Submission to the draft ACDBA Code of Practice.
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the draft ACDBA Code of Practice (the Code). Read the submission in full here (PDF)....
Submission to the Inquiry into the financial hardship arrangements of energy retailers
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the Essential Services Commission's (the Commission) Inquiry into the financial hardship arrangements of ene...
Submission: Proposed Principles of Reciprocity and Data Exchange
The Consumer Action Law Centre, Financial Rights Legal Centre and Financial Counselling Australia have made a joint submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on the likel...
Consumer alert – Complaints about Malouf Group Enterprises
Originally posted September 4, 2014 Consumer Action Law Centre has received a number of complaints about Malouf Group Enterprises – a ‘credit repair’ company that a number of consumers have turned...
Media release: Credit reporting agency accused of breaching new credit reporting rules
Veda Advantage Ltd, a company which stores the credit history of millions of Australians, has been accused of breaching new credit reporting laws by promoting its $79.95 credit report at the expense o...
Submission: Consultation on proposed credit repair guideline
Consumer Action has provided comment on Credit Ombudsman Service's proposed guideline on credit repair. We welcome this proposal, and recommend that the Credit Ombudsman: reword the proposed guidel...
Media Release: Revised debt collection guideline should improve industry conduct
Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed the revised Debt Collection Guideline published by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commi...
Consumer Advocates and Financial Counsellors applaud Federal Parliament’s move to scrap $120 bankruptcy fee
Consumer advocates and financial counsellors have applauded Federal Parliament’s move to stop the Australian Financial Security Authority charging individuals a $120 to declare bankruptcy. The fee, i...
Submission: Consultation on Victorian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules
Consumer Action has made a submission to the Consultation on Victorian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules. We regularly assist debtors who are being pursued by lawyers or law firms acting on behalf of debt col...
Media release: Charging $120 to bankrupt? Sadly it’s no April fool’s joke
Charging struggling Australians a filing fee for bankruptcy is like trying to get blood from a stone. Consumer advocates and financial counselling agencies say the $120 fee, to be charged from 1 April...
Credit reporting late payment listing change to benefit consumers
Consumer Action welcomes the proposal to amend the new credit reporting laws so that the five day grace period for late payments recorded on a consumer’s credit report is extended to 14 days. Under...
Credit reporting – correcting mistakes
Key message You have a right to have inaccurate information on your credit report corrected free of charge Significant changes to the information that can be contained on your credit report oc...
Credit reporting – getting a free copy of your credit report
[box type="note" icon="none"] Key message You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report. [/box] Where is my credit report? Credit reports are created and held by private companies...
Media release: New laws give credit providers access to more of your information
Wednesday 12 March marks the introduction of a new credit reporting system which will collect far more information about Australians’ credit history. The extra information is supposed to help credit p...
Submission: Consumer Credit Regulations
Consumer Action and the Consumer Credit Legal Centre NSW have made a joint submission to Treasury on exposure draft consumer credit regulations affecting payday lenders. In summary, we are supportive...
Submission: Filing fees for debtors’ petitions, overseas travel requests and an increase to the realisations charge
A scan of Consumer Action's casework records (including both our legal advice and financial counselling services) reveals that we have on record at least 1900 calls from low income and vulnerable clie...
Media release: Advocates object to new fee for entering bankruptcy
A coalition of consumer advocates and financial counselling agencies has expressed dismay at a plan to charge Australians filing for bankruptcy. The Australian Financial Security Authority (ASFA) has...
Submission: Debt agreement administrators’ guidelines relating to advertising
Consumer Action's MoneyHelp financial counselling practice helps disadvantaged, low income Victorian consumers who are experiencing severe financial distress consumers Victorians, some of who have use...
Submission: ACCC / ASIC Debt Collection Guideline
Consumer Action has provided comment on the review of the ACCC / ASIC Debt Collection Guideline for Collectors and Creditors. The revised draft Guideline is a significant improvement on the existing...
Will consolidating my debts help?
Key message Get advice about all your options before: taking out a new loan to pay all your existing loans taking out a loan to consolidate your debt For free, independent and confidenti...
Cancelling a direct debit on a statement account
Key Message: You can cancel a direct debit from your bank account (not a credit card); Get advice about the consequences of not paying a debt before you stop payments. What is a direct debi...
Debt collection – your right to stop contact
Key Message: A creditor or debt collector must not contact you about a debt if you tell them in writing not to contact you about the debt. However, the debt collector can make a genuine threat of...
What can I do if I am having difficulty paying my loan or lease payments?
Key points: if you cannot pay your loan or lease because you are in financial difficulty (hardship) you may have the right to have your payments reduced, or changed in some other way. this i...
Fresh start or false hope: Are debt agreement administrators overstating their abilities?
A debt agreement, regulated by the Bankruptcy Act, is an option available to a debtor as a way of dealing with unmanageable debt. Debt agreements typically involve a compromise with creditors on the t...
Joint Submission: Changes to Disclosure Requirements under the National Consumer Protection Act 2009
Consumer Action and the Consumer Credit Legal Centre welcomes Treasury's approach of basing revised disclosure on the findings made by the Uniquest report. Uniquest was commissioned by the Standing Co...
Joint submission: Credit Reporting Privacy Code
Consumer Action has, in conjunction with five other consumer and privacy advocate organisations, made a submission to the review of the Credit Reporting Code of Conduct. An industry code should be se...
Submission: Federal Government’s independent review of Centrepay, Centrelink’s voluntary bill-paying service
The Consumer Action Law Centre welcomes the opportunity to comment on the independent review of the Centrepay system. Consumer Action believes that Centrepay can be a valuable financial management too...
Submission: ASIC Consultation Paper on an online database for small amount lenders
Joint submission with Financial Counselling Australia and the Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA) to ASIC's Consultation Paper on an online database for small amount lenders. The Consumer Action Law Ce...
Amendments to privacy legislation
Amendments to privacy legislation regulating credit reporting passed Federal Parliament late last year. While the reforms won't come into effect until March 2014, lenders can already begin collecting...
Submission: Review of debt agreements under the Bankruptcy Act 1966 – Proposals Paper
Consumer Action has made a submission to the Review of Debt Agreements under the Bankruptcy Act 1966 proposals paper. Our submission: reiterates our recommendation that the Bankruptcy Act should be...
The Age publishes recording of ACM Group attempting to collect debts
A recent Federal Court ruling found debt collection agency ACM Group (and its predecessor Accounts Control Management Services) engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct as well as undue harassment...
Debt collection – keeping a record of debt collector contact
Even if you owe money, the law protects you against unlawful debt collection conduct. See our fact sheets on What can I do if a debt collector calls? for more information. This Debt Collection Contac...
Media release: Federal Court finds ACM Group’s misleading or deceptive conduct was ‘not just widespread, it was systemic’
A Federal Court ruling, which found debt collection agency ACM Group (and its predecessor Accounts Control Management Services) engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct as well as undue harassment...
Debt Collection – seeking compensation in relation to consumer credit and lease contracts
Key Message: When a creditor or debt collector has engaged in undue harassment, or other unlawful behaviours, in relation to a consumer credit contract (loan) or lease you may be able to seek compens...
Joint media release: Consumer groups fear small debts could lead to big problems for Australian consumers
This is a joint media release from Financial Counselling Australia, Australian Privacy Foundation, Australian Communication Consumer Action Network, Consumer Credit Legal Centre NSW and Consumer Actio...
Water debt
[box type="note" icon="none"] Use this information sheet if You are having problems paying your water bill Your water business is demanding that you pay more than you can afford You want to kno...
Electricity and gas debt
Use this information sheet if: you are having trouble paying your electricity or gas bill; or you want information about payment arrangements and your rights. You do have rights under the E...
Home Repossession
[box type="note" icon="none"] Use this Fact Sheet if: You are being pursued for payment of a debt; and You are threatened with court action to take possession of your home or other house or land....
Submission: Proposed regulations for the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protections) Bill
Consumer Action has made a submission to the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department on proposed regulations for the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protections) Bill. This submission discusse...
Joint submission: Regulation of water retailers’ Debt Management Powers Consultation Paper
The Consumer Action Law Centre, Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre, Victorian Council of Social Services, Community Information and Support Victoria, Uniting Care Kildonan, National Seniors Australia,...
Policy report: The pursuit of the impossible, consumer experience with external collection of retail energy debts
A new report from the Consumer Action Law Centre gives an insight into the experiences of a number of Victorian energy consumers who had their energy debts passed onto external debt collectors. The pu...
Media release: New report offers a snapshot of debt collection practices in the Victorian energy sector
A new report from the Consumer Action Law Centre gives an insight into the experiences of a number of Victorian energy consumers who had their energy debts passed onto external debt collectors. The pu...
Submission: Inquiry into the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Bill 2012
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Bill 2012. Our submission concerns the changes relating to cre...
Submission: Response to Commonwealth Government discussion paper on reducing reliance on payday lending
This submission: Expresses significant concerns with the way the payday lending problem is framed in the discussion paper. In particular, we do not agree that high-cost short-term lending is a neces...
Advocating for vulnerable, low income debtors
Low-income debtors often get the worst deal when it comes to dealing with debt—inaccessible or weak hardship assistance, particularly for those in long-term hardship; misleading or severe debt collect...
What if I have been sued for a debt?
Key message Act quickly to get advice if you have been sued for a debt in the Magistrate’s Court of Victoria. The Magistrates Court Process If the amount owed is $100,000 or less, a creditor...
Credit limit offers in the spotlight
We've all seen letters or messages from banks trying to entice us to increase our credit card limits. They come in a range or forms from Congratulations, you’ve been pre-approved, to Increase your cre...
Joint submission: Consumer protections for users of payday loans
The following is a joint submission in response to Treasury's April 2012 discussion paper on proposed reforms to Small Amount Credit Contracts. This submission has been prepared by Consumer Action La...
Do I have to pay an old debt?
Key Messages: There are time limits for taking legal action. This means that your debts may become too old for a creditor to successfully take legal action against you. Get advice before maki...
Debt collection – I’m being hassled by a debt collector, what should I do?
Use this fact sheet if you: are being hassled by a debt collector; or think that a debt collector or a creditor might be acting unfairly or unlawfully What do I do if I am being hassled b...