Fair Trading has issued advice for consumers buying products and services through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
According to Fair Trading, the process can be confusing for people who haven’t done it before, but it was important they know their rights in case something goes wrong.
In a statement, Fair Trading said that under Australian Consumer Law, if someone bought something and there was a problem with it, they had the right to take it back and ask the business to fix the problem.
“The same applies if you pay for a service and it is not provided to an appropriate standard,” Fair Trading said.
“Asking the right questions will help you decide what kind of product or service you should buy or hire. If you want to hire a motorised wheelchair or a scooter, think about the differences in quality and features.”
It urged consumers to compare offers so they chose what was right for them.
“Take your time and don’t feel rushed. Ask the business questions until you understand what you are buying or hiring,” it said.
“For example, if you are purchasing home care services, exactly what services are included? Are there any cancellation fees?”
It said that sometimes a business or a salesperson might exaggerate the benefits of a product or service, or say it does something it doesn’t do.
“If you have doubts about a claim, ask the salesperson for evidence to back up their claims,” Fair Trading said. “You can also seek advice from someone else.
‘Remember, you have the right to say ‘no’ to a salesperson,” it said.
“Ask around, talk to other customers if you can, talk to your friends or support networks, search online and look at independent product reviews.”
Fair Trading also urged consumers to be careful with their personal information such as bank, tax file number and pension or Centrelink details, and recommended any paperwork dealing with sales be kept in a safe place.
