Issue Date:  -  Monday, 11 May 1998

Coast Sound Distributors

A firm selling speakers from "the back of a truck" was prosecuted today by Fair Trading for six breaches of the Door to Door Trading Act.

Techtime Pty Ltd, trading as Coast Sound Distributors, was fined a total of $900 in the Perth Court of Petty Sessions, and ordered to pay costs totalling $395.

The firm pleaded guilty to charges of failing to advise customers about the cooling-off period, accepting money from clients within the same period, and failing to provide statutory documents required under the Act.

Acting Commissioner for Fair Trading, Mark Bodycoat, said it was a warning to consumers of the firm's continued unfair trading practices.

Mr Bodycoat said the Door to Door Trading Act applied because Coast Sound had made unsolicited approaches to people in their cars at traffic lights and in car parks to buy sound equipment.

"The company also breached the Act by taking money up front," Mr Bodycoat said.

"The Door to Door Trading Act provides for a cooling-off period so the consumer has had a chance to properly consider the purchase."

No money should change hands until this period has expired.

Fair Trading is aware clients of Coast Sound have also been unsuccessful in pursuing refunds through the Small Claims Tribunal.

"Apparently the company has disappeared from its place of business in Balcatta," Mr Bodycoat said.

"Some consumers paid up to $850 for a pair of speakers, on the spot."

"For that amount of money, consumers are foolhardy not to follow Fair Trading's advice to shop around and compare the quality with similar goods on offer," he said.

Mr Bodycoat said consumers also needed to be more alert when dealing with itinerant traders.

"People need to realise they're taking a big risk if the trader has no shopfront from which to resolve disputes and repair or replace faulty goods."

"I can't stress enough the importance of people becoming aware of their rights and shopping around before making a purchasing decision," Mr Bodycoat said.

Media contact:
Neil Stanbury
Tel: (08) 9282 0613