In his initial blog as Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Gary Newcombe has chosen consumer rights in the planning of a wedding.
“With more than 9,500 weddings taking place in Western Australia last year, there are times when things don’t go exactly to plan,” Mr Newcombe said.
“Businesses closing down, not being able to contact traders and items not matching the description or samples are just some of the issues Consumer Protection receives complaints about when it comes to weddings.”
He said the Agency also heard about disputes concerning bonds, deposits and payments, as well as suppliers taking money for things they could not provide.
“Consumers should be aware that goods provided should be of acceptable quality and services should be delivered with due care and skill,” Mr Newcombe said.
“This means that a wedding dress should match the description given, suppliers should supply on time and the venue should be fit for purpose.”
He said that before payments and bookings were made it was important to research the business selected by checking online and asking friends or family for reviews.
“When it comes to making payments, you should avoid paying the full amount upfront unless you’re receiving the goods or services at the same time,” Mr Newcombe said.
“Instead, pay only a reasonable deposit — we recommend no more than 10 per cent!”
He said to avoid paying by electronic fund transfer and instead consider paying by credit card or selecting ‘credit’ on your debit card.
“It may give you an option to dispute the transaction if you don’t get what you paid for.”
He said if things don’t go to plan, consumer rights could be a handy wedding assistant.
