Business operations and costs

Problem with a product or service

In many instances, when you buy products or services for your business from a supplier, you have the same protections as consumers. Here are some areas of consumer guidance that may be relevant to operating your business.

Problem with a product or service you bought

Consumer rights to a repair, replacement or refund, contract cancellation, claiming compensation for damages and loss, warranties.

Warranties

Warranties are extra promises that a business makes about the quality of a product or how it will fix any problems with a product or service.

Contracts

When someone buys products or services, they enter into a contract with the seller.

Not receiving products or services that are paid for

If businesses can’t supply the product or service that a consumer has paid for, then the business must provide a solution.

Business scams

There may be criminals who try to scam you or your customers by impersonating your business or well-known brands.

Scams

A scam is when someone deceives you to steal your money or personal information. There are things you can do to defend against scams.

Scammers are defrauding consumers and businesses with scam websites that impersonate well-known brands. If you’re a business, there are steps you can take to defend your brand against scams online.

Operating costs

There are certain products and services that businesses consider or buy in the course of running their business. Here are some products that may be relevant to operating your business.

Electricity prices and plans

We guide consumers on how they can find the best electricity deal. The information is mainly for New South Wales, south-east Queensland and South Australia. We provide sources for other areas to compare electricity costs.

Problems with your energy company

If you’re struggling to pay your energy bill, contact your electricity company and let them know. Your local Energy Ombudsman can help resolve problems with your energy company.

Petrol price cycles in the 5 largest cities

Petrol prices move up and down in regular patterns in Australia’s 5 largest cities. These petrol price cycles are the result of pricing policies of petrol retailers.

Telecommunications and internet

We promote competition, remedy market failure, allow access to essential infrastructure, and work to protect consumers in this sector.

Chasing or paying debt

Debt collection rules

A debt collector should only contact a debtor for a reasonable purpose and only when necessary. Certain behaviour is illegal.

Debt help

Laws are in place to protect you from being treated unfairly by debt collectors. Businesses that recover debts need to be aware of their legal obligations.

Resources for small business

Learn more through our online toolkit

Our small business toolkit is designed to help small businesses learn more about their rights and obligations under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

Complete our online toolkit for small business

Subscribe to the Small Business Information Network

Keep up to date on news and topics relevant to running a small business.

Sign up to the Small Business Information Network

Read our guide for small business

Small business and the Competition and Consumer Act

This publication is designed to help small businesses understand their key rights and responsibilities under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and the Australian Consumer Law.

Next steps for business to report an issue

Businesses can report issues to the ��ԭ��. This includes false or misleading claims by other businesses and anti-competitive behaviour. We use these reports to inform our education and compliance work.

Report an issue to the ��ԭ��