Contracts
People enter into contracts every day, often without realising it. Buying a bus ticket, purchasing something from a shop, hiring a tradesperson, or buying a car are all examples of simple contracts.
A contract can be written or verbal, and both types create legal obligations for everyone involved. If those obligations are not met, it can lead to costly or unwanted consequences.
Our contract fact sheet explains the key things you should know before agreeing to a contract and offers practical tips to help protect your rights.
Before entering into any contract, it’s also a good idea to get a clear quote. Our Quotes and Estimates fact sheet provides helpful guidance to make sure you understand the price and terms before you agree to any work or purchase.
If you wish to exercise your right to cancel an unsolicited consumer agreement, print the attached ‘Cancellation Notice’ and forward the completed form to the trader. Don't forget to keep a copy in a safe place.
- Cancellation notice unsolicited consumer agreements PDF (106.5 KB)
- Contracts factsheet PDF (294.3 KB)
- Quotes and Estimates PDF (329.2 KB)
- Unsolicited Consumer Agreements (Door to Door) PDF (379.0 KB)
Training Provider Information
Are you considering taking a course? Are you a training provider who wants to make sure your courses are compliant with the Australian Consumer Law? Consumer Affairs is warning residents of the Northern Territory, particularly those in remote and regional communities, about training providers offering ‘free’ laptops to people who sign up for courses.
There are reports regarding people offering training courses, such as diplomas, with the promise of a free laptop. They may sound like they are associated with Government supported or provided training. Consumers could be unknowingly signing up for a Commonwealth Government ‘Vocational Education and Training (VET) FEE-HELP’ loan for potentially thousands of dollars. This is a debt that has to be repaid once their income reaches a certain level and can affect their credit rating. Some people have been left with these large debts and incomplete training courses due to being sold inappropriate training courses.
Since 2015, VET FEE-HELP training providers have been banned from offering enrolment inducements to students like free laptops. So anyone promising a free laptop is breaking Federal Government rules around the loan-scheme.
Check out how the Australian Consumer Law applies to training providers and marketers PDF (292.5 KB).