
29 Apr 2024

Don't come knocking (Aboriginal consumer video)

Experience tells us rogue traders are deliberately preying on Aboriginal consumers either door-to-door or over the phone in a telemarketing style. Don’t Come Knocking - The Australian Consumer Law...
Consumer Protection
Promotions
08 Jul 2022

BA8A – Notice of cessation – Multiple properties (building work)

READ
Current version of the Notice of cessation – Multiple properties (building work) form.
Building and Energy
Form – application
02 Sep 2021

Be in the know before you need a tow

READ
Print the PDF and keep it in your vehicle so you have it handy when you need it. Get prepared before being involved in a car accident or roadside breakdown situation. The first tow truck doesn’t have...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
04 Aug 2021

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Announcements

Commissioner's Blog: When expectation vs reality doesn’t match on Valentine’s Day

Sending your loved one wilted flowers on Valentine’s Day probably won’t get you the reaction you were hoping for. Before you get a bunch of dead roses thrown in your face, Consumer Protection hopes there’s time to explain you have rights under Australian Consumer Law (ACL). Consumer guarantees kick in on products purchased through Australian-based stores, including online. When a V-Day gift...
Consumer Protection
Media release
12 Feb 2024

Love hurts – losses soar to romance scams

WA losses to romance and dating scams surged 27 per cent to $3.7 million in 2023 Valentine’s Day warning to listen to your head when looking for love online AI deepfake images being used in video calls, advice to only meet in person New figures reveal financial losses to romance and dating scams hit a staggering $3.7 million in Western Australia in 2023, prompting a fresh warning from Consumer...
Consumer Protection
Media release
08 Feb 2024

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 motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 7 February 2024), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by over 31 cents...
Consumer Protection
Media release
06 Feb 2024

Warning for boxing fans to dodge blows from scalpers

Look out for ticket scalpers and scammers if major boxing event sells out Multiple offenders issued $2,000 infringement notices for recent Coldplay concerts Advice to only buy tickets from authorised seller Ticketek, or its official resale platform Boxing fans who may miss out on tickets to a premium world title event in May are being reminded to avoid getting knocked out by ticket scalpers and...
Consumer Protection
Media release
05 Feb 2024

Cash is king… or is it?

“Businesses have to accept legal tender.” It’s a comment we hear a lot at Consumer Protection, so I wanted to take the opportunity to clear this up and let you know what the law says about it. Businesses can choose which payment types they accept. It is legal for a business to specify the terms and conditions that they will supply goods and services. This includes whether they will accept cash...
Consumer Protection
Media release
05 Feb 2024

Paver pays for taking money without doing work

Tradie from The Vines to pay $7,535 for accepting money and failing to deliver Charged consumer 50 per cent deposit for paving work, but not refunded Advice for consumers to only pay small deposits to reduce risk A paver who took more than $2,500 from a customer and failed to undertake any work has been ordered to refund the money and pay a further $5,000 in fines and costs, following a...
Consumer Protection
Media release
01 Feb 2024

Liquidation of FTD Construction Pty Ltd

Building and Energy is advising property owners affected by the liquidation of FTD Construction Pty Ltd to contact their home indemnity insurance (HII) provider, QBE Insurance, if they have not already done so. The Perth building company appointed liquidators yesterday (29 January 2024). In September 2023, the Building Services Board refused to renew the building contractor registration of FTD...
Building and Energy
Media release
30 Jan 2024

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 motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 31 January 2024), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by over 34 cents...
Consumer Protection
Media release
30 Jan 2024

Update on electrical fire risk for BeefEater fridges

Owners of recalled double-door BeefEater fridges are urged to immediately turn them off and arrange a refund or replacement, even if the appliance was previously repaired. The BeefEater BS28200 double-door fridge and the BS28130 single-door model have been recalled nationally due to electrical fire risks. The recall followed action by WA’s electrical safety regulator , Building and Energy, which...
Building and Energy
Media release
25 Jan 2024

Commissioner's Blog: Festival fiasco – know how to avoid ticketing blues

You’ve got your outfit picked and you know all the words to your favourite band’s songs – then they cancel as a headlining act. There are other bands to see but you’re still disappointed and you assume you’re not entitled to a refund. Well, that’s not entirely true. You have rights under Australian Consumer Law (ACL) when things go wrong and an event is cancelled or has a major change (such as...
Consumer Protection
Media release
24 Jan 2024

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