Your consumer rights explained

If you are purchasing, leasing or hiring assistive technology (AT), or arranging for the repair or maintenance of your AT, it is important you are aware of your rights as a consumer. 

Australian Consumer Law gives you rights if something is wrong with equipment or supporting services, even when equipment passes its manufacturer’s or supplier’s warranty period.

Consumer resources

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has a range of resources to assist NDIS participants in understanding their consumer rights. 

This includes a consumer guide to help participants understand and exercise their consumer rights, and an industry guide for providers regarding their obligations when supplying goods and/or services to consumers with disability. 

You can visit the ACCC website (external website) to learn more about consumer rights and obligations.

Information published by the ACCC relevant to participants and providers includes:

• 'Your rights when you buy something'
• ‘Information for consumers with disability'
• 'Guide for businesses selling to and supplying consumers with disability'
• ‘Consumer rights & guarantees'
• ‘Warranties'
• ‘Repair, replace, refund'

Information about consumer rights and obligations is also available from local consumer protection agencies located in each state and territory. 

Contact details for these agencies are available in ACCC’s publication, ‘Your consumer rights: a guide for consumers with disability'