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Tickets for premium events sell like hotcakes – literally in minutes for some of the wonderful sport and music events that get hosted in WA and around Australia! If you miss out, don’t be fooled by scammers and scalpers when you see offers for tickets on social media, online classifieds and resale sites. Two things to know: it’s always safest to buy tickets through authorised ticket agents, and some event tickets have “restricted resale”, making it illegal for anyone to sell them at inflated price (more than a 10% mark-up). If in doubt, go to official ticket sites, which also have resale pages for individuals to legitimately sell their tickets when they can no longer attend events. Ways to avoid scams: if you’re looking at an offer online, check where the supposed seller is located – if they’re not in Australia, they’re unlikely to be real or have genuine tickets for sale. Another warning flag – if they ask for payment by bank transfer or gift cards, you could be at risk of being scammed. Third tip – if possible, buy with a credit card, and if you think you’ve bought a ticket that may be fake, first ask for a refund; and second your bank may be able to give you a chargeback on your credit card. Listen to our podcast for more information on all these topics.
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Many people want to plan ahead for the cost of their funeral, to reduce this burden on their family at a time of much sadness. We talk to Nina Weir from Consumer Protection about some new rules for funeral companies, and options for planning the cost of a funeral. Companies must now be very clear upfront about the total costs of a funeral, so there are no post-funeral price shocks. Price details of each component must be easily available on their website or brochures, and companies can be fined if that information is misrepresented or isn’t publicly available. For those looking to pay for a funeral before it’s needed, the best, safest and simplest option is to save up for it – put your money in a savings or term deposit account, and make sure your loved ones have access to the account details. Prepaid funerals and funeral insurance both have risks. And a reminder, if you were a member of the collapsed Youpla Group/Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund, you can apply to the program set up by the Government until the end of November, for the funeral benefits of members. Listen to our podcast for the pros and cons to help you choose what to do, and more details on all of these issues.
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Now that people are travelling more freely again, we look at consumer law and how it protects you when you’re buying travel products – whether it’s flights, cruises, tours, or accommodation etc. There’s even more small print than ever, post-pandemic, and it’s important to read it so you know what your travel contract gives you and doesn’t give you. Like any product, the travel service that you buy must be as it’s described in the brochure, advertising, or ticket. This was highlighted recently when the itinerary of a booked cruise was changed at the last minute. Whilst this may be permitted due to weather for example, in this case it was for proposed boat maintenance and clearly unacceptable for the travel purchased. Fortunately for those passengers, Consumer Protection was able to intervene and the cruise went ahead as originally planned. Again, like all consumer protection, remedies may include refunds or alternative bookings, and always best to talk to the travel provider first to try and resolve issues – whether that’s a travel agent or direct to the airline/hotel etc. Paying by credit card also gives you some protection, but you can always contact Consumer Protection if you want advice or need their help. Listen to our podcast with Nina Weir from Consumer Protection for their travel advice.
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We take a deep dive this week into the latest myGov and PayID scams, so you know what to look out for and how to avoid getting scammed out of your money or personal details. Following the recent Federal and State budgets, scammers are straight onto it, sending text messages or phone calls about a one-time payment to help with the current cost of living crisis. This is simply not true! There is other financial assistance that may be available, but myGov will never send messages asking you to click on a link or provide information. The golden rule is log in to myGov directly to check out any messages, only at https://my.gov.au. Don’t click on links of any similar looking web addresses – the only address for myGov is my.gov.au.
PayID is a great way of transferring money easily to someone else’s bank account instantly, using our unique phone number or email address. Scammers are posing as buyers who then say that PayID requires us to upgrade to a business account (no such thing!), which needs us to make a payment to a bank account, with various reasons given. Again, this is simply not true! PayID is 100% free and simple – anyone saying an upgrade or payment is required is a scammer!
Nina Weir from Consumer Protection WA takes us through details of various ways the scammers operate, how to recognise them, avoid them and report them.
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When shopping for those special Mother’s Day gifts, it’s good to know Australia Consumer Law is there to back you up – if things are faulty, turn out to be not fit for purpose, or the wrong thing arrives in the post. What’s not covered are changes of mind, and that includes cases where mum doesn’t like the gift or it doesn’t fit! In those cases, talk to the store about their return policies as they still may give you a refund or replacement if the goods are returned in good order. Gift cards are a good option so mum can get what she really wants. They now have to be valid for a minimum of 3 years, but still encourage mum to go shopping sooner than later, just in case the business closes up shop for some reason. And of course, be careful if you’re shopping on line – use reputable online shops and check consumer reviews. Listen here for more information and tips to help make your Mother’s Day gift successful!
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In our latest podcast with Nina Weir from Consumer Protection WA, we talk about the newest type of bank scams. As we become more aware and better at avoiding scams, the scammers become more sophisticated with their attempts to trick us. They are using new technology to make scam calls look even more like they are coming from our bank, for example – text messages seeming to come from a genuine bank phone number. More than ever, it’s essential to be wary. Do not click on a link or phone a number that’s sent to you by text. Banks do not communicate that way. Do not follow a request to transfer money to a given account to “keep it safe”. Banks protect our money in our own account – they would never ask us to transfer it to a different account. These are examples of how people are being caught out by bank impersonation scams. Do not feel put under pressure to act – practise the pause, and contact the bank yourself to verify any unusual requests. Listen to our podcast for more information and tips on how to be scam savvy.
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This week we talk to Nina Weir from Consumer Protection WA, about the switch from paper bills to email billing. With more and more companies encouraging us to ditch paper bills, and some companies now charging customers for the cost of printing and posting a paper bill, it’s time to make the switch. Take a look at any paper bills you’re still getting to see if you’re being charged for them, and for information on how to change over to email billing. There may be some exemptions to those charges for those on various concessions, or who require a paper bill for accessibility, but check with each company for their position. Email billing has convenience and some security benefits for many people, but also the possibility of scammers tricking us with fake bills, so make sure you always check your bills, know what and when you’re due to be billed, and don’t click on links in suspicious looking emails. Listen to our podcast for more information on all of this.
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This week we talk to Nina Weir from Consumer Protection WA, with our regular reminder warning about button batteries – and also those little high powered-magnets that might be stuck on the fridge. To little children, they are bright, round and shiny and easily end up popped in the mouth and swallowed. Both products do enormous damage to our insides. Toys using button batteries must have a child-safe cover on them and Consumer Protection do regular checks in stores, but don’t assume, if a toy is in the shop, that it’s safe! If you think your child might have swallowed a battery or magnet, go to the Emergency Department as soon as possible. Listen to our podcast for more information and tips on what to do and what to look for.
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You may not think about consumer rights when buying your next family pet, but Consumer Protection receives many complaints such as pets arriving with significant health issues (due to improper treatment), not matching the description or photo of your chosen animal, or refunds and deposits not being returned when warranted. Pet breeders must supply the animal you ordered, without health issues that aren’t breed-related, and must meet various promises based on pedigree and other characteristics. So it’s important to make sure you buy through a reputable and registered breeder, and if possible, find someone to check them out in person, especially if you buy online – not one wants to encourage puppy farms and other forms of animal mistreatment! If your new pet has a genuine issue, you may be entitled to a financial remedy through consumer law, even if you keep the pet. Like any purchase, this doesn’t apply for a plain change of mind, or for private purchases not through a registered seller. Listen to our podcast with Nina Weir from Consumer Protection WA, for more information and tips, and how to contact Consumer Protection if you do need their help.
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Once this week’s cyclone action is over, next week there is a total solar eclipse – a rare event skirting Australia’s west coast. Have a look at https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2023-april-20#@-17.965,122.233,5&pin=australia/broome for some cool information about the coming eclipse, including an animation of what it will look like. But our message here is about viewing (not watching) it safely! In Broome, 89.41% of the sun will be obscured at the peak, but still, we don’t stare at the sun for obvious reasons and even at the maximum, 10.59% of the sun will still be visible and will be especially bright. So it’s really important to protect our eyes – using special eclipse glasses that meet ISO-12312-2020 certification, or a home-made pinhole camera, but definitely not with naked eyes, regular sunglasses, phones, cameras or telescopes that don’t have very particular filters. And of course, some glasses and filters will be counterfeit so check them carefully, make sure they’re not damaged, supervise your children, and get your eyes checked out if you over-expose them.
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Buying a second-hand vehicle? Make sure you don’t get sold a lemon! Buyers are always advised to get a vehicle mechanical check before making that purchase – now more than ever, with people potentially putting up flood-damaged vehicles for sale. Dealers don’t have to tell you if a vehicle is flood-affected, so ask the question! Other sensible checks include a vehicle history on the PPSR register at https://www.ppsr.gov.au, and checking the dealer licence and registration on the Consumer Protection website. Remember, the same consumer laws don’t apply for private sales. In this week’s podcast with Nine Weir from Consumer Protection WA, we talk about all these things as well as a chat about buy now, pay later cards and how to use these responsibly so you don’t get into financial strife.
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Our Valentine’s Day podcast is a reminder not to open our heart to scammers. As more people look for love online, more scammers try to lure us into giving them our money as well as our heart. It’s so easy to have our heart-strings pulled when we just want to love and be loved. The number of people conned is significant – if someone online is genuine, they will understand a wish to stay safe and make sure they are who they say they are. Listen to our podcast with Nina Weir from Consumer Protection to find out about the red flags around online dating – what are the signs of a romance scam, and how to make sure you fall in love and not into a con.
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Good news! In today’s catch up with Nina Weir from Consumer Protection WA, we hear how some of the recent flood and disaster-related scams have been shut down as a result of reports to the ScamNet team. We then talk about summer fun, with watery Wet Season topics such as the cautions and precautions for good water safety around outdoor waterways, as well as home pools and swimming pools. And, on the topic of staying safe while having fun, we have reminders about trampoline safety and what we need to know about button battery hazards. Listen to our podcast for a wealth of tips to keep you and your loved ones safe this summer.
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The last thing we need in disastrous times are scammers tricking us out of money. So listen up for details of two particular scams doing the rounds, preying on people affected by or donating to those affected by the Kimberley floods. Plus, some great tips from Nina Weir from Consumer Protection WA on what to look out for and how to avoid scams. In particular, be very wary of offers of relief funding and requests for donations through social media. Talk to your friends if you receive strange offers or messages, report potential scams, and check out the official channels such as the Disaster Response Hotline on 1800 032 965 and the hubs set up in Broome, Derby and Fitzroy Crossing.
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Generous Australians want to donate to victims of the Kimberley floods, yet it’s important to watch out for scammers who are always ready to exploit such kindness. How? In this week’s podcast with Nina Weir from Consumer Protection WA, we hear how scammers are setting up fake charities and fake social media accounts to target donors. Learn how to check for legitimate charities so your donations reach the right agencies and do some good.
Here are some useful links that Nina mentioned:
List of licensed charities in WA at https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/consumer-protection/list-licensed-charities
Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund at https://appealswa.org.au/current-appeals/
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We caught up with Tom Chapman in his new role with the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, DLGSC Kimberley. Tom tells us a little bit about what DLGSC does to support community organisations, particularly sport and recreation clubs, with their projects, and some of the Department’s other activities. Today, we talk about the North West Travel Subsidy. It’s a scheme for anyone aged 13-18 years in the north west to get funding to subsidise the cost of travelling to participate in recognised inter-regional sports events, representing their club or association. It’s a great financial resource to help ensure our young athletes don’t miss out on the chance to excel at those bigger events. Listen to our podcast to find out about the nitty gritty – what’s available, who’s eligible and how to apply.
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In the Kimberley and Western Australia, when we’re buying a car we think about where it might have been regularly used – whether on a mine site or the beach. Now you also need to think flood damage, for cars with Queensland plates that are making their way to WA. Car dealers and auctioneers don’t have to declare flood damage, but they must answer honestly if asked – so ask! In this week’s podcast with Tom Chapman from Consumer Protection WA, we talk about other things to look for – watermarks, checking floor mats and seat covers, and rusty wiring. And the old adage – if a deal is too good to be true, it’s probably too good to be true! Listen for all the details to make sure you don’t get caught out!
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The best Mother’s Day gifts are ones that turn up on time, or don’t have to be returned! But if that’s not the case, don’t worry, your gift purchases have the same consumer rights as any other purchase. This week in our podcast with Tom Chapman from Consumer Protection WA, we talk about your options when things don’t turn up on time, the different options whether you’ve shopped locally or online, ideas for various types of gift cards, and as always, things to watch out for so you don’t get scammed. Listen here for all these great tips and information to help make your Mother’s Day gift special.
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When a tenancy is terminated, you need to know about the processes and your rights for the end of the rental and moving out. Consumer laws lay down the way this must be lawfully handled – the length of notice, etc. If these processes aren’t followed, there are steps to dispute an unlawful eviction. Also know what might happen (and what mustn’t happen) if you don’t leave the property after a lawful eviction! And if you have to leave a property and have nowhere to go? There are places that can assist such as Anglicare and our local financial counselling service at Broome CIRCLE. For more information about all this, listen to our podcast with Tom Chapman from Consumer Protection WA.
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Before you launch into buying a second-hand boat and getting out on our beautiful waters, there are good things to check and know. Boat shops don’t need to be registered in the same way as car dealers, but if you’re buying from a boat retailer, you have the same consumer rights as buying any other goods – it must be fit for purpose, free from defects, and last a reasonable length of time. Not so for buying privately – the same consumer laws don’t apply and it’s buyer beware. Other tips – check the condition of both the body and motor, and also the trailer. And as always, watch out for boat scams if you’re buying online and sight unseen (even better, make sure you get to test the boat out on the water). For more information about all these issues, listen to our podcast with Tom Chapman from Consumer Protection WA.
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