Consumer Protection is urging people who have issues after purchasing new caravans and camper trailers to get in touch.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Gary Newcombe said the Agency had received at least 296 complaints about the purchase of new caravans and camper trailers over the past five years.
“National figures are significantly higher, with upwards of 1,300 complaints received by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over the same period,” Mr Newcombe said.
“Common complaints involve retailers selling new caravans that do not meet consumer guarantees, as well as faults leading to disputes between manufacturers and retailers about which party is responsible for the cost of repairs,” he said.
Mr Newcombe said the ACCC was inviting consumers and industry members to take part in a 15-minute survey about the issues they had had with their caravans and their experience in trying to get their concerns fixed.
“The feedback will help inform the ACCC’s future work, including possible enforcement action,” he said.
“The purchaser survey focuses on the sales process and whether consumers had any subsequent faults with their caravans and, if so, whether they were able to have these resolved under the manufacturer’s warranty or the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) consumer guarantees.”
The Commissioner said the importance of customers receiving accurate information about their consumer rights was highlighted in the Federal Court earlier this year when caravan manufacturer, Jayco was fined $75,000 for misleading one customer about their entitlement to a remedy.
“As a result of the ACCC-instigated proceedings, the court found a consumer had been misled when they were told they could only have their caravan repaired, when in fact they were entitled to a refund or replacement under the ACL,” Mr Newcombe said.
The purchaser and retailer surveys, open until Friday (10 December), are available on the ACCC website at this PS News link.
