{"id":"hirepurchase-general-regulations-1975","name":"Hire-Purchase (General) Regulations 1975","slug":"hire-purchase-general-regulations-1975","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":176843,"registerId":"wa-hirepurchase-general-regulations-1975-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Hire-Purchase (General) Regulations 1975","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nHire-Purchase Act 1959\n\nHire-Purchase (General) Regulations 1975\n\nWestern Australia\n\nHire-Purchase (General) Regulations 1975\n\nContents\n\n1. Citation 1\n\n2. Terms used 1\n\n3. Application by owner for consent to take possession (Form 1) 1\n\n4. Application for relief on the grounds of sickness or unemployment (Form 2) 1\n\n5. Explanation of hirer’s rights to statutory rebate 2\n\n6. Infringement notices 4\n\nSchedule 1 — Forms\n\nSchedule 2 — Prescribed offences and modified penalties\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 15\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\nHire‑Purchase Act 1959\n\nHire‑Purchase (General) Regulations 1975\n\n##### 1. Citation\n\nThese regulations may be cited as the *Hire‑Purchase (General) Regulations 1975*.\n\n##### 2. Terms used\n\nIn these regulations —\n\n  Form means a form in Schedule 1;\n\n  section means a section of the Act.\n\n[Regulation 2 inserted: Gazette 22 Sep 2006 p. 4116.]\n\n##### 3. Application by owner for consent to take possession (Form 1)\n\nAn application pursuant to section 12A by an owner for the consent of the Commissioner for the taking of possession of goods the subject of a hire‑purchase agreement shall be in the form of Form 1.\n\n##### 4. Application for relief on the grounds of sickness or unemployment (Form 2)\n\n(1) An application pursuant to section 36A for relief by reason of sickness or unemployment of a hirer against the consequences of a breach of a hire‑purchase agreement shall be in the form of Form 2.\n\n(2) In considering an application referred to in subregulation (1) the commissioner shall have regard to —\n\n(a) the likely duration of the sickness of the hirer;\n\n(b) the likely duration of the period of unemployment of the hirer;\n\n(c) the financial circumstances of the hirer;\n\n(d) the effect that a refusal of relief under section 36A would have on the financial circumstances of the hirer;\n\n(e) where the goods the subject of the hire‑purchase agreement are necessary for the livelihood of the hirer, the effect a breach of the agreement would have on the financial circumstances of the hirer;\n\n(f) the extent of the hirer’s equity in the goods the subject of the hire‑purchase agreement;\n\n(g) the obligations of the hirer in the event of a breach of the hire‑purchase agreement; and\n\n(h) the consequences of a breach of the hire‑purchase agreement for any guarantor of the hire‑purchase agreement.\n\n(3) For the purpose of considering an application referred to in subregulation (1) the commissioner may require the hirer and any guarantor of the hire‑purchase agreement to produce such information as the Commissioner considers necessary.\n\n##### 5. Explanation of hirer’s rights to statutory rebate\n\nThe explanation of a hirer’s right to a rebate of terms charges pursuant to section 11 on payment of the net balance due to the owner to be given to the hirer pursuant to the provisions of the First Schedule of the Act and to be printed in type known as 10 Point Roman capitals as specified therein is as follows: —\n\nUNDER SECTION 11 OF THE ACT, THE HIRER UNDER A HIRE-PURCHASE AGREEMENT IS ENTITLED TO COMPLETE THE PURCHASE OF THE GOODS BY PAYING OR TENDERING TO THE OWNER THE NET BALANCE DUE TO THE OWNER UNDER THE AGREEMENT. WHEN DOING SO THE HIRER WILL BE ENTITLED TO A “STATUTORY REBATE” OF THE TERMS CHARGES, CALCULATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DEFINITION OF THAT TERM IN SECTION 2 OF THE ACT AS FOLLOWS.\n\nTHE AMOUNT OF STATUTORY REBATE SHALL BE CALCULATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING FORMULA —\n\n![]()\n\nWHERE (IN EACH CASE)\n\n“C” = THE AMOUNT OF TERMS CHARGES\n\n“N” = THE NUMBER OF COMPLETE MONTHS OF THE AGREEMENT STILL TO GO\n\n“T” = THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MONTHS IN THE AGREEMENT\n\nINSTALMENTS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF REPAYMENT CONTAIN A LARGER PROPORTION OF THE TERMS CHARGES THAN INSTALMENTS PAID LATER ON TOWARDS THE COMPLETION OF AN AGREEMENT. THIS IS BECAUSE THE GREATER PART OF THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT IS OWING IN THE EARLY STAGES OF AN AGREEMENT. THIS IS DEMONSTRATED IN THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLES WHERE, FOR EXAMPLE, $260 TERMS CHARGES ARE INCLUDED IN AN AGREEMENT TO BE PAID IN 12 MONTHS BUT THE AGREEMENT IS COMPLETELY PAID OFF WITH\n\n(A) 9 MONTHS STILL TO GO — 260 x 9 x 10 = $150 REBATE 12 x 13 (PAY $110\n\nTERMS  \nCHARGES)\n\n(B) 6 MONTHS STILL TO GO — 260 x 6 x 7 = $70 REBATE\n\n12 x 13 (PAY $190\n\nTERMS  \nCHARGES)\n\n(C) 3 MONTHS STILL TO GO — 260 x 3 x 4 = $20 REBATE\n\n12 x 13 (PAY $240\n\nTERMS  \nCHARGES)\n\n##### 6. Infringement notices\n\n(1) The offences specified in Schedule 2 are offences for which an infringement notice may be issued under Part 2 of the *Criminal Procedure Act 2004*.\n\n(2) The modified penalty specified opposite an offence in Schedule 2 is the modified penalty for that offence for the purposes of section 5(3) of the *Criminal Procedure Act 2004*.\n\n(3) The Commissioner may, in writing, appoint persons or classes of persons to be authorised officers or approved officers for the purposes of Part 2 of the *Criminal Procedure Act 2004*.\n\n(4) The Commissioner is to issue to each authorised officer a certificate, badge or identity card identifying the officer as a person authorised to issue infringement notices.\n\n(5) For the purposes of the *Criminal Procedure Act 2004 —*\n\n(a) an infringement notice is to be in the form of Form 3; and\n\n(b) a withdrawal of infringement notice is to be in the form of Form 4.\n\n[Regulation 6 inserted: Gazette 22 Sep 2006 p. 4116.]\n\nSchedule 1 — Forms\n\n[r. 3, 4, 6]\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 22 Sep 2006 p. 4116.]\n\nForm 1\n\n*HIRE‑PURCHASE ACT 1959*\n\n(Section 12A)\n\nAPPLICATION BY OWNER FOR CONSENT OF COMMISSIONER TO TAKE POSSESSION OF GOODS UNDER A HIRE‑PURCHASE AGREEMENT WHEN 75% OF TOTAL AMOUNT PAYABLE HAS BEEN PAID\n\nCommissioner for Consumer Protection,\n\n.............................................................................\n\n.............................................................................\n\nOwner’s name and address ....................................................................................\n\n................................................................................................................................\n\nHirer’s name and address .......................................................................................\n\n................................................................................................................................\n\nGuarantor’s name and address (if applicable) .......................................................\n\n................................................................................................................................\n\nShort description of goods .....................................................................................\n\n................................................................................................................................\n\nTotal Amount payable under agreement $................................................. Amount so far paid $.................................................\n\nInstalment arrangements under agreement\n\n| No. of Instalments | Frequency | Amount of each Instalment | Number of Instalments and date of last Instalment |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n\n\n.................................................................................................................................\n\n.................................................................................................................................\n\nReasons for request\n\n.................................................................................................................................\n\n.................................................................................................................................\n\n......................................... ..................................................................\n\nDate Signature\n\nNOTE: An owner aggrieved by a decision of the Commissioner not to give consent may apply to the State Administrative Tribunal for a review of the decision.\n\n[Form 1 amended: Gazette 30 Dec 2004 p. 6922.]\n\nForm 2\n\n*HIRE‑PURCHASE ACT 1959*\n\n(Section 36A)\n\nAPPLICATION FOR RELIEF AGAINST THE CONSEQUENCES OF BREACH OF A HIRE‑PURCHASE AGREEMENT BY REASON OF SICKNESS OR UNEMPLOYMENT\n\nTo COMMISSIONER FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION,\n\n...............................................................................................\n\nI/We .......................................................................................................................\n\n(full name in block letters)\n\nof ............................................................................................................................\n\n(full postal address)\n\nTelephone No. ............................... *apply for relief .............................................\n\n.................................................................................................................................\n\n.................................................................................................................................\n\nwith respect to moneys due and payable under a hire‑purchase agreement with\n\n.................................................................................................................................\n\n.................................................................................................................................\n\n(full name and address of owner)\n\nbecause of sickness/unemployment the details of which are set out hereunder.\n\nDetails of Hire‑Purchase Agreement (attach copy).\n\nShort description of goods.....................................................................................\n\n...............................................................................................................................\n\nDetails of instalments\n\nLast payment made on the .................................. day of ....................................... 20............. Amount $ .............................\n\nNext payment due on the .................................... day of ....................................... 20............. Amount $ .............................\n\nRemaining payments to be made —\n\n| Number | Amounts | Frequency |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n|  |  |  |\n\n\nName and address of guarantor (if applicable) ...................................................... ................................................................................................................................\n\n* State what relief is sought\n\n* SICKNESS\n\n(i) I ceased work on the ................... day of .................................... 20............\n\n(ii) Give details of sickness and likely duration ................................................ ...................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................\n\n(iii) My employer is ............................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................\n\n(full name and address)\n\n(iv) I registered for sickness benefit with the Department of Social Security at ................................. on the ....................... day of .................... 20.............\n\n(v) Give details of any other application for sickness benefits ......................... ...................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................\n\n(vi) Give details of any benefits being received ................................................. ...................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................\n\n* UNEMPLOYMENT\n\n(i) I am unemployed and have been from the ................................... day of ................................... 20.........\n\n(ii) My employer was ........................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................\n\n(full name and address)\n\n(iii) I registered for unemployment benefits with the Commonwealth Employment Service at ....................... on the ................................. day of ..................................... 20...........\n\n(iv) The details of unemployment benefits being received by me are as follows ......................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................\n\n(* Complete whichever is applicable.)\n\nFinancial position and income of applicant ........................................................... ................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................\n\nFinancial commitments of applicant ...................................................................... ................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................\n\nDetails of family\n\n| Name | Husband,<br>wife, de facto partner or<br>child | Age | Whether financially<br>dependent upon<br>applicant | Weekly<br>income |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n|  |  |  |  |  |\n\n\nIf the default is due to sickness what is the likely duration of the sickness? ...............................................................................\n\nIf the default is due to unemployment what is the likely duration of the unemployment? .....................................................\n\nWhat effect would a refusal of relief have on your financial circumstances? ...............................................................................\n\nAre the goods the subject of the hire‑purchase agreement necessary for your livelihood? ...............................................................\n\nIf the goods the subject of the hire‑purchase agreement are necessary for your livelihood what effect would a breach of the agreement have on your financial circumstances?\n\nWhat is the extent of your equity in the goods the subject of the hire‑purchase agreement? ...............................................................\n\nWhat obligations would arise in the event of a breach of the hire‑purchase agreement? ...............................................................\n\nWhat would be the consequences of a breach of the hire‑purchase agreement for any guarantor of the hire‑purchase agreement? ...................................................\n\n......................................... ..................................................................\n\nDate Signature\n\nNOTE:\n\n1. A copy of this application must be served on the owner and every guarantor.\n\n2. The decision of the Commissioner has effect according to its terms and where relief is granted the hire‑purchase agreement and any contract of guarantee relating to it are varied to the extent necessary.\n\n3. A grant or refusal of relief by the Commissioner shall be by instrument in writing signed by him and served on the hirer, owner and every guarantor.\n\n4. An owner, hirer or guarantor aggrieved by the decision of the Commissioner may apply to the State Administrative Tribunal for a review of the decision.\n\n[Form 2 amended: Gazette 30 Jun 2003 p. 2604; 30 Dec 2004 p. 6922.]\n\nForm 3\n\n- *Hire‑Purchase Act 1959***Infringement notice** Infringement\nnotice no.\n- **Alleged offender** Name: Family name\n- Given names\n- or Company name _____________________________________ ACN\n- Address _________________________________________________ Postcode\n- **Alleged offence** Description of offence ______________________________________\n- *Hire‑Purchase Act 1959* s.\n- Date / /20 Time a.m./p.m.\n- Modified penalty $\n- **Officer issuing notice** Name\n- Signature\n- Office\n- **Date** Date of notice / /20\n- **Notice to alleged offender** It is alleged that you have committed the above offence.If you do not want to be prosecuted in court for the offence, pay the modified penalty within 28 days after the date of this notice.**How to pay****By post:** Send a cheque or money order (payable to ‘Approved Officer — *Hire‑Purchase Act 1959*’) to:Approved Officer — *Hire‑Purchase Act 1959*Department of Consumer and Employment ProtectionLocked Bag 14 Cloisters SquarePerth WA 6850**In person:** Pay the cashier at:Department of Consumer and Employment Protection219 St George’s Terrace, Perth WA**If you do not pay** the modified penalty within 28 days, you may be prosecuted or enforcement action may be taken under the *Fines, Penalties and Infringement Notices Enforcement Act 1994*. Under that Act, some or all of the following action may be taken — your driver’s licence may be suspended, your vehicle licence may be suspended or cancelled, you may be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence or vehicle licence, your vehicle may be immobilised or have its number plates removed, your details may be published on a website, your earnings or bank accounts may be garnished, and your property may be seized and sold.\n- **If you need more time** to pay the modified penalty, you can apply for an extension of time by writing to the Approved Officer at the above postal address.\n- **If you want this matter to be dealt with by prosecution in court**, sign here _______________________________________________\nand post this notice to the Approved Officer at the above postal address within 28 days after the date of this notice.\n\n\n[Form 3 inserted: Gazette 22 Sep 2006 p. 4117; amended: Gazette 20 Aug 2013 p. 3835; SL 2020/163 r. 34.]\n\nForm 4\n\n- *Hire‑Purchase Act 1959***Withdrawal of infringement notice** Withdrawal no.\n- **Alleged offender** Name: Family name\n- Given names\n- or Company name _______________________________________ ACN\n- Address __________________________________________________ Postcode\n- **Infringement notice** Infringement notice no.\n- Date of issue / /20\n- **Alleged offence** Description of offence ______________________________________\n- *Hire‑Purchase Act 1959* s.\n- Date / /20 Time a.m./p.m.\n- **Officer withdrawing notice** Name\n- Signature\n- Office\n- **Date** Date of withdrawal / /20\n- **Withdrawal\nof infringement notice***[*delete\nwhichever\nis not applicable]* The above infringement notice issued against you has been withdrawn.If you have already paid the modified penalty for the alleged offence you are entitled to a refund.* Your refund is enclosed.*or** If you have paid the modified penalty but a refund is not enclosed, to claim your refund sign this notice and post it to:Approved Officer — *Hire‑Purchase Act 1959*Department of Consumer and Employment ProtectionLocked Bag 14 Cloisters SquarePerth WA 6850Signature / /20\n\n\n[Form 4 inserted: Gazette 22 Sep 2006 p. 4117‑18.]\n\nSchedule 2 — Prescribed offences and modified penalties\n\n[r. 6]\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 22 Sep 2006 p. 4118.]\n\n| **Offences under *Hire‑Purchase Act 1959*** | | **Modified penalty** |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| s. 3 | Entering into contract not containing required provisions or not complying with requirements as to form ................................................................ | $1 000 |\n\n\n[Schedule 2 inserted: Gazette 22 Sep 2006 p. 4118.]\n\n![A:\\dline.gif]()\n\nNotes\n\nThis is a compilation of the *Hire-Purchase (General) Regulations 1975* and includes amendments made by other written laws. For provisions that have come into operation, and for information about any reprints, see the compilation table.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Citation** | **Published** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| *Hire‑Purchase (General) Regulations 1975* | 30 Jan 1975 p. 235‑9 | 30 Jan 1975 | |\n| *Equality of Status Subsidiary Legislation Amendment Regulations 2003* Pt. 14 | 30 Jun 2003 p. 2581‑638 | 1 Jul 2003 (see r. 2 and *Gazette* 30 Jun 2003 p. 2579*)* | |\n| **Reprint 1: The *Hire‑Purchase (General) Regulations 1975* as at 5 Dec 2003** (includes amendments listed above) | | | |\n| *Hire-Purchase (General) Amendment Regulations 2004* | 30 Dec 2004 p. 6922 | 1 Jan 2005 (see r. 2 and *Gazette* 31 Dec 2004 p. 7130) | |\n| *Hire-Purchase (General) Amendment Regulations 2006* | 22 Sep 2006 p. 4115‑18 | 22 Sep 2006 (see r. 2(a)) | |\n| **Reprint 2: The *Hire‑Purchase (General) Regulations 1975* as at 23 Jan 2009** (includes amendments listed above) | | | |\n| *Hire-Purchase (General) Amendment Regulations 2013* | 20 Aug 2013 p. 3835 | r. 1 and 2: 20 Aug 2013 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 21 Aug 2013 (see r. 2(b) and *Gazette* 20 Aug 2013 p. 3815) | |\n| *Commerce Regulations Amendment (Infringement Notices) Regulations 2020* Pt. 17 | SL 2020/163 25 Sep 2020 | 29 Sep 2020 (see r. 2(b) and SL 2020/159 cl. 2(a)) | |\n\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\nForm 2\n\nsection 2\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed — the actual text of the regulations is unavailable. No comparison between original intent and current provisions is possible based on the supplied content, which consists solely of a website error message."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative content is available — the source URL returns a broken page error","Cannot assess complexity of provisions, cross-references, definitions, or obligations","Title alone provides minimal information about scope or structure","Historical legislation from 1975 may involve additional complexity through amendment history, but this cannot be evaluated"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations would have set out administrative and procedural rules supporting Western Australia’s Hire‑Purchase regime, affecting businesses offering goods on instalments and consumers buying by hire‑purchase. They matter historically for rights and obligations under that older purchasing model but may now be largely overtaken by federal consumer credit law; the text isn’t available, so no specific provisions or current legal effect can be confirmed."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations remain tightly focused on their original purpose: providing administrative machinery (forms, procedures, rebate explanations) for the Hire-Purchase Act 1959. The 2006 amendments added infringement notice provisions, but this was a procedural enhancement rather than a scope expansion. The regulations have not grown beyond supporting the parent Act's consumer protection framework."},"complexity_factors":["Only 2 defined terms in the interpretation section (Form, section)","Straightforward procedural structure with 6 main regulations","Heavy reliance on prescribed forms rather than complex legal rules","Single mathematical formula for rebate calculation with worked examples","Minimal cross-referencing (only references to the parent Act and Criminal Procedure Act 2004)","No nested exceptions or conditional logic beyond basic application requirements"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set out the administrative rules for Western Australia's hire-purchase laws. They prescribe the forms that must be used when:\n\n- **Owners want to repossess goods** (Form 1): If someone has paid 75% or more of their hire-purchase agreement, the owner must get permission from the Commissioner for Consumer Protection before taking back the goods.\n\n- **Hirers seek relief due to hardship** (Form 2): If a hirer (the person paying off the goods) falls sick or becomes unemployed, they can apply to the Commissioner for protection against losing the goods. The Commissioner must consider factors like how long the hardship will last, the hirer's financial situation, and whether the goods are needed for their livelihood.\n\n- **Infringement notices are issued** (Forms 3 and 4): These forms are used for on-the-spot fines for certain offences under the Hire-Purchase Act.\n\nThe regulations also explain how to calculate the **\"statutory rebate\"** — a discount on interest charges (called \"terms charges\") that hirers get if they pay off their agreement early. The formula ensures that people who pay early don't pay the full interest amount, since they haven't had the benefit of the full loan period.\n\n**Who it affects**: Anyone buying goods on hire-purchase in Western Australia (cars, appliances, etc.), the finance companies that provide these agreements, and the government officials who administer the scheme.\n\n**Why it matters**: These rules protect consumers from unfair repossession when they hit hard times, ensure they get a fair deal if they pay off debts early, and provide a streamlined enforcement system for minor breaches of the law."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The regulations began as procedural rules and prescribed forms but have been expanded by later amendments to include an infringement‑notice enforcement regime, appointment/identification of authorised officers, and a prescribed modified penalty. They also formalised detailed criteria and information powers for the Commissioner when considering relief for sickness or unemployment, thereby increasing administrative and enforcement mechanisms beyond simple form‑filling."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to primary Act (Hire‑Purchase Act 1959) and other statutes (Criminal Procedure Act 2004) — requires readers to consult multiple instruments (regs rr.2, 6).","Administrative discretion vested in the Commissioner to grant relief and require information (r.4(2)–(3)) increases case-by-case decisioning.","Prescribed procedural requirements and formats (specific forms in Schedule 1; statutory rebate text and typeface requirement in r.5) create compliance burdens for owners and hirers.","Numeric rebate formula and examples require arithmetic application by traders or staff to compute entitlements (r.5).","Infringement‑notice enforcement pathway with authorised officer appointments, identity documents and modified penalties (r.6(3)–(5) and Schedule 2) adds an enforcement architecture outside court prosecution.","Rights of review (State Administrative Tribunal) and service requirements for decisions and applications add procedural layers for dispute resolution (Forms 1 & 2 notes)."],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set the paperwork and administrative rules that apply to hire‑purchase agreements in Western Australia. Owners must use prescribed forms to ask the Commissioner to take possession; hirers use a form to seek relief for sickness or unemployment and may be required to produce financial information; the Commissioner decides these applications. The regulations also prescribe the exact wording and formula for a statutory rebate, create an infringement‑notice regime (Forms 3–4) and set a $1,000 modified penalty for specified contract form breaches."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/hire-purchase-general-regulations-1975","history":"/api/acts/hire-purchase-general-regulations-1975/history","analysis":"/api/acts/hire-purchase-general-regulations-1975/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/hire-purchase-general-regulations-1975/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/hire-purchase-general-regulations-1975/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/hire-purchase-general-regulations-1975/documents"}}