Online Shopping Consumer Protection
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has an Online Shopping Checklist. It is a list of questions you should ask yourself before shopping online.
Go there
Also visit Consumers Online, the Australian Government’s one-stop-shop for Consumer Protection in Australia. In addition to advice on electronic commerce, there is information on making complaints about goods and services purchased in Australia and overseas, product safety and recalls, plus many links to online consumer resources. The Australian Consumers Handbook includes details of over 730 private, community and government organisations that offer complaint handling services in Australia. The handbook is available online and it has a search facility to allow you to quickly and easily locate organisations which handle complaints in your state or territory. It also has information on questions commonly asked by consumers on issues such as scams, warranties, ecommerce, refunds and legal rights.
Go there
Another government consumer site is consumer.gov.au, the official site of the Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs (MCCA). There is information on consumer rights, product recalls, consumer news, consumer protection agencies and more. There are also publications you can download.
Go there
Consumer Protection - Fair Trading
Consumer protection agencies. Click on the name to go to the web site.
The NSW Department of Fair Trading has comprehensive shopping advice on its website Money Stuff! There is general guidance on buying (including on the Internet), plus more detailed information on buying a car, a computer and mobile phone, and quite a bit about credit issues.
Go there
Phones and Telecommunications Services
The Australian Communications Authority, a government organisation, has produced Tool Kits to help you choose the best value mobile, Internet and fixed line products and services to meet your unique needs.
The Tool Kit will:
- help you understand the products and services that meet your unique needs;
- identify important questions to ask companies before signing a contract or purchasing a product;
- assist you to understand your consumer rights and the consumer safeguards in place to protect you;
- direct you to other relevant information within the ACA website; and
- provide links to external websites that contain information relevant to you.
The Tool Kit
will not recommend the best product at the best price or the company that provides the best service, but will provide you with relevant information so you can make an informed and confident choice.
Go there
PhoneChoice is an Australian web site devoted to providing details on a range of information about the telecommunications industry. Find out about:
- Mobile Plans, Phones and Dealers
- International Rates (IDD)
- National Long Distance (STD)
- Local Calls
Go there
Unsolicited Marketing Offers
If you don't want to receive unsolicited marketing offers by mail or by cold telephone calls at home then the Australian Direct Marketing Association (ADMA) can help. Their web site has a Do Not Mail/Call Registration service. After submitting your registration, you should notice a decrease in addressed advertising mail and telephone calls from ADMA members within two to three months. The registration will not prevent flyers from local retailers, telephone calls from market research firms and local businesses or offers from other companies that are not members of ADMA.
Go there
Freecall 1800 646 664
Choice
Choice is a non-profit organisation which has been testing products and services for nearly 50 years. Independent and respected, their website has a wealth of information.
Go there
