Media release: $1 billion bank penalty fee income stream finally revealed

Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed the release of today’s annual banking fee bulletin by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), which reveals for the first time that Australian banks reaped over $1...

May 21, 2009

Media release: Debt collector to bankrupt consumer over NAB credit card debt

Consumer Action Law Centre is defending a client against an attempt to send her bankrupt over a small National Australia Bank (NAB) credit card debt which the NAB sold to a debt collector. Nicole Ric...

May 15, 2009

Media release: National energy retail laws released today ‘light on’ for Victorian household protections

Consumer Action Law Centre has warned that Victorians will be the biggest losers out of the new national energy laws released today. Janine Rayner, Senior Policy Officer at Consumer Action, said the...

April 30, 2009

Media release: National consumer credit laws welcome but loopholes must be closed

Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed today’s release of the proposed national consumer credit laws by the Federal Government, but has warned that while the intention behind the laws is good, there...

April 27, 2009

Media release: All you need is love…and $22,000. Love Search Intros accused of swindling diabetic pensioner

Consumer Action Law Centre has issued legal action against R & H Consulting, trading as Love Search Intros, an introduction agency, on behalf of a 73 year old client whose diabetes medication caus...

April 24, 2009

Media release: NAB fails to assist client despite banks agreeing to help people in financial hardship

Consumer Action Law Centre has taken legal action against the National Australia Bank (NAB) on behalf of a consumer in financial difficulties alleging the bank ignored all approaches to try to resolve...

April 23, 2009

Media release: Water bills price reprieve welcomed by consumer group

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre (CUAC) today welcomed the Essential Services Commission’s draft decision to cut the price rises for Melbourn...

April 21, 2009

Media release: Car buyers warned to say no to Motor Finance Wizard tricks

Consumer Action Law Centre has today again issued legal proceedings against motor car trader, DGTV1 which trades as Motor Finance Wizard, and its related finance arm, Kwik Finance, on behalf of a cons...

April 17, 2009

Media release: Education service provider has ‘Mental Blank’ when offering VCE success course

Consumer Action Law Centre has issued legal proceedings against education course provider, Mental Blank Pty. Ltd., on behalf of a client, Ms Ahlin Chen. It is alleged that Mental Blank failed to deli...

April 2, 2009

Media release: Debt collector ACMS sued for harassment and coercion

Consumer Action Law Centre has issued a legal action on behalf of a client seeking compensation, punitive damages and an order restraining debt collector Accounts Control Management Services (ACMS) fr...

March 13, 2009

Media release: Bushfire victims have rights when dealing with lenders

Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed the response of many banks and other lenders to the plight of Victorian bushfire victims, but has advised that people affected by the fires may also have additi...

February 23, 2009

Media release: Citibank lacks compassion for client after taking legal action over $10,000 debt

Consumer Action Law Centre has taken legal action to defend a struggling single parent hit by personal tragedy and the current financial crisis against Citibank for a $10,000 credit card debt. Consum...

February 20, 2009

Media release: Consumer Action welcomes fast-tracking of new consumer laws

Consumer Action Law Centre today welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement that it will fast track crucial law reforms to protect consumers from unfair contract terms and to give the consumer reg...

February 17, 2009

Media release: Amazing loans never cease to amaze with poor lending practices

Consumer Action Law Centre has once again initiated legal action against Amazing Loans on behalf of a client.  The action alleges unconscionability in relation to the fees and interest charged. Consu...

February 13, 2009

Media release: RHG mortgage exit fees test case settles

Consumer Action has today announced that the test case legal action against RHG Mortgage Corporation (formerly RAMS Mortgage Corporation) on behalf of Ms Emily Hamilton has settled on confidential ter...

January 23, 2009

Media release: Care Park slugs unsuspecting local drivers

Consumer Action Law Centre has initiated legal action on behalf of Mr Gary Tan against Care Park, a private car park operator. The action seeks to challenge a charge imposed on him at Springvale Shopp...

December 16, 2008

Media release: ‘It’s not You, It’s Us’ – Introduction Agency Breaks More than Hearts

Consumer Action Law Centre has today launched legal action on behalf of a client, a vulnerable Victorian man with an acquired a brain injury. Our client seeks a refund of more than $10,000 paid to an...

December 16, 2008

Media release: Educational software company discounting the truth to make sales?

Consumer Action Law Centre is taking legal action against A.I.M. (Melb) Pty Ltd (now National Dealer Network Pty Ltd) on behalf of Mr Assam Shihata, a disability pensioner from a non-English speaking...

December 9, 2008

Media release: Educational software company targets parents in their homes

Consumer Action Law Centre has instituted legal proceedings against Advanced Education Resources, a seller of mathematical education software, for taking advantage of a non-English speaking widow who...

December 2, 2008

Media release: Energy information campaign a start but won’t stop massive marketing problems

Consumer Action Law Centre today said the Victorian Government’s new energy information campaign was a good initiative but did not address the upcoming removal of price regulation or the serious marke...

November 19, 2008

Media release: Consumer Action launches test case against mortgage exit fees

Consumer Action Law Centre has today initiated a test case legal action against RHG Mortgage Corporation (formerly RAMS Mortgage Corporation) on behalf of Ms Emily Hamilton. Ms Hamilton faces an exces...

November 8, 2008

Media release: New lawsuit claims not-so-Amazing Loans exploited consumer with exorbitant fees

The Consumer Action Law Centre has today initiated legal action against Amazing Loans on behalf of a client who was required to repay a total of $7,835.36 for a $3,000 car loan, thanks mainly to an ex...

November 6, 2008

Media release: Call to end penalty fees on basic bank accounts: Consumer groups want reform from CBA & ANZ

CHOICE and Consumer Action are calling on the Commonwealth Bank and the ANZ banks to stop gouging low-income earners through unfair penalty fees on their concession accounts. CBA and ANZ continue to...

October 15, 2008

Media release: Major bank outsources its responsibility for financial hardship to notorious debt collector

The National Australia Bank (NAB) has been selling off the credit card debt owed by customers, some in genuine financial difficulties, to a debt collector well-known to community workers and financial...

October 14, 2008

Media release: Time for government to put home equity out of risk over small debts

Consumer Action Law Centre has today called on the Federal Government to make the simple law change needed to put a stop to unfair bankruptcy actions that strip home equity. Gerard Brody, Deputy Dire...

October 12, 2008

Media release: Time for governments to close reckless lending loophole

Consumer Action Law Centre has today issued legal proceedings against a fringe lender that exploits loopholes in the law to take advantage of vulnerable consumers. Consumer Action is acting on behalf...

October 6, 2008

Media release: Dodgy First Choice betting software scam should be your last choice

Consumer Action has warned Victorians to beware of spruiker of computer betting software First Global Pty Ltd (trading as First Choice), after it today issued legal proceedings against the company. R...

September 22, 2008

Media release: Bank fees unfair but no action from the Senate

CHOICE and the Consumer Action Law Centre say they are extremely disappointed with the Senate Economics Committee’s failure to recommend new laws to protect consumers from unfair bank penalty fees. T...

September 17, 2008

Media release: Consumer Action ‘king-hits’ unlicensed motor car trader

Consumer Action has issued two legal proceedings against a Brunswick businessman alleging he is selling poor quality motor vehicles to consumers without a licence. Celia Tikotin, Director of Legal Pr...

September 12, 2008

Media release: Australian report exposes psychological tricks used to market credit card limit increases

A landmark report released today by the Consumer Action Law Centre has exposed the different psychological manipulations used by banks and other lenders to persuade people to take up offers for higher...

August 15, 2008

Media release: Consumer Action welcomes privacy report’s fair and sensible approach to credit reporting and privacy reform

Consumer Action Law Centre today welcomed the recommendations of the Australian Law Reform Commission’s (ALRC) report into Australia’s privacy laws and practice. But it warned the Australian Governmen...

August 11, 2008

Media release: Court attack launched on private car park’s ‘fines’

Consumer Action Law Centre has today instituted legal proceedings in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) against Australian National Car Parks Pty Ltd (ANCP), the operator of a numb...

August 7, 2008

Media release: VCAT orders spruiker of computer gambling software to refund consumer

Consumer Action Law Centre has today succeeded in obtaining a refund from a spruiker of computer gambling software at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (the Tribunal). Reliance Investme...

July 11, 2008

Media release: Consumer Action seeks orders against Australian Institute of Mathematics and Lombard Finance

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) has instituted legal proceedings in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (the Tribunal) against Addsup Education trading as Australian Institute...

May 29, 2008

Media release: Consumer win with unfair debit success contract

Consumer Action Law Centre has obtained a favourable outcome for its client, a mother of two young children, who purchased self defence classes for her children from Albion Self Defence Academy using...

May 15, 2008

Media release: Regional water customers on the drip feed, says Consumer Action

Consumer Action Law Centre has slammed a number of Victorian regional water businesses for unfairly restricting the water supply of consumers and initiating legal action in relation to small debts. T...

April 28, 2008

Media release: Consumer Action alleges debit success contract contains unfair terms

Consumer Action Law Centre has instituted legal proceedings in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (the Tribunal) against Debit Success Pty Ltd (Debit Success) and Rif and Jean Mustafa tra...

April 10, 2008

Media release: Consumer Action puts traders and Government on notice

Consumer Action Law Centre has released its 2008 Policy Plan on World Consumer Rights Day. Unfair, excessive and unlawful bank penalty fees, high cost exploitative credit and dodgy motor car traders w...

March 15, 2008

Media release: Consumer Action calls on car parks to be fair

Consumer Action Law Centre has written to two operators of private car parks in Melbourne seeking a review of their business practices and the installation of barriers so that consumers are not fined...

March 1, 2008

Media release: Finance broker flouts federal court orders, claims Consumer Action

Consumer Action Law Centre has claimed that a finance broker is flouting Federal Court orders. The broker, Sample & Partners, agreed to orders in May 2007 intended to remedy harm caused to hundred...

February 28, 2008

Media release: Customers to bear costs for energy retailers failure

Consumer Action Law Centre has labelled the decision by the Essential Services Commission (the ESC) to charge consumers should their retailer go bankrupt or leave the market as outrageous and unfair....

February 22, 2008

Media release: Consumers challenge basis for rising energy prices

Victorian consumers will be hit by huge energy price increases from 1 January 2008 but without any public information about the basis for these price rises, said Consumer Action Law Centre today. Sta...

November 30, 2007

Media release: Don’t harass us at home, say consumers

Consumer Action Law Centre has today launched a campaign to assist consumers to avoid door-to-door marketers if they wish to do so. The campaign will distribute a ‘Do Not Knock’ sticker, which warns s...

November 15, 2007

Media release: More penalty fees cut as campaign gains momentum

CHOICE and Consumer Action have welcomed NAB’s announcement today it will cut direct debit dishonour fees from $50 to $30 and will launch a new mainstream transaction account that allows consumers to...

September 4, 2007

Media release: Water businesses not talking to customers says consumer report

Consumer Action Law Centre has publicly released a report asserting that Victorian water businesses are not talking to their customers. The report, Water Reform in Victoria: Independent pricing regula...

August 13, 2007

Media release: Nationwide campaign targets unfair bank penalty fees

Financial institutions are bracing themselves for a customer backlash against unfair penalty fees, after a nationwide campaign was launched today by CHOICE and Consumer Action Law Centre. Thousands...

June 19, 2007

Media release: Time well overdue for banks to cut their excessive penalty fees

Consumer Action Law Centre has written to the Australian Bankers Association (ABA) and Abacus Australian Mutuals demanding that banks, credit unions and building societies put a stop to penalty fees t...

May 11, 2007