Consumer Affairs Victoria

Consumer Affairs Victoria Consumer Affairs Victoria
www.consumer.vic.gov.au
1300 55 81 81
Business hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Consumer Affairs Victoria provides information and advice on renting, buying and selling property, and the Australian Consumer Law. We also register or license a range of occupations and businesses. We use our social media channels to share information about these issues and as a way for you to contact us if you need help or advice. If you ask us a question during business hours, we will try to re

spond the same day; if you contact us after hours, we will usually respond the next business day. For detailed and specific questions, we may ask you to call us or to complete our enquiry form at www.consumer.vic.gov.au/generalenquiry.

02/09/2026

If Dad just doesn’t like your gift, that counts as a change of mind.

Your first step is to check the store’s policy. Unless their policy promises change-of-mind returns, you don’t have a leg to stand on.

For more info, type ‘change of mind’ into our website’s search feet-ure 🔍

Footnote: 🧦 If a Father’s Day gift is faulty, Dad’s rights are toe-tally the same as if he bought it himself. To return it, heel have to prove where it was purchased. (A receipt isn’t the sole way to show that.) 🧾

01/09/2026

When we take legal action against someone for breaches of laws and regulations we administer, we tell you about it here.

Here’s a recap of some of the legal actions we took in the first half of 2026.

https://www.vic.gov.au/enforcement-focus-recap

The Renting Taskforce is here to stay. The Renting Taskforce will become a permanent part of Consumer Affairs Victoria,...
30/08/2026

The Renting Taskforce is here to stay.

The Renting Taskforce will become a permanent part of Consumer Affairs Victoria, continuing its work to protect renters and make sure Victoria’s rental laws are being followed.

Since 2024, the taskforce has:

▪️ assessed more than 2,600 rental property cases
▪️ inspected more than 600 properties
▪️ issued more than 250 official warnings
▪️ issued 130 infringements totalling more than $900,000.

Victorian renters will also have access to more advice, support and advocacy through the new Victorian Renter Rights Program from early 2027.

Learn more about the Renting Taskforce and new support for renters: https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/latest-news/more-advice--support-and-advocacy-for-victorian-renters

🚗 A private car sale can look like a good deal, especially when the price seems too good to pass up. But there is more t...
28/08/2026

🚗 A private car sale can look like a good deal, especially when the price seems too good to pass up. But there is more to consider than the price.

Buying from a licensed dealer can give you extra protection if things go wrong. So before you hand over your hard-earned cash, make sure you know your rights and what to look out for.

To find out more, visit consumer.vic.gov.au/buying-a-used-car

Ballan tradie Austin Bongart has been convicted and fined after taking over $30,000 from customers for building work he ...
26/08/2026

Ballan tradie Austin Bongart has been convicted and fined after taking over $30,000 from customers for building work he never completed between 2022 and 2024.

Bongart traded as Aussie’s Concrete and Fencing Solutions when he charged consumers and failed to follow through with those services.

🔗 Read more: https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/latest-news/tradie-who-failed-to-deliver-convicted-and-fined

Planning any building or renovation work? Protect yourself:

✅ Get more than one written quote

✅ Ask friends and family for recommendations

❌ Don’t hand over a large deposit

📋 Use our free building checklist: https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing/building-and-renovating/checklists

✅ For jobs over $10,000, check your builder is registered with the Building and Plumbing Commission.

🔍 Find a registered practitioner: bams.vba.vic.gov.au/bams/s/practitioner-search

Stay informed and stay protected. 🛠️

26/08/2026

A text. A phone call. A code.

That’s all it took for scammers to steal enough money from Lindy to leave her in debt.

“They rush you through it and make you panic.”

Behind every scam report is a real person and a real story. No one’s just a number.

Report scams to the National Anti-Scam Centre via Scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam

25/08/2026

Last year, 481,000 scams were reported in Australia.

Behind every report is a real person, and a story that could help protect someone else.

This Scams Awareness Week, we’re sharing their stories to remind everyone that scams can happen to anyone, and that speaking up helps break the stigma, start conversations and protect others.

24/08/2026

$2.2 billion. That’s how much Australians lost to scams in 2025.

This Scams Awareness Week, we’re sharing real stories from real Australians to help break the stigma around scams, start conversations that can make a difference, and help others to recognise the warning signs.

🎥 Watch the video, share it with your friends and family, and help others stay one step ahead of scammers.

Report scams to the National Anti-Scam Centre via Scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam

Find more information and tips to protect yourself at consumer.vic.gov.au/scams

21/08/2026

Buying a used car?

Don’t let your dream set of wheels turn into a 💩📦 - and leave you thousands of dollars out of pocket!

Warranties, cooling-off periods, extra charges? 🤔

We’ve got the info on what to check before you buy. ✅

Visit: consumer.vic.gov.au/buying-a-used-car

Address

Pyalong, VIC

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+611300558181

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