Helping the Community – Details, episodes & analysis

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.

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.

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.

Tom Chapman, Consumer Protection Officer in the Kimberley, talks about scams – pandemics don't stop scammers, they give them more opportunities to rip us off! Here's what to look out for during COVID-19 and keep your money and personal information safe, particularly if you're new to things like Centrelink processes. Remember the golden rules – always use official sites and channels rather than clicking on links. And if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Listen for more of Tom's advice and tips, and for more information, check out the WA ScamNet site at https://www.scamnet.wa.gov.au

Tom Chapman, Consumer Protection Officer in the Kimberley, talks about shopping and consumer protection during the COVID-19 pandemic. How do we all need to behave as consumers, shops and businesses? Tom gives advice so we know what to expect.

Tom Chapman, Consumer Protection Officer in the Kimberley, talks further about your consumer rights during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Listen to his advice and information about panic buying, payments for things like gym memberships that are now closed, and how to use the $750 stimulus payment wisely.

Tom Chapman, Consumer Protection Officer in the Kimberley, talks about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and your consumer rights. What can consumer protection do about panic buying including pricing of essential products? What are your rights relating to tickets for event, concert and travel cancellations? Tom discusses several scenarios and resources to help sort out cancellations and refunds.

Tom Chapman, Consumer Protection Officer in the Kimberley, talks about warranty and consumer law rights. What if goods have no warranty or the warranty has expired? Do you need to pay for extended warranties? Who can help sort out issues when the stores don't? You have more rights than you may know!

Tom Chapman, Consumer Protection Officer in the Kimberley, has advice and information for renters, covering rent increases and calculations; subletting and maximum number of occupants; conditions and responsibilities for keeping pets at rental properties; and who to contact for help as a tenant.

Tom Chapman, Consumer Protection Officer in the Kimberley, talks again about scams on Safer Internet Day 2020 - particularly fake romance scams in the lead up to Valentine's Day. If you're using a dating app to find connection and love, do you know what to look out for to avoid getting hurt by scammers? Listen to Tom's tips to become more savvy and stay safe in the online dating space.