The New South Wales Fair Trading recently released its December 2016 Complaints Register, noting that for the first time in the register’s history there are no real-estate agencies on the list.
Fair Trading publishes its Complaints Register monthly, listing businesses that are the subject of 10 or more complaints to the agency in the previous calendar month.
Since the launch of the register in July 2016, there have been at least two and up to seven real-estate businesses listed each month. However, none appear in the December 2016 data released today.
NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe said this is a positive result for the real-estate industry.
“We hope this is a trend that continues long into 2017, and that it’s not just a seasonal blip,” he said.
Harvey Norman topped the latest register, with Fair Trading receiving 28 complaints about the retailer in December 2016.
This was followed by online fashion store Shakuhachi with 26 complaints, and Samsung Electronics with 19.
With families preparing for school holidays last month, it is perhaps no surprise that a travel company and an airline also appeared on the register.
Other industries represented include residential building, ticket reselling, online homewares, pay TV and removalists. Â
In another positive development, the overall number of consumer complaints received by NSW Fair Trading has dropped by 14 percent since the data collection for the Complaints Register commenced on July 1.
“This shows that the register, along with our continued efforts to educate consumers and traders, is having a real impact. Nevertheless, with post-Christmas sales still running, we encourage consumers to be mindful of their rights and to contact Fair Trading if they need help resolving a dispute with a trader,” Stowe said.
