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Fair trading and consumer rights

Access Canberra is responsible for enforcing the Australian Consumer Law (ACT).

Access Canberra:

  • assists and protects the community by administering consumer laws
  • registers businesses and monitors compliance
  • helps businesses to comply with their obligations
  • informs businesses and consumers to ensure they can confidently trade or make purchases.

Get help with a consumer issue

We can help resolve consumer rights issues. To find out more about getting help visit our Get help with a consumer issue page.

Inspections and enforcement

Access Canberra Inspectors visit businesses:

  • randomly and without notice
  • as part of targeted programs
  • to investigate a complaint.

Inspectors can issue notices and impose penalties or recommend prosecution. Inspector’s powers include:

  • entering a business premises at any time during work hours without a warrant
  • conducting interviews and making inquiries
  • taking photographs, recordings, measurements and samples
  • gathering information, examining and copying documents
  • issuing notices for enforcing compliance with obligations.

Access Canberra’s enforcement powers include:

  • advising businesses in writing of upcoming audits and how to prepare for them.
  • advising businesses in writing how to address any minor breaches found during audits
  • issuing infringement notices if there are reasonable grounds to believe the person has committed an offence
  • recommendations to the Director of Public Prosecutions that prosecution action be taken
  • applications to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) to take occupational disciplinary action against licensees or registered persons
  • with the Attorney-General’s consent, taking civil action on behalf of consumers if it is deemed to be in the public interest.

Access Canberra can also make public warnings and enforceable undertakings. These are published on the Access Canberra website.

Public warnings identify business that have engaged in unacceptable trading and business practices.

View all Fair trading legislation public warnings.

Enforceable undertakings are voluntary agreements between a business and Fair Trading. The agreement confirms they have stopped any unlawful behaviours and will take steps to make sure it doesn't happen again.

View all Fair trading legislation enforceable undertakings.

Product safety

Product safety regulation is a shared responsibility between the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the states and territories.

Sometimes products are sold without meeting required safety standards, or a manufacturing fault renders the product unsafe.

The ACCC issues product recalls to make sure the community stops using the unsafe product.

All product recalls are listed on the Product Safety Australia website.

Product Safety Australia also issues safety warnings around certain products. This helps the community make informed purchasing decisions and to be mindful of hazards.

View all product safety articles on the Product Safety Australia website.

Scams

Scams are schemes that promise unrealistic opportunities to make money or to buy products or services at prices at heavily discounted prices.

The ACCC monitors emerging scams, provides information to help you avoid scams, and investigates reported scams.

Report a scam or view the different types of scams on the Scamwatch website.

Scammers also take advantage of people by making promises that can’t be kept or don’t come true. Scammers use social media, dating websites and apps, or your phone to steal your personal information.

You can report online scams to the Australian Cyber Security Centre.

Consumer rights

When you pay for goods or services you have rights under Australian Consumer Law (ACT).

If you are providing goods and services for payment, you in turn have obligations to your customers.

Common purchases or transactions are listed below, and there is a comprehensive suite of information for consumers on the ACCC website.

Vehicles

Your consumer rights depend on who you buy your vehicle from.

Read about buying vehicles on the ACCC website.

Real estate

In the ACT, there are key pieces of legislation that apply to real estate sales:

Read Reality Check: A real estate guide for buyers and sellers in the ACT (PDF 2.71MB)

Read about real estate on the ACCC website.

Tickets

Check the seller you buy concert or sporting event tickets from is legitimate. Make sure you know the terms and conditions for changes and cancellations.

Read about tickets on the ACCC website.

Gift cards

A gift card is a card pre-loaded with an amount of money. Make sure you check the terms and conditions of the card, as well as the expiry date.

Read about gift cards on the ACCC website.

Builders

Before you sign a contract, check your builder’s qualifications, licence and insurance.

Access Canberra enforces ACT building legislation and occupational licences.

Read about choosing a tradesperson.

Internet and phones

Before signing a phone plan or internet service contract, check the terms and conditions.

Read about phone and internet services on the ACCC website.

Fuel prices

Access Canberra manages complaints made when prices at fuel stations don’t match the prices in FuelCheck.

FuelCheck is an online tool that provides consumers with real-time information about fuel prices at service stations across the ACT and NSW.

You can:

  • find the cheap fuel being sold in the ACT and NSW
  • search for fuel by type (for example standard unleaded, premium unleaded, diesel) or brand
  • get advice on the cheapest day of the week to fill up
  • get notified when prices are dropping at your favourite stations.

You can check prices at FuelCheck on nsw.gov.au or download the FuelCheck app at the App Store or on Google Play.

Business and service stations can register with FuelCheck to show their locations and prices.

Read more about the ACCC's role is to prevent anti-competitive conduct, such as price fixing or collusion, to protect consumers.

Business compliance

It’s important when you start a business that you understand what your obligations and responsibilities are.

There is a comprehensive suite of information for businesses on the ACCC website.

You can also learn more about your legal obligations on the ACT Business website.

Uncollected goods

Under the Uncollected Goods Act 1996 there are rules for what can happen to lost, abandoned or uncollected goods.

A guide to uncollected goods in the ACT (PDF 157KB) provides practical guidance for what must happen to goods if they are uncollected, lost or abandoned.