Tag Archive for ACCC

ACCC warns parents to be aware of choking hazards for babies and toddlers

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today released a free do-it-yourself ‘Choke Check’ safety tool to help parents detect choking hazards for babies and toddlers. “Children up to 36 months old are especially vulnerable to choking and ingestion hazards from a range of common objects found in and outside the home,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia…

ACCC planning to reratify ATM sub-network fee free agreement

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has proposed to reauthorise an agreement between members of the FeeSmart ATM sub-network to not charge each other’s cardholders a fee for transactions at ATMs owned by members. “The proposed arrangements assist in addressing the competitive disadvantage that FeeSmart members might otherwise face in providing ATM services to cardholders…

Button Battery Safety Week

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is continuing to work with industry to reduce the risk of serious injuries and deaths of children swallowing coin-sized lithium button batteries. The effort comes as the ACCC joins consumer product regulators in Europe, Asia, North and South America and New Zealand in an international effort to alert the…

Nearly $90mill lost to scams in 2013

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Targeting Scams Report 2013 reveals that over 90,000 Australians reported scams to the ACCC last year, with $89,136,975 million reported lost, this figure was down on the $93 million that was lost in 2012. With the start of National Fraud Week the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce, led by the…

ACCC says be aware of winter product safety

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is encouraging consumers to check the Recalls Australia website or download the Recalls Australia app so they can warm up safely this winter. “Of particular concern is the low return rate of recalled electric blankets. Over 400,000 unsafe electric blankets recalled since 2010, many due to the risk of…

ACCC warns of quad bike risks

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is urging safe quad bike use ahead of the Easter long weekend. Sadly, there have been five quad bike related deaths this year, with 60 deaths reported between 2011 and 2013. “Riding a quad bike can be a very dangerous activity. All riders, no matter how experienced, need to…

Graincorp seeks to Scale down Newcastle Port regulation

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a draft decision proposing to consent to GrainCorp’s application to vary its Port Terminal Services Access Undertaking at its Newcastle bulk grain facility “The variation would provide GrainCorp with greater flexibility to compete against the two bulk wheat export operations at the Port of Newcastle” ACCC Chairman…

ACCC doesn’t object to proposed post price rise

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has decided to not object to Australia Post’s proposal to increase the prices of ordinary letter services, including the basic postage rate from 60 cents to 70 cents. “The ACCC found that there is increasing financial pressure on Australia Post’s letter services as a result of fewer letters being…

Fake Delivery Scam

With Christmas only days away the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is warning consumers to watch out for fake delivery scams arriving in your inbox or post box. “Australians send and receive millions of parcels at Christmas time. If you are expecting a parcel to give as a gift to family or friends, or expect…