> Consumer advice  > Consumer protection

South Australia's fair trading laws protect you when purchasing, hiring or leasing goods and services. These laws also regulate trading practices and set standards for traders to promote equity, honesty and fairness in the marketplace.

Laws
Consumer laws regulate:

• trading practices such as door-to-door sales, pre-paid funerals and health and fitness contracts

• the safety of products sold

• the purchase of goods by weight or measure

• credit

• the licensing of trades and occupations such as builders, real estate agents, conveyancers, plumbers, gas-fitters, electricians, travel agents, second-hand vehicle dealers, trade instrument repairers, and security and investigation agents

• the rental of residential property.

Rights
You have a consumer right to:

• honest and accurate information to help you decide which goods or services to purchase

• a fair and reasonable contract when you purchase goods and services

• goods and services that are:
  of merchantable quality
  free from faults or defects
  fit for the purpose,
  and match the description or sample given.

• redress if you have a problem with something you have bought. Possible remedies include a refund, repair, replacement or resupply of services

• claim compensation where you suffer a loss caused by a product or service.

Online
Consumers have the same rights and expectations when they do business online as in a bricks and mortar store. And they should take similar steps for their own protection. Consider the precautions we take when we go shopping at the supermarket or shopping mall. We never leave our purse or wallet unattended, we conceal our PIN when at checkouts, we don't carry large amounts of cash and we don't allow our credit card out of our sight.

eBay, one of Australia's largest online marketplace, has produced a new publication titled the 'Australian e-Commerce Safety Guide 2005' that provides sound advice to ensure your online shopping experience is as pleasurable and safe as that from a bricks and mortar store.

'Empowering individuals to make sensible decisions and an open and transparent community are the foundations of any crime-fighting strategy' says Alastair MacGibbon, eBay Australia and New Zealand Trust & Safety Director.

Following the sensible precautions presented by eBay in this new publication for shopping online, such as learning as much as possible about the product and seller, understanding the retailer's refund policies, choosing a secure password and using a secure checkout and payment process will reduce the risk of becoming a victim of online crime. The Commissioner for Consumer Affairs supports their advice.

The eBay booklet is available free. Download the Australian e-Commerce Safety Guide for 2005.

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