Tickets for premium events sell like hotcakes – literally in minutes for some of the wonderful sport and music events that get hosted in WA and around Australia! If you miss out, don’t be fooled by scammers and scalpers when you see offers for tickets on social media, online classifieds and resale sites. Two things to know: it’s always safest to buy tickets through authorised ticket agents, and some event tickets have “restricted resale”, making it illegal for anyone to sell them at inflated price (more than a 10% mark-up). If in doubt, go to official ticket sites, which also have resale pages for individuals to legitimately sell their tickets when they can no longer attend events. Ways to avoid scams: if you’re looking at an offer online, check where the supposed seller is located – if they’re not in Australia, they’re unlikely to be real or have genuine tickets for sale. Another warning flag – if they ask for payment by bank transfer or gift cards, you could be at risk of being scammed. Third tip – if possible, buy with a credit card, and if you think you’ve bought a ticket that may be fake, first ask for a refund; and second your bank may be able to give you a chargeback on your credit card. Listen to our podcast for more information on all these topics.
1 Jun 2023
Ask Us | Funeral pricing laws and tips for covering funeral costs in advance
Many people want to plan ahead for the cost of their funeral, to reduce this burden on their family at a time of much sadness. We talk to Nina Weir from Consumer Protection about some new rules for funeral companies, and options for planning the cost of a funeral. Companies must now be very clear upfront about the total costs of a funeral, so there are no post-funeral price shocks. Price details of each component must be easily available on their website or brochures, and companies can be fined if that information is misrepresented or isn’t publicly available. For those looking to pay for a funeral before it’s needed, the best, safest and simplest option is to save up for it – put your money in a savings or term deposit account, and make sure your loved ones have access to the account details. Prepaid funerals and funeral insurance both have risks. And a reminder, if you were a member of the collapsed Youpla Group/Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund, you can apply to the program set up by the Government until the end of November, for the funeral benefits of members. Listen to our podcast for the pros and cons to help you choose what to do, and more details on all of these issues.
24 May 2023
Ask Us | Consumer protection for travellers
Now that people are travelling more freely again, we look at consumer law and how it protects you when you’re buying travel products – whether it’s flights, cruises, tours, or accommodation etc. There’s even more small print than ever, post-pandemic, and it’s important to read it so you know what your travel contract gives you and doesn’t give you. Like any product, the travel service that you buy must be as it’s described in the brochure, advertising, or ticket. This was highlighted recently when the itinerary of a booked cruise was changed at the last minute. Whilst this may be permitted due to weather for example, in this case it was for proposed boat maintenance and clearly unacceptable for the travel purchased. Fortunately for those passengers, Consumer Protection was able to intervene and the cruise went ahead as originally planned. Again, like all consumer protection, remedies may include refunds or alternative bookings, and always best to talk to the travel provider first to try and resolve issues – whether that’s a travel agent or direct to the airline/hotel etc. Paying by credit card also gives you some protection, but you can always contact Consumer Protection if you want advice or need their help. Listen to our podcast with Nina Weir from Consumer Protection for their travel advice.
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