Aged and retirement services
Aged care in Australia covers a few different services such as retirement villages, community care and home care. Consumers have rights under consumer law for home care services.
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.
Energy
We guide consumers on how they can find the best electricity deal. The information is mainly for New South Wales, south-east Queensland and South Australia. We provide sources for other areas to compare electricity costs.
If you’re struggling to pay your energy bill, contact your electricity company and let them know. Your local Energy Ombudsman can help resolve problems with your energy company.
Solar power is environmentally friendly and can help reduce your electricity costs. Choose a purchasing arrangement that best meets your needs, as some may end up costing you more than others.
When deciding whether to install solar power you should read widely about the available systems and speak to your electricity supplier and a number of solar power providers to find out if the investment is the right one for you.
Telecommunications and internet
There are many different mobile plans on offer, so choosing a plan that suits your needs can be difficult. We provide information on how to understand different plans, and how to pick one that is right for you.
Prevent unexpected bills by knowing how to reduce costs when using your mobile phone service.
Consumers have rights under the Australian Consumer Law when they buy a product or service, including a mobile phone service.
Unauthorised transfer occurs when a consumer is switched from one service provider to another without agreeing to it.
Travel and transport
Consumers should always do their research before buying or hiring a car. Knowing what is needed when buying or renting a car, and asking some key questions, can help consumers avoid problems.
Under Australian law, products and services that consumers buy come with automatic guarantees that they will work and do what they’re supposed to do. Consumer guarantees apply to caravans and other recreational vehicles.
The basic consumer rights known as consumer guarantees apply to travel, including the guarantee that services are provided within a reasonable time.
There are many suppliers of foreign currency services, not just banks. To get the best price we recommend you compare different suppliers and be prepared to switch between them.
In Australia, petrol, diesel and automotive LPG prices are deregulated – that is, they are not controlled by the government. The market determines Australian fuel prices.
Other products and activities
Businesses selling funeral products and services must not mislead consumers, offer contracts with unfair terms, or take advantage of a consumer’s vulnerability.
Choosing the right private health insurance policy can be confusing. We have information to help you understand the important issues.
Real estate agents must give consumers truthful information and must not mislead consumers to encourage higher offers.
ACCC action on buying products and services
The ACCC has accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from apparel business Hard Rock Enterprises Pty Ltd in which it admitted to engaging in resale price maintenance and making false or misleading representations about consumers’ rights to return faulty or incorrect products.
The ACCC has instituted legal proceedings in the Federal Court against global retailer of coins and memorabilia The Bradford Exchange Ltd (Bradford) for allegedly making false or misleading representations in its advertising of collectable coins and ingots in breach of the Australian Consumer Law.
The ACCC has conducted a sweep of more than two thousand Australian retail websites and has found some businesses using terms and conditions that may contravene the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).