Complaints to Queensland’s consumer watchdog hit record high
Queensland’s consumer watchdog has recouped $13 million on a record number of customer complaints over unfair treatment relating to their purchases, the state government said.
Queensland Attorney-General, Yvette D'Ath talks to the media after a swearing-in ceremony following a cabinet reshuffle, at Government House in Brisbane, Thursday, May 18, 2023. (AAP Image/Darren England)
Issues with personal and household goods, the most commonly purchased items, topped the complaint list with Brisbane registering the highest number of disputes with the state’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
“Personal and household goods continues to be the state’s most complained about category, with thousands of complaints received about everyday items such as white goods, appliance, computers, clothing and footwear,’’ the state government said in a statement.
A pensioner couple who battled a trader for three years to be reimbursed for nearly $12,000 in Covid cancelled flights were among the Queenslanders to get their money back after the OFT investigated.
Office of Fair Trading finalised 20,985 consumer complaints across the state in 2023 – an increase of 1675 for the previous year, the government said in a statement.
The watchdog steps into resolve disputes after consumers are unable to reach an outcome with a vendor and believe they have been treated unfairly.
The other four most complained about categories in 2023 were for car sales, personal and household services, fuel-related complaints, car services and repairs.
Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Arth said last year the government helped a record number of consumers get refunds, replacements and other compensation, with OFT finalising nearly 21,000 complaints.
One consumer was refunded $26,000 for a dodgy car which broken down hours after the sale and had to be towed.
“The Office of Fair Trading was also able to get $11,827 back for two Queensland pensioners whose flights had been cancelled due to the pandemic in 2020.
“The consumers had been going back and forth with the trader for over three years before making a complaint to the Office of Fair Trading which was able to get a full refund for the couple,’’ Ms D’Arth said.
In another OFT case, a consumer had complained about a furniture removalist who had damaged and lost some of their belongings on a trip from the Sunshine Coast to Sydney,
The consumer unsuccessfully tried to resolve the issue with the removalist over several months before lodging a complaint with OFT.
The company agreed to pay $13,000 to cover the cost of repairs to a damaged grandfather clock and helped recover some of the missing items, including an expensive bed head.
