Latest news with #ConsumerProtection
Perth Now
11 hours ago
- Perth Now
Roof repair conmen scamming West Aussies out of thousands
Door-knocking conmen are swindling WA households out of tens of thousands of dollars for minor roof repairs that they don't complete. Consumer protection issued a warning on Wednesday after an elderly Hillman couple were approached at their home by two men who said their roof required cleaning, tile tuckpointing and minor fascia board repairs. Without providing a quote the men began the job and instructed the couple to acquire a cheque for $18,645 and deposit it directly into their bank account. This allowed them to bypass bank surveillance security cameras and cover the money trail. A Parmelia couple suffered a similar ordeal when they were approached at their door by a man driving a white Ute who used sales tactics to convince them to let him clean their roof. Initially quoted $1,950, the couple were coerced into paying $2,145 – allegedly to cover GST. Shortly after the man left the couple noticed he did not complete any of the tasks promised and new water leaks emerged from the roof. The homeowners later discovered their security camera had been deliberately repositioned away from the front of the property, preventing any footage of the man being captured. Consumer Protections commissioner Trish Blake urged WA households to turn away door-knocking tradesmen if approached. Credit: Jackson Flindell / The West Australian Consumer Protections commissioner Trish Blake urged WA households to turn away door-knocking tradesmen if approached. 'These conmen move from town to town using high-pressure tactics to push overpriced roof restoration jobs – often delivering little to no actual work,' Ms Blake said. 'They are in clear breach of the Australian Consumer Law by disregarding the mandatory 10-day cooling-off period for unsolicited approaches. During this time, no payment should be made and no work is legally permitted. 'What's particularly concerning in these latest reports is the group's failure to provide formal quotes or contact details, leaving consumers with no way to follow up. 'Without a written quote – which sets expectations and offers legal protection – victims are further being denied their right to seek a remedy. 'Consumers looking to get this work done should always seek multiple written quotes to compare price and value, and research traders in advance by requesting references and viewing examples of previous work.' Anyone who receives a knock at the door from traders offering roof restoration services should say 'no' and call Consumer Protection on 1300 30 40 54.
Finextra
2 days ago
- Business
- Finextra
Bring on the BNPL regulation, but let's get it right!: By Willem Wellinghoff
The rapid expansion of Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services has undeniably reshaped the consumer credit landscape, offering a flexible and accessible payment method that caters to diverse lifestyles. However, this growth has simultaneously brought into sharp focus the imperative for suitable regulation. While further regulation is welcome in the wake of the Consumer Credit Act review, it must strike a delicate balance to safeguard consumers without stifling innovation and the UK's competitiveness. We mustn't forget that BNPL serves as an inclusive payment method, empowering individuals to manage their finances by spreading payments in a way that suits their needs. This aspect of inclusivity, allowing consumers a wider choice in how they pay for goods and services, remains a vital requirement. The emotional connection consumers feel to BNPL, stemming from its ability to provide informed choice and accountability, is also a key factor in its enduring appeal. However, the inherent lending essence of BNPL, despite its "payment method" perception, necessitates a strong focus on consumer protection. Government initiatives including introducing affordability checks and granting consumers the right to complain to the Financial Ombudsman from 2026, are significant steps towards improving perceptions of this newer form of borrowing. The new regulations will ensure a consistent standard across the industry, fostering greater consumer confidence and fairer access to refunds. Regulation sweet spot The challenge lies in ensuring regulation is proportionate. An overly stringent approach risks phasing out an important product in the market, hindering the very inclusivity that BNPL provides. In particular this could be an issue in the payments ecosystem where offering BNPL through orchestration might even potentially be considered as a form of credit broking which would require payment service providers and orchestrators to potentially enhance their regulatory permissions to include consumer credit activities, and be subject to additional onerous rules. The UK's National Payments Vision emphasises continued growth and innovation, and any regulatory framework must align with this. The balance required between managing innovation, suitability tailored to individual needs, and robust regulation is a complex tightrope walk. Companies like Ecommpay are already operating with a strong compliance and regulatory lens in our product design, recognising the need for emotionally empowering choices for consumers. The maturing BNPL market now offers a diverse array of solutions, and for e-commerce merchants, the key is to collaborate with payment providers who can offer a comprehensive range of credit options. Solutions like Visa Instalments, which leverage existing card infrastructure and eliminate the need for additional credit checks, can significantly improve checkout performance, especially in high-value sectors such as travel and luxury goods. These instalment solutions, whether interest-free or low-cost, provide greater financial flexibility for customers. Empowering payments and protecting customers Ultimately, however, the future of BNPL lies in a nuanced approach to regulation. While the core emphasis must be on affordability, transparent reporting to credit reference bureaus, and recognising vulnerability in consumers who might overextend themselves, this must not come at the expense of choice and innovation or restricting merchants' ability to offer payment methods that customers have come to use and trust. The goal is to cultivate an environment where BNPL continues to be an inclusive and empowering payment method, while simultaneously ensuring robust consumer protection and maintaining the UK's competitive edge in the global payments ecosystem. Payment providers, by staying abreast of the evolving regulatory landscape and offering diverse, compliant solutions, will be instrumental in achieving this delicate balance.
The Print
2 days ago
- Business
- The Print
Sale of defective TV: E-commerce firm, manufacturer found guilty of deficiency in service
It ordered the e-commerce company and the manufacturer to refund Rs 13,999 paid for the defective TV along with interest as well as give additional compensation of Rs 15,000 for mental agony and inconvenience and Rs 5,000 towards litigation costs. The manufacturer's defence of attempting to resolve the issue was not supported by substantial proof, indicating a 'lackadaisical approach', the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, South Mumbai said in an order passed earlier this month. Mumbai, Jun 26 (PTI) Ruling that Flipkart cannot 'escape liability' as 'mere intermediary' in an online purchase, a consumer commission here has found the e-commerce platform and television manufacturing company Thomson guilty of deficiency in service after a defective TV was delivered to a customer. The complainant had purchased a Thomson brand LED TV via Flipkart on February 19, 2021 but it soon began throwing up technical glitches, including power failure, sound issues and display defects. Repeated attempts to seek redressal from the manufacturer and the online seller were in vain as no effective resolution or replacement was provided. The complainant then approached the commission alleging deficiency in service and unfair trade practice. Flipkart contended that it merely operates as an online intermediary facilitating transactions between sellers and consumers and does not sell or manufacture goods, adding that the complainant did not utilize the 10-day replacement policy, following which the responsibility shifted to the manufacturer. Flipkart asserted it was not a 'service provider' under the Consumer Protection Act. Thomson TV India Private Limited claimed the product was covered under warranty, with concerns attended to as per standard terms. The firm attributed delays or non-functionality to misuse, mishandling, or conditions beyond its control. The commission's order said the product malfunctioned shortly after purchase and timely complaints were made. 'Thomson TV's defence that it attempted to resolve the complaint is not supported by any substantial proof such as service visit reports or replacement records. Rather, the correspondence placed on record suggests a lackadaisical approach by the manufacturer's customer service,' the commission held in the order. The commission cited the failure to repair or replace the defective product under warranty as 'deficiency in service' and 'unfair trade practice'. Addressing the e-commerce firm's role, the commission noted the invoice bore Flipkart's branding and that customer service was routed through its platform. Hence, it 'cannot escape liability', the commission said, adding that Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules 2020 mandate e-commerce entities to ensure sellers fulfil obligations to consumers. Citing previous Supreme Court rulings, the commission said Flipkart cannot escape liability as a 'mere intermediary' given its active role in the sale and post-sale process. The e-commerce firm and TV manufacturer were jointly and severally liable for the deficiency in service, the commission stated. PTI AVI BNM This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Move to ban airlines charging parents extra to sit next to children welcomed
Fine Gael MEP Regina Doherty has welcomed a move by the EU to ban airlines from charging parents extra to sit next to their children who are under the age of 12. Ms Doherty, who is a member of European Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, said Irish airlines typically do not charge parents to sit next to their young children. Advertisement However, a number of other European airlines impose a charge in relation to seating of this type. Ms Doherty told Newstalk Breakfast that she had long been 'incensed' by the cash grab of airlines that opt to charge parents additional money to sit next to their children. 'Children under 12 shouldn't be without their parents. Airlines, I felt, were taking advantage of the fact that if they wanted to sit their families together, they had to pay extra charges. 'No more now; the Committee voted yesterday that airlines will not be able to charge families extra for sitting together.' Advertisement Ms Doherty described the charge as an 'abhorrent' practice and said legislation would end it once and for all. On Tuesday the Transport Committee of the EU voted through a series of measures which will increase the rights of passengers. The proposals will be voted on by the European Parliament in the coming weeks. If approved by MEPs, they will then be discussed by the European Council. Ms Doherty said the proposals were met with 'little or no resistance.' 'I think everyone knows this is a commonsense approach,' Ms Doherty said. 'The second thing is, we've seen in recent months a controversy where people were getting charged extra for bags. 'One of the things we voted on yesterday was that people will have a right to have a 7kg carry-on roller bag with them as a right, once it gets through the Parliament.' Ms Doherty added that she expects the changes to happen 'very soon.'
Borneo Post
6 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Malay language condition for e-commerce product details ‘a rushed decision', says SUPP man
Bong Siak Ping KUCHING (June 23): The Malay language requirement for the names and descriptions of all products offered via e-commerce platforms is a rushed decision, one made without taking micro online businesses into consideration. In pointing this out, the Kuching branch of Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) views the policy as one 'that comes with no clear instructions, translation tools or technology support'. 'Many small businesses and young entrepreneurs, especially those selling their products on Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop e-platforms, usually write the product descriptions in English. 'Now they're scrambling to adapt. 'The foreign sellers are also struggling with translation issues, causing widespread confusion,' said SUPP Kuching Youth publicity and secretary Bong Siak Ping in a statement yesterday. It is reported that such policy is scheduled for implementation by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry effective this June 24, but it has been postponed until further notice due to strong backlash from the e-commerce community. According to Bong, the new rule comes under the Consumer Protection (Electronic Trade Transactions) Regulations 2024, enshrined in the Consumer Protection Act 1999. 'Upon violation of this rule, the offender could be fined up to RM50,000, jailed for up to three years, or both. 'A repeat offender could face fine up to RM100,000 and imprisonment of up to five years; a company could be imposed a fine of RM100,000 for a first offence, and up to RM200,000 for repeat violation,' he said. Bong said although the government had announced the deferment of its implementation, such action was merely a typical gesture of putting the issue on hold. 'E-commerce is inherently international, being predominantly conducted in English. 'In this regard, the ministry's insistence on using Malay exclusively is tantamount to 'self-isolation'. 'I wonder if this policy would undermine Sarawak's constitutional rights and administrative autonomy, since the Sarawak Constitution preserves English as an official language widely used in government, education and commerce. 'Forcing Sarawak-based e-commerce operators to use only Malay could be seen as eroding these rights.' Bong also expressed regret that the Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak had remained silent on this issue. 'Has DAP Sarawak succumbed to pressure from its central leadership? 'At this critical juncture, are they merely playing the role of a 'silent partner'? 'The DAP has championed the concept of a 'Malaysian Malaysia', and DAP Sarawak has never dared to openly support the 'Sarawak First' vision because it represents the interests of peninsula-based groups in Sarawak,' he said. – Bernama Bong Siak Ping e-commerce lead Malay language Sarawak United People's Party
