Business owners and consumers are being asked for their feedback on proposed amendments to the Consumer Protections Act.

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Senator Kim Wilson said the changes were to protect service providers and consumers.

"It is important that local business operators carefully review the proposed amendments and send any concerns they may have to the Department of Consumer Affairs by November 30," she said.

New provisions to the 1999 Act include:

• Clearer definitions of 'estimate' and 'quote' to avoid businesses using both interchangeably;

• Rules against providers doing extra work to raise the price of a bill and then placing a lien on an item until the bill is paid;

• Providers of goods and services losing the power to require a consumer to pay 100 percent of the price as a deposit for goods and services they have not received.

As a further measure, providers of goods and services will be in contravention of the Act if they fail to make full disclosure with respect to goods or services which prevents the consumer from making an informed decision.

A full copy of the planned amendments is available at the Department of Consumer Affairs, where submissions should also be sent, to the attention of Karen Marshall, before the end of this month.