The Commissioner for Consumer Protection has advised consumers to beware of businesses and websites offering to carry out internet searches who may simply be providing information from Government Agencies available for free or at a much lower cost.
Commissioner, Gary Newcombe said many searches were related to vehicle checks and might include registration status and expiry reminders — services that were offered at no cost by the Department of Transport via its DoTDirect online services.
“One site charges for a fuel price map when this information is available to WA motorists at no charge on the FuelWatch website,” Mr Newcombe said.
“The Personal Property Securities Register, formerly known as REVS Checks, provides information on a used car such as whether there is any money owing on it, if it has been written off or stolen.”
He said there was a charge of $2 to $7 for these searches depending on the amount of information required, but there were many third-party sites that charged much more for the same results.
“Another area where online companies offer to search for a fee is finding lost or unclaimed superannuation,” Mr Newcombe said.
“This search can be carried out for free on the Australian Taxation Office website or via a MyGov account,” he said.
“It can be confusing when carrying out an internet search and the high fee-charging sites are mixed in with the low-cost or free sites, usually operated by a Government Agency.”
He said offering free services for a fee was not illegal, as the paying customer might get an extra service, such as a car history report.
“However, we want consumers to be informed before signing up to these services, which can also involve recurring monthly charges,” Mr Newcombe said.
