Over 100 complaints about door-to-door salespeople have now been lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) since the national Do Not Knock campaign was launched in November. The most recent round of 18 complaints tells a familiar story with households complaining about pressure selling, misleading conduct and salespeople ignoring Do Not Knock stickers. [...]
06
Jun
More door-to-door complaints sent to ACCC, but further protections needed
Another 26 complaints about door-to-door salespeople have been lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) as part of the Consumer Action Law Centre’s Do Not Knock Campaign. The complaints, received from around Australia, were made against a range of businesses including pay TV providers, home improvement companies and newspapers seeking subscriptions—but almost half [...]
18
May
Launch of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander ‘Do Not Knock’ sticker
Minister for Financial Services, the Hon. Bill Shorten MP, has helped Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) and CentaCare Wilcannia-Forbes launch a new front in the Do Not Knock campaign aimed at reducing harmful door-to-door sales practices in Indigenous communities. Minster Shorten launched the project, which includes a new ATSI Do Not Knock sticker, at Financial Counselling [...]
05
Apr
Door-to-door sales: Consumer views 2012
The Consumer Action Law Centre recently commissioned research into consumer attitudes toward door to door selling. Key findings are: 77% dislike door-to-door sales Only 3% have a generally positive opinion of door-to-door selling Consumers feel misled by in-home sales 56% of shoppers feel the greatest pressure to purchase when visited at home Click on here to read [...]
05
Apr
Energy retailers urged to end to door-to-door sales
The Consumer Action Law Centre has challenged Australia’s energy retailers to put an end to door-to-door energy sales. The Centre issued the challenge on the back of new research showing 77 per cent of Australians have negative views of door-to-door sales. The research also documents concerns that this type of marketing places undue pressure on [...]
27
Mar
Consumer Action welcomes clarification of legal position of Do Not Knock sticker
The Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed the proceedings initiated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission against three energy retailers and their marketing companies in relation to door-to-door selling practices. Among other things, the cases will seek clarification on whether a Do Not Knock sticker amounts to a request for salespeople to leave under [...]
22
Mar
MP calls for Do Not Knock register
We read with interest media reports that the Federal Member for Hindmarsh, Steve Georganas, will introduce legislation to create a Do Not Knock register. The proposed register will be similar to the very successful Do Not Call register, which allows people to register not to be contacted by telemarketers. Consumer Action recently commissioned some research [...]
29
Feb
Door-to-door selling named as one of the ACCC’s ‘high level objectives for 2012’
Consumer Action was pleased to hear Mr Rod Sims, Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), list ‘unconscionable’ door-to-door selling as one of the ACCC’s ‘high level objectives for 2012.’ In his speech to the Australian – Israel Chamber of Commerce, Enduring Perspectives and 2012 Objectives, Mr Sims said he had ‘read of [...]
10
Jan
Run your own Do Not Knock community education session
Have you ordered Do Not Knock stickers to hand out at your local club, community organisation, or social circle? You might find our new Community Education portal a useful resource too. Developed by Victoria Legal Aid, this “how-to” guide provides a step by step overview of how you can run your own community education session. [...]
09
Jan
Changes to unsolicited selling laws and the effectiveness of cooling off periods
Did you wake up feeling different on the first day of January this year? Probably not—but some important changes were made to the Australian Consumer Law (the ACL) relating to unsolicited selling that you should be aware of. “Unsolicited” selling occurs when a salesperson—typically door-to-door or via the telephone—seeks to sell you a product or [...]
