HAVE YOUR SAY ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS

Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Victor Dominello has today released a discussion paper for the design of a Consumer Complaints Register. The  Register will hold publically available information on the traders most complained about to NSW Fair Trading.

“Consumers should have the right to know which traders have high numbers of complaints against them so they can take this into account when purchasing goods and services,” Mr Dominello said.

“Publishing the register will encourage poorly performing traders to improve their customer service and complaint handling procedures. Similarly it will show which of their competitors don’t appear on the list.”

Industry and consumer feedback is sought on key issues in the discussion paper including whether a minimum threshold number of complaints should be met before a trader name is published and what time period the Register should cover.

NSW Fair Trading has been consulting with industry stakeholders on the design of the Register and a survey will be available shortly for the public.

Legislation to support the public release of the complaint information is currently before the NSW Parliament. The Register will be launched in early 2016.

NSW Fair Trading receives around 45,000 complaints per year, and similar policies have been implemented in other countries, including New Zealand.

“Data is a vital asset and the proposed complaints register is reflective of 21st century government,” Mr Dominello said.

Feedback will close on Friday 30 October.