Uncollected goods refers to things left at a store for repair or treatment, such as:
- clothes for dry-cleaning
- shoes for repair
- jewellery for cleaning
- a car for panel-beating.
The store should record your contact details and tell you when your items will be ready to collect.
They must also display a clear notice stating that goods may be sold after one month from the date they were ready for collection.
If you do not collect your items when ready, the store must contact you and tell you that your items may be sold after one month. If the store does not know who left the items, they must keep them for six months.
Selling uncollected goods
If goods remain uncollected, the store can sell them. They must:
- publish a notice of intention to sell the goods in a Melbourne newspaper with a state-wide circulation
- sell the goods at a public auction (including eBay).
The store is entitled to keep a portion of money from the sale to cover reasonable expenses such as the cost of storing, selling or repairing the goods. They must then return the balance to you.
If they cannot find you, they must keep this balance in a separate bank account for 12 months. They must then lodge it with the State Revenue Office Victoria’s Registrar of Unclaimed Moneys.
Changes affecting uncollected goods from mid-2012
In mid-2012, new uncollected goods laws will come into operation. Under the new laws, requirements for uncollected goods will vary, depending on their type and value.
We will provide more information to businesses, stakeholders and consumers closer to the commencement date.
Last updated: 19/01/2012