NSW Minister for Fair Trading Stuart Ayres is urging businesses across NSW to abide by the Australian Consumer Law over the Easter break, particularly in relation to public holiday surcharges, which should be clearly displayed to avoid consumer confusion.
Mr Ayres said consumers dissatisfied with any product or service should first try and resolve matters with the business and if that fails, seek advice from Fair Trading on 13 32 20.
“Exercise your rights under the Australian Consumer Law, always check the fine print in any contract, whether it’s for car hire, holiday accommodation, flights or other goods and services,” he said.
Top tips for the Easter break are:
- Be a smart consumer – ask questions before you hand over your hard earned money and shop around and compare prices
- Be respectful – keeping your cool and being polite is likely to get the best results
- Be safe – check holiday accommodation for risks with open windows and balconies – keep furniture and other climbing objects at a safe distance and lock windows and doors when not in use and with blind and curtain cords – keep children away from cords and tie them up out of reach. Contact the agent for the accommodation if you have concerns.
- Ask holiday accommodation providers to lift deposits from credit card accounts when you pay the bill
· Read the fine print and you’ll be free from bill shock
· Ask about holiday surcharges and look for them on menus – restaurants, cafes and bistros that charge a surcharge on certain days do not need to provide a separate menu or price list or have a separate price column with the surcharge factored in. However, the menu must include the words “a surcharge of (percentage) applies on (the specified day or days)” and these words must be displayed at least as prominently as the most prominent price on the menu. If the menu does not have prices listed, these words must be displayed in a way that is conspicuous and visible to a reader. These measures apply to pricing for food and beverages.
· Ask about credit card surcharges – businesses can choose whether or not to pass on the cost of accepting credit card payments to their customers. However, if they decide to impose a credit card fee, they must ensure customers are aware before they enter into the transaction or contract that a fee will apply and the amount of the fee.
· Stay scam smart – scammers abound all year round – so don’t let your guard down. Beware of unsolicited emails, texts or phone calls offering you an Easter special deal – don’t click on links or attachments because viruses and other malware are a risk. Report scams to Fair Trading at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au or at www.scamwatch.gov.au