The administrator of a lemon caravan online support group has lashed out at a Queensland government authority for not sufficiently enforcing laws that help protect buyers of poorly-built products.
Tracy Leigh, who runs controversial Facebook group Lemon Caravans & RVs in Aus, claims a lack of resolutions to consumer complaints regarding 'lemon' recreational vehicles is resulting in some buyers being tens of thousands out of pocket and emotionally distressed.
She claims that few, if any, complaints have been resolved to the consumer's satisfaction, and that the Queensland Office of Fair Trading (QOFT) has failed to take into consideration the reported breaches not only of the consumer guarantees, but of remedies available to the consumer including 'repair, refund or replace'.
Leigh also claims the Queensland fair trade body has admitted it cannot enforce a failure of traders to provide a ‘repair, refund or replacement’ and that consumers are on their own to take civil action, at potentially significant financial cost. She's calling on the Queensland Attorney General to instigate a Queensland Government inquiry into the operation and effectiveness of QOFT in enforcing consumer laws, particularly with regard to enforcement of consumer rights for buyers of high value items such as a new car or RV.
"Consumer guarantees and remedies for breaches are a major component of the Australian Consumer Law to protect consumers," she said.
"Enforcement agencies are tasked with protecting consumers, reducing consumer detriment, seeking consumer redress and stopping unlawful behaviour. They are supposed to be improving confidence in the market place.”
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