Company fined $7500 over unsolicited sales

A Perth company has been fined $7500 for violating laws related to cooling off periods for unsolicited sales contracts.

Ausfront, trading as Modern Solar and Modern Streamline Roller Shutters, pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrates Court last week to nine charges of violating Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

The company made unsolicited agreements with two consumers and failed to provide them with the correct information about how to terminate their contracts during the compulsory 10-day cooling off period.

In September 2012, a sales agent cold-called a Balga pensioner, visited her home and sold her solar panels worth $8800.

High pressure sales tactics were used to convince the woman to sign up, and when she later realised she could not afford the purchase, the agent refused to cancel the contract, Consumer Protection said on Monday.

In April last year, a Gosnells couple made a website request for a free quote on roller shutters and a salesperson attended their home, signing them up to a $6000 contract without notifying them of their cooling off rights.

Consumer Protection acting commissioner Gary Newcombe said contracts could be signed during home visits but there could be no payments, goods delivered or services carried out until the 10 business day cooling off period expired.

"The 'unsolicited consumer agreement' or door-to-door trading provisions of the ACL are designed to protect consumers, particularly those who are being sold products in their home who may be subjected to high pressure sales tactics and are not given the time to think clearly about their purchase, which in these cases involved considerable amounts of money," he said.