Business.gov.au have published tips for business owners on how to resolve disputes with their suppliers.
Business.gov.au emphasise the importance of business owners having good working relationships with their suppliers and knowing what to do if issues arises. Their tips specifically focus on how to resolve a dispute, what to do if the dispute can’t be resolved, taking legal action and preventing disputes.
Their tips for resolving a dispute revolve around a “common sense approach”, which includes: checking facts (specifically if business owners have a written contract), making contact with the supplier ASAP, listening to the supplier’s point of view and keeping records of the attempted resolution.These tips also emphasise that any issue could be a simple misunderstanding.
Their tip for what to do if a dispute can’t be resolved is to contact relevant agencies, depending on the dispute’s nature. The contact list that they have provided include the ACCC and the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman.
Business.gov.au also recommends different ways of taking legal action, such as getting independent legal advice or taking a complaint to the relevant small claims court or tribunal.
Their tips for preventing disputes include negotiating a good written contract and conducting background checks on suppliers before signing with them.
Business.gov.au’s tips can be read in full and more information can be found here.