Consumer Protection is warning WA householders about door to door art sellers after three salespeople were intercepted last week by Pinjarra police.
Police officers stopped a van on June 9 after local residents reported being approached by the art sellers who were going door to door selling paintings for $170 or more.
Two Israeli men and a French woman, who are currently living in Warnbro, were questioned and more than 100 paintings were confiscated.
Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said the sellers may still be operating in Perth’s southern suburbs or in the South-West.
“These traders are breaking the law by not observing a ten day cooling off period for unsolicited sales as required by the Australian Consumer Law,” Mr Hillyard said.
“Under these door to door trading laws, items over the value of $100 cannot be sold during the cooling off period if the trader is simply selling door to door.
The salesperson can leave the item at the consumer’s home but cannot accept payment for ten business days.
“If consumers ask them to leave, they must comply immediately and cannot make contact for at least 30 days.
“It’s also been known for these art sellers to make false claims about the quality and value of the paintings which breaches laws relating to misleading representations.”
Traders are banned from door knocking on Sundays and public holidays and sales are restricted to between 9am and 6pm weekdays and 9am to 5pm Saturdays, unless they have made a prior appointment.
Consumers may consider displaying a sticker which reads: “DO NOT KNOCK - Unsolicited door-to-door selling not welcome here” and sellers must legally comply.
The stickers are available from Consumer Protection.
More information is available on the Consumer Protection website: www.commerce.wa.gov.au/doortodoor.
Consumers who are approached by these art sellers should contact Consumer Protection by email: consumer@commerce.wa.gov.au or by calling 1300 30 40 54.
