Opinion: Afterpay – Buy now, pain later?
Opinion – Gerard Brody, CEO Consumer Action Law Centre The boom of ‘buy now pay later’ at popular retailers has been touted as a win for business and consumers alike. But at a time when Australians...
Rent-to-buy: How many second chances do they deserve?
How should we describe a Government that wants to end the practice of 884% equivalent interest rates being charged to Australians who don’t have a spare $345 to buy a clothes dryer? It is a Government...
Watch Your Nuts
It’s never been easier to get into debt. And it's not just those on low incomes struggling to make ends meet - increasingly working people with good incomes are turning to high cost lenders for short...
Consumer Action comment on Royal Commission into the financial services sector
Consumer Action Law Centre says the Royal Commission into the financial services sector will empower people who have been ripped off by the banks, insurers and other financial institutions. ‘This R...
Consumer Action response to the release of the Essential Services Commission Victorian Energy Market Report 2016-17
Too many people are doing it tough as energy retailers fail to give their customers a fair price and a fair go at staying connected to essential services. The Essential Services Commission (ESC) toda...
A call to the Prime Minister and Australian Parliament
Consumer Action supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart We support First Nations peoples' Uluru Statement from the Heart. We call on the Australian Parliament to make this a national priori...
Penalised for poverty – consumer groups say Morrison announcement will make the poor pay more
Turnbull Government proposals to mandate ‘comprehensive credit reporting’ (CCR) will have negative consequences unless changes are made, according to Consumer Action Law Centre and Financial Rights Le...
Consumer Action takes consumer lease provider Rent4Keeps to court
In the same week that the Federal Government has released draft legislation to reform payday loans and consumer leases, Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) has announced proceedings in the Fe...
Turnbull’s energy policy won’t stop energy retailers from price gouging, but a Basic Service Offer will
Gerard Brody, CEO - Consumer Action Law Centre This week it was reported that energy bills for an average Victorian household have skyrocketed to a shocking $3,655 a year. The ACCC confirms tha...
Essential Services Commission releases new Payment Difficulty Framework
The new Payment Difficulty Framework will challenge energy retailers in Victoria to improve how they deal with customers in financial difficulty, and has the potential to reduce disconnections when it...
Fix my car! Our one-year wait for proper dispute resolution for cars
One year ago today, the Access to Justice review was released by the Victorian Government. The review proposed a sensible fix for the thousands of Victorians who buy lemon cars each year. To mark...
Response to Retirement Housing Inquiry fails to provide access to justice
After six months of waiting, the Victorian Government has responded to the Inquiry into the Retirement Housing Sector, conducted by the Victorian Legislative Council. The Victorian Government’s re...
Consumer Action Law Centre responds to meeting of Australian Ministers of Consumer Affairs
Consumer Action Law Centre responds to today's meeting of Australian Ministers of Consumer Affairs: On Debt Vultures Consumer Affairs Ministers acknowledged that addressing the conduct o...
Another day, another multi-million dollar junk insurance pay back
Consumer Action Law Centre says today’s announcement from ASIC that CommBank will refund $10 million to people who were mis-sold consumer credit insurance (CCI), after QBE agreed to pay back $16 milli...
Proposal to re-regulate energy prices confirms Victorians have been gouged for too long
Victorian energy retailers would be required to provide a new 'basic service offer' at a price that will be regulated by the Essential Services Commission, if a proposal by the independent review led...
Federal Court judgment against property spruiker shows ‘rent-to-buy’ is a sham
Consumer Action Law Centre says today’s Federal Court ruling that property spruiker Rick Otton misled and deceived hopeful property entrepreneurs shows that so-called ‘rent-to-buy’ schemes are a compl...
Best opportunity for fair insurance in years
Industry, Government and advocates have one of the best opportunities in years to make insurance fair, according to Consumer Action Law Centre. A Senate committee has recommended a major shake up t...
Prime Minister, you’ve talked to the energy retailers, now talk to those that pay the bill
Gerard Brody, Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull summoned the chief executives of the nation’s largest power companies to Canberra today, insisting they provide reli...
Car yard insurance sham exposed – how Australians can get money back
The game is up for car yards and insurance companies who’ve been ripping Australians off, according to Consumer Action Law Centre. Following the corporate watchdog ASIC's announcement today that in...
Junk insurance days are numbered: Consumer Advocates
Following multi-billion dollar scandals in the UK and exposure of similar problems in Australia, the sale of Consumer Credit Insurance (CCI) products in Australia is finally being tackled by industry...
Consumer Action responds: Consumer Ministers set to consider retirement villages
Consumer Affairs Ministers are set to discuss the state of retirement village regulation across Australia at the end of August. Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Gerard Brody welcomed the news, saying th...
How the National Debt Helpline is stopping bullies and giving hope
Elizabeth Minter As a journalist, I've had my share of vicarious experience of the shadowy side of life: sign up for a courts round covering criminal cases and you soon realise how lucky you ar...
Consumer Action supports removal of Limited Merits Review
In response to the Federal Government’s announcement of several reforms in the energy market on 20 June 2017: Announcement that the Federal Government will remove Limited Merits Review (LMR) by leg...
Fairer Centrelink debt collection practices recommended
Fairer debt collection practices recommended by a Senate Committee Inquiry into the “Better Management of the Social Welfare System Initiative” recognise that Centrelink should be required to comply w...
Junk warranties: Your time is up
Consumer Action Law Centre says a class action to be launched against Australia’s biggest extended car warranty company shows rubbish warranties have had their day. International law firm Quinn Ema...
Consumer Action responds to Finkel
In response to the release of the Independent Review of the Future Security of the National Energy Market (the Finkel Blueprint), Consumer Action Law Centre makes the following comments: Recommenda...
Refunds for Motor Finance Wizard customers
Consumer Action Law Centre has applauded the corporate regulator for securing an enforceable undertaking (EU) against second-hand car financier Motor Finance Wizard (MFW). The EU will see the problem...
Fair justice for Victorians going to VCAT a step closer
The Victorian and Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) should be easier and fairer for Victorians following the announcement of new funding and changes to modernise the tribunal. “Victoria is a...
Budget 2017: Increased financial penalties for breach of the Australian Consumer Law
As part of the budget, the Federal Government has proposed increasing penalties for breach of the Australian Consumer Law. “Increasing maximum penalties will help to ensure that fines for breaking...
Budget 2017: New bank levy shouldn’t be passed on to consumers
The Federal Budget proposes to raise $6.2m over four years through a new levy on banks. “This new levy should not be pushed onto bank customers,” said Gerard Brody, CEO of Consumer Action Law Centr...
Budget 2017: New Australian Financial Complaints Authority
The new 'one-stop shop' financial complaints authority announced in the Federal Budget will help Australians get free, fair and fast dispute resolution against financial institutions. "Australians...
Consumer Action Budget Responses 2017
Tweets about #Budget2017 from:consumer_action OR from:gerardbrody...
Big Brother Welfare Threat to 2.3m Australians in Budget
The Federal government appears likely to extend an income support model known as the Cashless Debit Card to new areas and new recipients despite very high administrative costs, and little valid eviden...
Response to the Victorian Budget 2017
Regarding family violence measures in the Victorian Budget Attributable to Jillian Williams, Co-Director of Legal Practice: The financial impact of family violence is profound and often hidden. Th...
Inquiry into consumer protection in the banking, insurance and financial sector
Hearing, 26 April 2017, Sydney Opening statement Susan Quinn, Senior Policy Office, Consumer Action Law Centre With Katherine Temple, Senior Policy Officer, Consumer Action Law Centre Good after...
Gerard Brody responds to the Sedgwick Review
In response to the release of the Australian Bankers’ Association Retail Banking Remuneration Review (the Sedgwick Review), Gerard Brody, CEO of Consumer Action Law Centre said: “This report represen...
Response: Australian Consumer Law Review Final Response
Today the Australian Consumer Law Review Final Report was released, and consumer advocates say there are some great wins for Australians. Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Gerard Brody said that some im...
“They don’t take no for an answer” – Davinia’s story with “rent-to-buy”
You can stop other families being ripped off. The Government has committed to stopping rent-to-buy and consumer lease rip offs. They need to hear your voice - let them know they’re doing the right th...
We need a ban on energy bill fines that really works: Gerard Brody
UNDERSTANDING how power prices work isn’t an easy task. The Prime Minister recently tasked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to look into power prices, but there’s one problem for Vic...
Progress on banking code, but missed opportunities too: consumer advocates
The Australian Banker's Association (ABA) response to the Independent Review of the Code of Banking Practice (Khoury Review) is a positive start, but consumer advocates say there are some missed oppor...
120 day delay inflicting greater payday pain
Consumer groups call for the Federal Government to take immediate action to protect payday loan and lease borrowers. The Consumers Federation of Australia, CHOICE, Consumer Action Law Centre, Financi...
Radio Rentals sued over irresponsible ‘Rent Try Buy’ contracts
A Victorian single mother of four children has sued Radio Rentals in the Federal Circuit Court alleging that six 'Rent Try Buy' contracts were irresponsible and unjust. The woman, a victim of famil...
Mortgage broker mayhem
CHOICE and the Consumer Action and Financial Rights Legal Centre are calling on the federal government to act on conflicted remuneration in the mortgage market following an ASIC report that found wide...
Residents respond – Retirement Living Inquiry
Victorian retirees have responded to a Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry report....
“Car yards should be ashamed”: tips on avoiding car yard shonks
Consumer Action Law Centre is warning Australians about the behaviour of car yard shonks following an ASIC action refunding $400,000 to a group of NSW car buyers who were forced to purchase warran...
Consumer groups urge banks to implement recommendations of banking code report
Consumer Groups today welcomed the release of the Independent Khoury Review of the Australian Banking Association’s Code of Banking Practice as an important step in the right direction of improving th...
ACCC rejects weak effort by insurers to fix junk insurance
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has today rejected a cynical move by the insurance industry to keep selling junk insurance products. The industry has placed blame on the size...
Public statement – Veda and Consumer Action Law Centre
Veda and the Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) have agreed upon a conciliated resolution to the representative complaint lodged by Consumer Action with the Office of the Australian Informat...
Australians need a one-stop-shop ombudsman to deal with banking & finance complaints
Getting problems with your bank, insurance or finance company solved fairly and quickly is too hard and Australia needs a one-stop-shop ombudsman for financial service problems, say leading consumer a...