LOCAL communities are being urged to be wary of door-to-door sellers following a Consumer Protection investigation of travelling portrait photographers.
The photographers had been targeting Indigenous customers in the Kimberley.
Consumer Protection commissioner Anne Driscoll said traders tend to operate in regional communities for several days at a time then move on to other centres.
Ms Driscoll said one consumer signed a contract for several thousand dollars, not understanding the terms and conditions of the contract.
“We urge people never to sign a contract if they don’t understand the terms and conditions or are unsure if they can afford it,” Ms Driscoll said.
In Western Australia consumers are protected from cold callers by the Door to Door Trading Act, which prevents traders from signing customers up without first providing them with information about their rights to a 10-day cooling off period.
Sellers are also prohibited from taking money during this cooling off period.
Consumer Protection can be contacted on 1300 30 40 54 or email consumer@docup.wa.gov.au