Name and shame: One year of the complaints register
Published: 29 Aug 2017
Since it was created just over a year ago, the NSW Fair Trading Complaints Register has recorded nearly 5,000 complaints from consumers in NSW.
The Register provides a month-by-month breakdown of all businesses that are the subject of 10 or more complaints received by Fair Trading in a calendar month. The Register appears to be having the desired effect of pressuring businesses accused of poor trade practices to improve their compliance with the Australian Consumer Law, with more than 30% of the businesses that have appeared in the Register only making one appearance. However, continued appearances indicate legal trouble for big players, with each complaint being a potential legal claim against them.
And companies of all sizes are showing up on the register, including major tech companies and retailers.
As consumers become more informed about the law, issues surrounding compliance with the Australian Consumer Law will continue to rise. Now, with the greater visibility of consumer law issues, it is more important than ever for businesses to ensure that their contracts, policies and trade practices are in-line with the legal requirements.