OCBA - Office of Consumer and Business Affairs

Better protection for used car buyers
Parliament has approved changes to the Second Hand Vehicle Dealers Act 1995 that are expected to come into effect in the first half of 2010. A cooling off period will be introduced so that people can arrange a mechanical inspection and/or weigh up their final decision. Read more about the changes here.

Real estate industry reforms
The Statutes Amendment (Real Estate Industry Reform) Act 2007 commenced on 28 July 2008. The Act is designed to increase the transparency and accountability of agents and generally to increase the level of consumer protection. If you are buying or selling a property you should be clear about the process and consider all relevant information. Click here to read all about it.

Compulsory conciliation
OCBA oversees a dispute resolution process that in most cases results in disputes being resolved satisfactorily. In cases where the trader has demonstrated no interest in solving the dispute, the Commissioner for Consumer Affairs now has the power to call the trader and the consumer to a compulsory conciliation conference.

Beware fake rental listings
If you are looking for a place to rent, don't hand over any money until you are sure that the agreement is genuine. There are fake rentals being offered over the internet and you could lose your money.

Payday lending
Payday lenders target people who need short-term loans in a hurry. But borrowers can end up with serious long-term financial problems. Learn about how to avoid the trap.

Licensing public register
Check if a person or company is licensed in South Australia. Find a licensed person in your local area. Search now.

Assurances register
We keep a list of traders who have agreed to refrain from specified conduct. These traders have given formal guarantees as a result of complaints made against them. Check out the register.

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Disclaimer
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Privacy
The South Australian Office of Consumer and Business Affairs (OCBA) is committed to protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal information, consistent with the South Australian Government's Information Privacy Principles. If you would like to view the full privacy statement please visit: http://www.ocba.sa.gov.au/privacy.html

Webmaster
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Accessibility
Information on accessibility for the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs website can be viewed at: http://www.ocba.sa.gov.au/accessibility.html