On the Wire: edition 33
Consumer action has published the October edition of On the Wire, a quarterly publication featuring updates on national energy market reforms and regulatory processes. Edition 33 can be found here....
Submission: Economic Regulation of Network Service Providers—Draft Determination
Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to provide comments on the Draft Determination of the Australian Energy Market Commission in relation to the Economic Regulation of Network Service Providers R...
Motor Finance Wizard – general information
Use this fact sheet if you: have a contract with Motor Finance Wizard and want more information. More information can be found in our related factsheets: Action Sheet: Motor Finance Wiza...
Motor Finance Wizard: how to make a free complaint to the Credit and Investments Ombudsman
Use this fact sheet if you: want to make a free complaint about Motor Finance Wizard to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) This factsheet should be read along with our relate...
Motor Finance Wizard – Walker v DTGV1 Pty Ltd
Key Message: DTGV1 Pty Ltd, trading as V1 Leasing, is one of a number of companies which trade under the name of ‘Motor Finance Wizard’; in Walker v DTGV1 Pty Ltd, Motor Finance Wizard w...
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...
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,...
Media release: Committee’s rejection of a Do Not Knock register can’t be the end of the debate
The Consumer Action Law Centre, the organisation behind the national ‘Do Not Knock campaign’, says a Federal Parliamentary committee's rejection of a private members bill designed to establish a do no...
Submission: review of limited merits review discussion paper three
This submission responds to the Third Consultation Paper of the Expert Panel reviewing the Limited Merits Review regime for energy regulatory decisions. Read our submission: submission to Limited mer...
Media release: Bulk complaint made against Motor Finance Wizard to the Credit Ombudsman Service
The Consumer Action Law Centre has assisted consumers to lodge a bulk complaint against DTGV1 Pty Ltd (which trades as Motor Finance Wizard in Victoria). Gerard Brody, Director of Policy and Campaign...
Submission: Parliamentary inquiry into Do Not Knock Register Bill
Consumer Action's submission to this inquiry argues that door-to-door sales causes widespread consumer detriment, hinders market competition, and that greater consumer protections are desperately need...
Consumer Affairs Victoria issues warning about maths tutoring software
Consumer Affairs Victoria says parents of school children should be wary about aggressive selling methods of maths tutorial software. Some of these programs cost nearly $8000 and are marketed by sale...
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...
July 2012
Home help has strings attached The Age, 25 July 2012, John Kavanagh Unpaid power bills going up The Age, 17 July 2012, Rachel Wells Avoid the stress zone on your home loan Sydney Morning Hera...
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...
Media release: Australians fed up with door-to-door sales urged to sign new petition
The Consumer Action Law Centre, tired of hearing stories of salespeople taking advantage of the vulnerable Australians, has launched a petition calling on Australia’s energy retailers to voluntarily e...
Private Colleges
Common themes emerging in consumer complaints about some private colleges and training institutions has prompted the Consumer Action to publish a guide about common problems, how to avoid them and wh...
Motor Finance Wizard
Consumer Action campaigns against unfair practices by car traders. We've received numerous consumer complaints about the practices of Motor Finance Wizard, including: Sales targeting towards low-inc...
June 2012
Thrifty moves for plastic users The Age, 27 June2012, Clancy Yeates Warning as banks try hard-sell approach to credit card customers Herald Sun, 19 June 2012, Karina Barrymore Millions of Aust...
Working for a fairer energy market
Energy market reform Our work brings the consumer voice to the national energy market. Our advocacy draws on real consumer concerns —expressed through our casework services (legal and financial counse...
Media release: More door-to-door complaints sent to ACCC, but further protections needed
Another 26 complaints about door-to-door salespeople have been lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) as part of the Consumer Action Law Centre’s Do Not Knock Campaign....
Submission: Review of the Limited Merits Review Consultation Paper Two
Consumer Action’s response to the Review of Limited Merits Review Regime's Consultation Paper 2, Additional Statement of Issues and Questions. To read our submission please click here: Submission to...
Media release: Linked credit case could cast doubt on more NAB student loans
The Consumer Action Law Centre has lodged a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) against the National Australia Bank (NAB) and is seeking to have its client’s NAB student loan terminat...
Submission: Australian Energy Market Commission, Market Review, Power of Choice (Stage 3 DSP Review)
This review is about 'enabling consumers to make informed choices about the way they use electricity can help achieve efficient investment'. Consumer Action agrees that there are opportunities to impr...
Media release: Consumer action calls on Energy Market Commission to ease energy bills by proceeding with rule-change
In a submission lodged today, the Consumer Action Law Centre called for the Australian Energy Market Commission to proceed with an energy rule change that would put downward pressure on household ener...
Submission: review of limited merits review consultation paper one
This submission responds to the Initial Discussion Paper of the Expert Panel reviewing the Limited Merits Review regime for energy regulatory decisions. Read our submission click: Initial submission...
Media release: Retirement village contracts confusing for consumers, says consumer group
The Consumer Action Law Centre says a case in which it is assisting an elderly retirement village resident with her dispute before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) demonstrates t...
Energy retailers urged to end door-to-door sales
Consumer Action has challenged Australia's energy retailers to put an end to door-to-door energy sales. The Centre issued the challenge on the back of new research showing 77 per cent of Australians h...
Media release: Consumer and welfare groups make eleventh hour bid to protect vulnerable Victorians
A group comprising consumer advocates and welfare agencies has made an eleventh hour plea to members of the Victorian Upper House, urging them to amend a bill which would allow metropolitan water busi...
Federal Government’s Energy White Paper consultation
Consumer Action made a substantial submission to the Federal Government’s Energy White Paper consultation. The Draft White Paper is largely directed to industry development and investment, but is sile...
Policy Position on Water Pricing for Sustainable Household Consumption
Consumer Action has released a policy position paper on water pricing. While recognising the difficulties of rising water prices, the paper argues that over-reliance on water pricing as a demand manag...
Media release: Consumers the losers as competition tribunal sides with power companies – yet again
Victorian households are staring down the barrel of yet another electricity price hike after the Australian Competition Tribunal (ACT) overturned significant aspects of the ruling of the energy indust...
Contracting competition in the energy retail market results in lacklustre performance
A new report showing three leading energy retailers control almost 75 percent of market share is bad news for Victorian households which are missing out on the financial benefits and service improveme...
Media release: Contracting competition in the energy retail market results in lacklustre performance
A new report showing three leading energy retailers control almost 75 per cent of market share is bad news for Victorian households which are missing out on the financial benefits and service improvem...
Media release: Energy rules must change—consumers and big business agree
Consumer groups from around Australia have joined the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and some of the nation’s biggest businesses in calling for reform to the process that sets electricity network p...
Media release: Unfair process leading to higher electricity prices
Two prominent consumer advocacy groups are calling for the federal government to abolish the current process of appeal for electricity distribution pricing determinations. A new report released by the...
Submission: Australian Energy Market Commission’s Power of Choice Review, Issues Paper
This submission responds to the Issues Paper released by the Australian Energy Market Commission on its demand side participation (stage 3) review, dubbed 'Power of Choice'. Read our submission click...
Media release: Complex energy contracts are confusing consumers and stifling choice
Energy retail contracts have been put under the microscope in a report just released by the Consumer Action Law Centre. And while the report found that most contracts largely met their regulatory requ...
Media release: ASIC grants licence to ‘misleading, deceptive and unconscionable’ trader
In a move that has disappointed the Consumer Action Law Centre, ASIC has granted a consumer credit licence to a company whose conduct has been found to be misleading, deceptive and unconscionable. Th...
Submission: Advanced metering infrastructure program – Issues paper for public consultation
Consumer Action welcomes the new Government's attempt to understand and address some of the underlying consumer concerns with the mandated rollout of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) or smart me...
Media release: Legal tribunal finds Motor Finance Wizard’s practices ‘unfair’ and ‘seriously flawed
Motor car dealer and financier Motor Finance Wizard has been ordered to cancel a car lease contract with a vulnerable customer, refund her money and clear her credit report. The legal decision, made...
Submission to Productivity Commission Inquiry on Network Regulation
Consumer Action welcomes the Productivity Commission’s investigation into benchmarking as a means of achieving more efficient delivery of network services and electricity infrastructure. Benchmarking...
Submission: Australian Energy Regulator’s Victorian Draft Distribution Determination 2011- 2015
Consumer Action strongly supports the Draft Decision and the level of scrutiny the AER has applied to the Distribution Network Service Providers' regulatory proposals. We continue to have some concern...
Submission: Exposure draft – Review of initial distribution network service providers’ proposals for the 2011 – 2015 regulatory period.
Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Australian Energy Regulator's review of initial Distribution Network Service Providers' Proposals for the 2011 - 2015 Regulatory Pe...
Submission: Review of Victoria’s wrongful disconnection payment
Consumer Action remains strongly supportive of the Victorian wrongful disconnection payment legislative obligation. It continues to fulfill its role as an incentive on retailers to guard against non-c...
Joint submission: Metropolitan Melbourne Water Price Review 2008-09 – draft decision
This submission is put forward by the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre Ltd and the Consumer Action Law Centre in response to the Draft Decision released by the Victorian Essential Services Commissio...
Media release: Consumer Action launches litigation against Motor Finance Wizard
Consumer Action Law Centre has issued proceedings against Motor Finance Wizard (Melbourne Sales) Pty Ltd (‘Motor Finance Wizard’) and Kwik Finance (Melb) Pty Ltd (‘Kwik Finance’) in the Victorian Civi...
Policy report: Coercion and harassment at the door Consumer experiences with energy direct marketers
Since the introduction of full retail contestability in the Victorian energy market, Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and the Financial & Consumer Rights Council (FCRC) have received n...
Submission: Review of the effectiveness of competition in electricity and gas retail markets in Victoria – first draft report
Consumer Action has commented on the Australian Energy Market Commission’s Review of the Effectiveness of Competition in Electricity and Gas Retail Markets – First Draft Report which was released for...