Issue Date:  -  Thursday, 14 February 2002

Warning about Property Sharks in WA

Following alarming reports in the press concerning controversial two-tiered marketing practises in Queensland, the WA Consumer Protection Commissioner Patrick Walker has issued a strong warning to those who may be thinking of targeting Western Australia.

"Two-tired marketing is the practise of having two prices for the same property, one price for locals of the area and another much higher price for everyone else. A typical scenario would be that a non-local buyer would offer what they thought to be a fair price on a property, only to find that the same property was for sale for many thousands of dollars less to buyers who lived in the area of the property.

This type of marketing interstate has seen thousands of people out of pocket to the tune of about $60,000 each and we are anxious to ensure that this does not happen here", Patrick Walker said.

Consumers who know of any two-tiered activities, seminars or who may have received travel offers such as airfares to potential "good deals" interstate, are urged to contact Consumer Protection on telephone 1300 30 40 54. People living in rural Western Australia should also carefully investigate property offers for property located in the metropolitan area being promoted in their local towns