Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) is warning residents to choose carefully when looking for a removalist service to help them move homes.
Director of CAV, Nicole Rich said most removalists provided a sound and reliable service, however there were also dodgy operators whose service didn’t meet consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
“It’s important that Victorians are informed and are cautious about entering into any agreements” Ms Rich said.
“Victorians moving house have the right to expect the job to be done properly,” she said. “The Australian Consumer Law provides protections to help ensure that happens.”
Ms Rich said Consumer Affairs Victoria received 656 reports about removalists in 2019 and this increased to 726 in 2020.
She said that under ACL, businesses must provide certain guarantees about the products and services they sell, hire or lease.
“If a business fails to deliver these guarantees, consumers have rights relating to repairs; replacement or refund; cancelling a service; and compensation for damage and loss,” she said.
“When you hire a removalist, you have the same rights under the law as you do with any other service provider.”
Ms Rich said that when businesses failed to do the right thing, Consumer Affairs Victoria and other State and national regulators had a range of enforcement options.
Information about consumer rights when hiring a service provider can be accessed at this PS News link.
