Consumer Protection WA

⛽️ ALERT- save $34 on a 60 litre tank of fuel.

Wednesday’s cheapest ULP locations:

💰 164.5 cpl at Atlas Fuel Forrestfield in the East
💰 163.3 cpl at Burk Bassendean in the North
💰 162.7 cpl at Costco Casuarina (Costco sites are membership based) and Costco Perth Airport and 163.3 cpl at Vibe Kwinana OPT in the South

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah should fuel up before 6am tomorrow as prices will increase to over 35 cents per litre (cpl) to 200.9 cpl.

ℹ More info: https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/announcements/alert-perth-motorists-fill-now-beat-petrol-price-rise-117

🚨Ticket scalping alert for UFC fans🚨

Fans hoping to secure last-minute tickets to UFC 305 at RAC Arena this Sunday are being warned against dealing with resellers on unauthorised platforms and marketplaces.

“If you buy resale tickets through an unauthorised source – like a reselling platform or online marketplace – you not only run the risk of being charged too much, but also being denied entry to the event if the ticket is cancelled for breaching WA laws,” said the Commissioner for Consumer Protection.

Read more about how to protect yourself from scalpers: https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/announcements/risks-ufc-fans-buying-last-minute-tickets

Join us at one of our free events to connect older people living in the Goldfields with topics of interest, such as staying active and connected, scam prevention, wills and estate planning and WA Seniors Card.

Register here: https://SeniorsConnectKalgoorlie.eventbrite.com.au or call us on 9021 9494.

📢GOLDFIELDS - we're hosting a couple of free community drop in sessions tomorrow. Come and see us for advice on scams, renting, buying a second hand car, consumer rights and more.

⏱9.30am at the Kambalda community recreation centre
⏱3.00pm at the CY O'Connor Hall

We'll be there with other agencies such a Aboriginal Legal Service of WA, Equal Opportunity Commission of Western Australia, Health and Disability Services Complaints Office, WA Ombudsman & Energy & Water Ombudsman WA - EWOWA

No appointment necessary!

🥩50° is the sweet spot for a rare steak, not for your kid's safety - this digital food thermometer from Bunnings is being RECALLED.

There is a risk of choking, severe internal burn injuries or death to young children if they gain access to the button batteries and swallow or place them inside their body.

Severe or fatal injuries can happen in 2 hours or less.

The battery packaging has not been tested as required by the mandatory safety standard and may not be child resistant.

Consumers should stop using the product and place it out of reach of children. Return it to Bunnings for a full refund.

Read more about the recall: https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recalls/adeval-group-pty-ltd-%E2%80%94-inkbird-digital-food-thermometer-bg-hh2c

"I'm going to be writing to the banks."

Commissioner Trish Blake will ask the banks to lift their game when it comes to how they ID customers for the Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements.

Asking customers to click on links or open attachments to confirm their personal details goes against all our scam prevention advice.

LISTEN |

You've just received a letter from your bank asking for your details, why it actually might be legitimate. - ABC listen For years we've been told to never reply with personal details to something that looks like a possible scam, but the Know Your Customer requirements have created confusion.

Feeling the pinch at the pump? Ease the strain on your wallet by fuelling up smarter. 🚘

Doing a little research before you fill up might help you save money.

While a lot of factors can influence the price you pay for fuel, FuelWatch can help you find the best deals in your area and keep your costs down.

Visit 👉 https://www.fuelwatch.wa.gov.au/



Image description: A male is at a service station, filling his car up with petrol.

Did you hear the news? A Bill is before Parliament to eliminate unscrupulous practices from the crash towing industry in WA.

Tough new regulations will prevent predatory behaviours in the crash towing industry targeting drivers who have just been involved in crashes, then applying excessive charges for the towing and storage of vehicles.

Read more on proposed reforms: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook-Labor-Government/-Major-reforms-for-towing-industry-in-WA-20240808

Sadly, there is a growing issue of sole traders telling consumers they have gone under to avoid meeting their responsibilities.

Commissioner Trish Blake explains what rights you have when a business goes under and where you sit in the queue when it comes to getting your money back 👇
https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/announcements/commissioners-blog-your-rights-when-business-goes-bust-0

FALSE OR MISLEADING CLAIMS | Secure Parking Pty Ltd will pay $10.95 million in penalties for using the name ‘Secure-a-Spot’ and when it represented in marketing material that consumers using the Secure-a-Spot service would have a parking space reserved for them at a particular time and date, when that was not the case.

Secure Parking did not generally reserve car parking spaces for Secure-a-Spot customers. The company admitted that sometimes car parks reached capacity and, in some cases, customers with a Secure-a-Spot booking arrived to find the space they had booked was not available to them.

Read more about the ACCC action against the company - https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/secure-parking-to-pay-1095m-for-misleading-consumers-about-secure-a-spot-parking-service

🔥🔥🔥 RECALL | Multiple Cygnett MagMove 5K power banks have overheated and caught fire, causing serious injuries and property damage.

Check if your model is affected by reading the below ACCC Product Safety recall notice 👇

Cygnett Pty Ltd — MagMove 5K Power Bank (updated)

Come join us at one of our free events to connect older people living in the Goldfields with topics of interest, such as staying active and connected, scam prevention, wills and estate planning and WA Seniors Card.

Register here: https://SeniorsConnectKalgoorlie.eventbrite.com.au or call us on 9021 9494

🫛 Love Harvest Snaps Baked Peas... but not soy? You may need to check this food recall 👇

Any consumers who have a soy allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if the product is consumed.

Calbee Australia is conducting a recall of the above flavoured Harvest Snaps Baked Pea Crisps.

The products have been available for sale in Australia since 6th June 2024, at Coles, Woolworths, Costco, and independent retailers, including IGA, nationally. They were also available at ALDI stores in QLD, Drakes in SA, and Statewide Independent Wholesalers in TAS. Additionally, the product was sold nationally at petrol and convenience outlets, including 7-Eleven, and online via Amazon.

Date Marking: Best Before: 25/01/2025, 26/01/2025 and 29/01/2025.

Problem:
The recall is due to the presence of an undeclared soy allergen. Food safety hazards: Any consumers who have a soy allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if the product is consumed.

For more information see the FSANZ website:
https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/food-recalls/alerts

We had the privilege of being invited by Meredith Hammat MLA to speak at the Seniors Scams Forum in Mirrabooka. 🗣

Seniors were interested in learning to keep safe online and tackle unwanted scam calls. It was great to see the engagement and answer all your questions.

Report scams to scamnet.wa.gov.au

⛽️ ALERT- save $33 on a 60 litre tank of fuel.

This is how much you could potentially save by buying fuel from the cheapest site rather than the most expensive.

Fuel prices are going ⬆️ tomorrow. Average metro regular ULP prices will increase by over 33 cents per litre (cpl) to 202.6 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch urges Perth and Mandurah motorists to fill up today or before 6am tomorrow.

𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗨𝗟𝗣 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
💰167.5 cpl at Atlas Fuel Forrestfield in the East;
💰166.3 cpl at Burk Alkimos in the North; and
💰164.7 cpl at Costco Casuarina (Costco sites are membership based) and Costco Perth Airport and 165.9 cpl at Atlas Fuel Ascot and Atlas Fuel Kwinana in the South.

ℹ More info: https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/.../alert-perth-motorists...

Did you catch us at the Ageing Well Expo? 🚩

Our Product Safety and Community Engagement team had two busy days at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre sharing information on product safety (such as ladders and button batteries) and scams.

The attending seniors were particularly interested in scam prevention and learning about their rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

Thanks for having us! 👋

🚨URGENT WARNING | Consumers are being warned about the possible risks of injury or death to infants and children associated with the use of aftermarket car seat head straps and baby bottle self-feeding devices.

The ACCC is aware of four fatalities associated with self-feeding products. They can cause choking or suffocation.

There is a risk of spinal cord injuries, or suffocation or strangulation from using head straps. A baby has died in the UK due to these devices.

Consumers who have purchased or own these products should immediately stop using them and dispose of them safely so that they cannot be used by anyone else.

Find out more from ACCC Product Safety - https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/consumers-warned-of-possible-safety-risks-with-the-use-of-baby-bottle-self-feeding-devices-and-childrens-car-seat-head-straps

Looking to make your dollar go further at the checkout? 💸

Unit pricing allows you to compare the cost of grocery products quickly and accurately, making it easier to see if you are getting value for money.

Watch this video to learn more 👉 https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/pricing/unit-prices-for-groceries



Image description: A man and woman are grocery shopping and looking at a shopping list on the male’s phone.

Stage two of WA’s rent reforms has arrived.

In her latest blog, Commissioner Trish Blake identifies four major changes to the tenancy laws:

• Pets mostly allowed.

• Minor modifications to rentals permitted.

• Rent can only increase every 12 months instead of every 6.

• “Commissioner Determination” – removes the need to go to Court for simple disputes.

Learn more: https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/announcements/commissioners-blog-what-stage-two-was-rent-reforms-mean-you

🚨GIFT CARD SCAMS🚨

Western Australians are being warned about the resurgence of gift card scams, particularly with Apple iTunes cards.

More than $115,000 was lost in gift card scams this year.

“If you are the victim of a gift card scam it is nearly impossible to get your money back,” said the Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Trish Blake.

Be alert:
❗ No business or government department will ever ask for payment in the form of gift cards – always confirm the request in person.

❗ Criminals might also pretend to be your family or a friend.

❗ As a retailer, if someone tries to buy thousands of dollars-worth in one transaction, talk to your manager or ask the customer to talk to Consumer Protection.

✅ Report scams to ScamNet.wa.gov.au

Read more: https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/announcements/urgent-warning-itunes-gift-card-scams-surge

Our colleagues at Building and Energy have released information for Nicheliving customers, after the Building Services Board decided not to renew the building contractor registration of Projex Management & Construction Pty Ltd.

The Board's decision enables homeowners with incomplete or defective work to make a claim on their home indemnity insurance (HII) policies and consider other arrangements for completing their projects.

ℹ️ www.commerce.wa.gov.au/announcements/building-contractor-registration-not-renewed-projex-management-construction-pty-ltd

⛽️ ALERT- save $33 on a 60 litre tank of fuel

This is how much you could potentially save by buying fuel from the cheapest site rather than the most expensive.

Fuel prices are going ⬆️ tomorrow. Average metro regular ULP prices will increase by over 34 cents per litre (cpl) to 202.3 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch urges Perth and Mandurah motorists to fill up today or before 6am tomorrow.

𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗨𝗟𝗣 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
💰166.7 cpl at Atlas Fuel Midvale in the East;
💰164.5 cpl at Atlas Fuel Ascot in the South; and
💰163.3 cpl at Burk Bassendean in the North.

ℹ More info: https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/announcements/alert-perth-motorists-fill-now-beat-petrol-price-rise-113?fbclid=IwY2xjawEVc4ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHVNAP5AZ3jmcIhGy39WWi25u0z_J7jnfkMWuNQM7iJwxYVOU4CLXOeaBeg_aem_tKfwlPj10VBqKMT6OQ-ynA

We're warning Western Australians to be alert to tax scams, which can come in many disguises and are most prevalent around this time of year.

Read more from our Commissioner Trish Blake: www.commerce.wa.gov.au/announcements/commissioners-blog-tax-time-scams-dont-fall-phishing-bait

GUILTY | Repeat offender Jacob Hamilton has been fined for odometer tampering & unlicensed car dealing.

Mr Hamilton also used aliases and impersonated previous owners to avoid getting caught.

“Backyard operators like Mr Hamilton present a real danger to the community because the vehicles they sell are often substandard and consumers are denied of their rights to a warranty or other remedy if something goes wrong after the sale."

Read more about this prosecution: https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/announcements/repeat-offender-fined-illegal-car-dealing-odometer-wind-back

⛽️ ALERT- save $34 on a 60 litre tank of fuel

This is how much you could potentially save by buying fuel from cheapest site rather than the most expensive.

Fuel prices are going ⬆️ tomorrow. Average metro regular ULP prices will increase by over 33 cents per litre (cpl) to 202.8 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch urges Perth and Mandurah motorists to fill up today or before 6am tomorrow.

𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗨𝗟𝗣 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
💰168.5 cpl at Atlas Fuel Forrestfield in the east
💰162.9 cpl at Atlas Fuel Ascot in the south
💰164.3 cpl at Burk Alkimos in the north

ℹ More info: https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/announcements/alert-perth-motorists-fill-now-beat-petrol-price-rise-114

🦖RRROOOAAAARRRRRRR - picked up a pack of these nuggs from Aldi recently? All batches are recalled.

The recall is due to the presence of an undeclared allergen - peanut. Any consumers who have a peanut allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if the product is consumed.

If you have a peanut allergy or intolerance DO NOT consume this product. Return the product to any ALDI Store for a full refund.

Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.

Check the details from ACCC Product Safety - https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/food-recalls/recall-alert/aldi-stores-farmwood-chicken-breast-t-rex-bites-1kg

It’s important to equip our youth with the tools to protect themselves from scams. 🛠

That’s why Sharon and Alyssa from our Community Education team headed to the Student Exhibition at The University of Western Australia.

They chatted with the oncoming international students about scam prevention, unlicensed car repairs, wage rights, and more.

Interested in any of those topics? Have a look at our website 👉 https://www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au

RECALL - IKEA VARMFRONT power bank

These can overheat and melt during use because of a manufacturing fault. There is a risk of serious injury from burns and/or property damage from fire.

Stop using this product immediately and return it to IKEA for a refund or replacement.

Read the ACCC Product Safety notice to see if your model is affected - https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recalls/ikea-pty-limited-%E2%80%94-varmfront-power-bank-10400-mah-dark-blue-ap