Helping the Community

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.

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.

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.

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.

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/

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.