Consumer Protection WA

03/06/2026

We're warning West Aussies to be careful when booking pest control or cleaning services online as Sams Maintenance & Pest Control Pty Ltd, operated by Narbjeet Singh, is using over 160 aliases to farm out jobs to gig-economy workers who may not be licensed or qualified.

We have received multiple complaints alleging unacceptable service quality or work not delivered as described, and property damage. Consumers also report being quoted low estimates online, only to face significant price increases when a worker attends their home.

We usually advise consumers to get multiple quotes to protect themselves, but in one case, every quote came from this same operator because of their saturation of online listings leading consumers to believe they were receiving independent quotations from separate entities when this was not the case.

Read more about this warning and how to protect yourself: https://www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au/announcements/warning-about-trader-using-over-160-online-aliases-sams-maintenance-pest-control-narbjeet-singh

Business names linked to Mr Singh’s websites and subject to consumer complaints include:
🪳 711 Pest Control Perth
🪳 Bobs Bee Removal
🪳 Goode Pest Control
🪳 Micks Pest Control Perth
🪳 Rejuvenate Curtain Cleaning
🪳 Tim’s Tile Cleaning Perth
🪳 We Do Pest Control
🪳 Karls Couch Cleaning Perth

Consumers who have experienced issues with Sams Maintenance and Pest Control or its associated businesses, are encouraged to lodge a complaint on consumerprotection.wa.gov.au .

02/06/2026

“Small high-powered magnets can cause catastrophic, life-threatening internal injuries if swallowed, particularly for young children. Multiple magnets can stick together in the intestine or digestive tissue. They are also a choking risk,” ACCC Product Safety Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.

The ACCC has sent Amazon, eBay, Kogan, and Fruugo take down requests for the affected listings and sought additional measures to be taken to prevent sellers relisting the same or similar products. They have committed to taking these actions and to contacting affected customers to warn them about the safety risks.

Kogan, Amazon and Fruugo have also provided, or offered to provide, refunds to customers that purchased the affected products subject to the ACCC’s investigation.

Learn more about this action and the dangers of games with high-powered magnets - https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/accc-issues-takedown-requests-to-amazon-ebay-kogan-and-fruugo-for-toys-and-games-containing-potentially-deadly-small-magnets

02/06/2026

When was the last time you tested your smoke alarm? It's time to push it... push it real good!

31/05/2026

Vigilant WA settlement agents have thwarted an attempt by a scammer to sell vacant land they did not own, prompting an urgent warning for the real estate and conveyancing industries to be on high alert for suspicious activity.

"Thankfully in this case, the settlement agents recognised the warning signs early and took the appropriate steps to prevent what could have been a devastating financial and emotional loss for the legitimate property owner," said Commissioner for Consumer Protection Owen Kelly.

Read more from the State Government: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook%20Labor%20Government/Scammer-poses-as-property-owner-in-attempt-to-sell-WA-land-20260531

29/05/2026

Button batteries are dangerous to children if swallowed or inserted. They can become stuck in a child’s throat and result in serious lifelong injuries or death... and it can occur in as little as 2 hours. Insertion of button batteries into body parts such as the ears or nose can also lead to serious injuries. These mandatory warnings are there to help keep children safe and businesses must get them right.

If you suspect a child has swallowed or inserted a button battery:
✅ Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if your child is having any difficulty breathing.
✅ Call the Poisons Information Centre immediately on 13 11 26. You can call at any hour for expert advice. The Poisons Information Centre can direct you to an appropriate medical facility. Not every health facility can manage injuries from button batteries.
✅ Prompt action is critical.
✅ Do not wait for symptoms to develop.
✅ Do not let the child eat or drink.
✅ Do not induce vomiting.

This is the first Federal Court case brought by the ACCC against an online marketplace alleging non-compliance with mandatory product safety standards. We allege the backpacks were missing the required button battery warning labels and Amazon AU had possession and control of the backpacks as part of its fulfilment by Amazon services for third party sellers.
https://www.productsafety.gov.au/about-us/product-safety-news/news/amazon-in-court-over-alleged-missing-button-battery-warnings-on-children%E2%80%99s-unicorn-backpacks

28/05/2026

Thinking of buying a bargain priced repairable write-off? It's legal for repairable write-offs to be re-registered and sold in WA, provided these vehicles have passed a safety inspection. This is different to statutory write-offs which are severely damaged vehicles that can only be used for spare parts.

If you buy from a licensed motor vehicle dealer, they MUST tell you if the vehicle is a repairable write-off.

Repairable write-offs can be tempting – a decent car for thousands less than usual - but as with most things that look too good to be true, it’s good to pause and take a closer look at what you’re buying.

Learn more: https://www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au/announcements/the-commissioner-understanding-the-risks-of-buying-repairable-write-offs

27/05/2026

Do you have a holiday booked with AVG Travels? You need to know they are in liquidation and operations have been suspended.

If you've paid money to AVG Travels, you are now an unsecured creditor, which means you are last in line to get your money back if any is left over after the liquidation process. AVG is not issuing refunds.

There are things you can do but you need to act fast:
✅ If you paid by card, contact your bank immediately and seek a chargeback.
✅ If you have travel insurance, contact your provider to discuss your ability to make a claim.

❓ What if I am currently travelling ❓
The liquidators McGrathNicol understand that your trip should continue as planned. However, we recommend that you contact your hotel and other service providers prior to any upcoming flights, transfers or accommodation arrangements to confirm directly that bookings have been made on your behalf.

❓ Is my future trip cancelled ❓
Unfortunately, unless airline tickets have already been issued and booking confirmations have been received directly from the relevant accommodation providers, we understand that flights,
accommodation and other travel arrangements are generally unlikely to have been secured. We recommend that you contact the relevant hotel and service providers directly to confirm whether any arrangements have been paid for and confirmed before departing.

For more information and helpful FAQs - https://www.mcgrathnicol.com/creditors/avg-travels-pty-ltd

26/05/2026

🍼 Baby bottle self-feeding devices are now banned in Australia.

The ban applies to products that position a baby bottle, or bottle teat, so an infant can self-feed without another person holding the bottle or without adult supervision.

“Baby bottle self-feeding devices pose an unacceptable risk of injury or death to infants as a result of choking, suffocation and aspiration, as babies do not have the ability to regulate the flow of milk or remove the bottle from their mouth themselves," ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.

Advice for consumers
✅ If you have purchased or own a baby bottle self-feeding device, you should immediately stop using it and dispose of it safely so that it cannot be used by anyone else.
✅ Always follow government safety baby feeding advice, which advises to never prop a bottle and never leave an infant to feed unsupervised.
✅ If you are aware of baby bottle self-feeding devices subject to the ban being supplied or offered for supply in Australia, you can report an unsafe product to the ACCC - productsafety.gov.au

As a result of the ban, it is illegal to supply or offer to supply these devices in Australia. It is also illegal to manufacture, possess, or have control of a banned product.

The ban does not extend to supplemental nursing systems used to support breastfeeding, or to ‘sippy’ cups, trainer cups and straw cups intended for drinking rather than as a baby’s sole source of nutrition.

Read more about this announcement: https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/permanent-ban-on-baby-bottle-self-feeding-devices-now-in-effect

25/05/2026

Job scams are continuing to sting but we're here to help you stay one step ahead of the scammers. Arm yourself with the below info 👇

Phony jobs will ask you to perform tasks for a commission, such as leaving fake “five star” reviews on food delivery services apps and online shopping platforms, or liking and following social media accounts. The more you do, the more you're paid - except you never get paid... you get scammed.

Here's what to look for:
🚩 Practice the pause – take a moment to consider if the job is too-good-to-be-true.
🚩 Beware of job offers made without a formal interview and never provide payment upfront, especially by cryptocurrency. It’s unlikely you’ll ever get your money back and you should NEVER have to pay a fee to secure employment.
🚩 Scammers are highly sophisticated and may post ads on legitimate job websites or on social media to appear as genuine businesses.
🚩 Be alert to any vague job descriptions and communications conducted through social media and message platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal
🚩 Verify company information through your own internet searches and be suspicious if there is no physical address.

There's no shame in reporting these scams to us. If you think you're a victim of a job scam, cease and block all contact with the scammers, contact your bank and report the scam to WA ScamNet – scamnet.wa.gov.au or call 1300 30 40 54. We're here to help.

23/05/2026

This morning the State Government announced that grieving friends and family will continue to be protected when they’re at their most vulnerable. That’s what the Funeral Pricing Code of Practice does and now will continue to do.

After a comprehensive consultation process, which showed strong support from both consumers and funeral directors, the Code will remain in force.

Before the Code came into effect on 1 May 2023 the cost sometimes wasn’t known until after the funeral was held, leading family and friends of the deceased to believe they had been overcharged.

Some people ended up with services and products they didn’t want or need, or couldn’t afford. Confusing ‘bundles’ with no itemised prices meant comparing costs between funeral directors was impossible.

Funeral Pricing Code of Practice means funeral directors must publicly display their prices for all services and packages on their website and each place of business so consumers can compare the costs themselves in the comfort of their home or with friends and family.

A basic package of the least expensive combination of essential goods and services must also be included in the public pricing. This is so people have a better understanding of the costs for the minimum legal requirements for a burial or cremation.

Before entering into a funeral agreement, the customer must also have been given an itemised quote.

Learn more about today's announcement and your rights under the Code: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook%20Labor%20Government/Funeral-price-regulations-locked-in-to-protect-grieving-families-20260523

Dr. Tony Buti MLA