Consumers are again being warned to be cautious in their dealings with unregistered builder Mark Edward Straw, who may also be using the alias Mark Edward James and is trading as Complete Ceilings and Renovations Pty Ltd.

Legal action by US authorities against Western Union could result in compensation being paid to thousands of WA scam victims who made payments via the international money transfer service over a 13 year period. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a penalty of US$586 million to Western Union for aiding fraud, with the funds being used to refund scam victims throughout the world. This...

Valentine’s Day is the traditional time of the year when people express their love for each other but, for many, it can be a disappointing and frustrating experience. Every year, Consumer Protection receives many complaints from people who have ordered flowers online for their loved ones only to find that they turn up late, if at all, or even dead on arrival. In 2017, a total of 42 complaints...

All state system employers are legally required to keep employment records. An employee can request to inspect his or her employment records by putting a formal written request to the employer. Employers must comply with this request and allow this to occur by the end of the next pay period after the employee makes the formal request. The Access to records page provides further information. Many...

Scammers are tricking innocent victims to part with their money by using iTunes gift cards as their preferred method of payment. According to Consumer Protection WA ScamNet data, 34 victims purchased iTunes cards worth $116,909 in 2017, in comparison 17 victims reported losses totalling $68,637 in 2016. The cold calling scammers pretend they are from Telstra or the Australian Taxation Office...

The Children and Community Services Act 2004 regulates where, when, and at what age children can be employed in Western Australia and these laws apply to all employers throughout the State. In most industries, children under 15 cannot be employed unless they are working in a family business run by a relative such as a parent, aunt, uncle or grandparent; performing professionally as an actor,...

The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) has now formally merged the operations of the former Building Commission and Energy Safety to form the new Building and Energy Division. Ken Bowron will lead the Building and Energy team. He holds the statutory positions of the Building Commissioner and the Director of Energy Safety. Building and Energy oversees the regulation of...

Western Australian builder Choiceliving (WA) Pty Ltd (BC101237 – suspended) has today voluntarily entered into external administration.

Energy Safety is hosting several free information sessions for Western Australian electrical workers and contractors. Presented by Energy Safety staff, these sessions will update you on: the new Wiring Rules; regulations for live electrical work; and supervision of apprentices. If you are involved in the electrical contracting industry in Western Australia, these sessions are for you. Dates and...

Karrinyup licensed plumbing contractor Joseph Travaglini (PL5037) has been fined $1,000 by the Plumbers Licensing Board (PLB) for failing to submit the notifications and certifications required for plumbing work.

Consumer Protection is concerned about a Byford landscaper who has accepted payment for work which has not been carried out. Trevor James Potter , trading as Trevors Landscape Services and Liven Your Landscape (both unregistered), allegedly owes consumers a total of almost $17,000. Since October 2016, 15 complaints have been lodged against the landscaper who is said to have taken deposits and...

The FuelWatch website has reached an all-time record with more than a million visits in a month from motorists on the hunt for Perth's cheapest fuel. Last month the website recorded 1,048,529 visits, the highest monthly number since FuelWatch launched in January 2001. The average is usually 800,000 visits a month. Unique to Western Australia, FuelWatch provides motorists with a valuable tool to...