What the ACCC does

  • We educate consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities
  • We accept reports where people consider a business is doing something it shouldn’t do. We use those reports to inform our education, compliance and enforcement work
  • We can investigate and may take some form of compliance or enforcement action if a business breaks the consumer law.

What the ACCC can't do

  • We don’t give legal advice on rights and responsibilities.
  • We don't resolve individual disputes between businesses and consumers.

Rights and responsibilities for all sales

Consumer rights and guarantees

Under consumer law, businesses must meet a set of basic consumer rights known as consumer guarantees when they sell products or services. A business can be a consumer too, and these rights apply to businesses in certain situations.

Unfair business practices

The Australian Consumer Law protects consumers from certain unfair behaviour by businesses that sell products and services.

Contracts

When someone buys products or services, they enter into a contract with the seller. There are laws protecting consumers and small businesses from unfair terms in standard form contracts.

Payment methods

There are rules business must follow on the use of credit cards, interest-free offers, buy now pay later services and lay-by agreements.

Product safety responsibilities

Businesses must protect consumers by selling safe products, complying with standards, and taking action if a safety issue occurs.

Receipts, bills, proof of purchase

Businesses must provide receipts. If a consumer requests a repair, replacement or refund, the business can ask for a receipt or proof of purchase.

Warranties

Businesses must honour any extra promises they make about product quality or how they will fix problems with their products or services.

Rules for specific types of sales

Selling online

Standard rights and responsibilities still apply when buying and selling online. But, there are things consumers and businesses need to know.

Selling parallel imports

When a product is brought into Australia without the manufacturer’s permission (a parallel import), the normal consumer rights apply.

Selling tickets to events

Ticket selling businesses must ensure they follow their obligations under consumer law. This includes ticket resellers.

Telemarketing and door-to-door sales

Salespeople must follow rules when approaching a person without the consumer having invited the contact. This includes over the phone, and door-to-door sales.

Specific products and services

Cars: sale or rental

Under Australian law, products and services that consumers buy come with guarantees that they will work and do what they’re supposed to do. This applies to new cars.

Travel delays and cancellations

The basic consumer rights known as consumer guarantees apply to travel services, including the guarantee that services are provided within a reasonable time.

Foreign currency and money exchange

There are many suppliers of foreign currency services, not just banks. To get the best price we recommend consumers compare different suppliers and be prepared to switch between them.

Funeral services

Businesses selling funeral products and services must not mislead consumers, offer contracts with unfair terms, or take advantage of a consumer’s vulnerability.

Home care services

Aged care in Australia covers a few different services such as retirement villages, community care and home care. Businesses have responsibilities under consumer law for home care services.

New caravans

Caravan manufacturers and suppliers have responsibilities under consumer law.

Real estate

Real estate agents must give consumers truthful information and must not mislead consumers to encourage higher offers.

Retirement villages

Before signing a retirement village contract, consumers should get independent legal advice and understand the purchase and payment model, costs, and the facilities and services.

Solar panels and systems

A solar provider must not mislead or deceive consumers. The must not harass or coerce consumers to buy solar panels or sign up to an agreement, or take unfair advantage of any vulnerability or disability.

Subscribe to the Small business information network

Do you run a small business or advise small businesses? Keep up with all the latest news and events by joining the ACCC’s Small Business Information Network (SBIN).

Sign up to the Small business information network
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Small business education program

Online education program designed to help small businesses learn more about their rights and obligations under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

ACCC action on selling products and services

See media releases about selling products and services