Media Release - Consumer Action Law Centre

Media release: Collection Point misleads client and sues his lawyers

Consumer Action Law Centre has succeeded in a Victorian Civil Administration Tribunal (VCAT) action against money retrieval agency, Collection Point, and recovered the sum of $1,108.85 for one of its...

Media release: Consumer win sets up precedent for others burnt by Kleenmaid collapse

Consumer Action Law Centre has successfully represented a couple who sought to recover thousands of dollars from a linked credit provider who financed their purchase of kitchen goods from Kleenmaid Pt...

Media release: New credit reporting – silver lining masks big grey cloud

Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed aspects of the Government's proposed reforms to credit reporting in Australia. However we question whether the steps forward for consumers on complaint handling...

Media release: Consumer Action Law Centre warns the public about telephone scam falsely using its name

Consumer Action Law Centre warns the public that scammers are contacting people falsely claiming to be an employee or representative of Consumer Action. Carolyn Bond, Consumer Action co-CEO, said tha...

Media release: Regulator’s report opens door to private operators in Victorian water sector

Consumer groups warn that the delivery of water services in Victoria could be radically changed, following the release of a report from the Essential Services Commission (ESC) today. The State Govern...

Media release: Australian Institute of Fitness gives young woman a financial workout

A young school leaver is defending a legal claim by the Australian Institute of Fitness to pay $7,416 for a training course she never started. Her legal defence asserts that the Institute has sued des...

Media release: Landmark case – Consumer Action to represent customer stung by Kleenmaid collapse

Consumer Action Law Centre is representing a couple who lost over nine thousand dollars in the high profile collapse of Kleenmaid Pty Ltd earlier this year, against the loan company that financed the...

Media release: TLC continues to break Victorian hearts and the bank

Consumer Action Law Centre has today launched a legal action on behalf of a vulnerable Victorian man against TLC Consulting Services Pty Ltd (TLC), an introduction agent permanently restrained from ca...

Media release: Company collects unclaimed money for consumer and keeps it for itself

Consumer Action Law Centre is representing a man who is suing Collection Point Pty Ltd, a company that offers ‘money retrieval’ services, for retaining 25% of the unclaimed superannuation funds he was...

Media release: Ordinary Melbourne households at risk from huge water price rises

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre (CUAC) today said the Essential Services Commission’s final decision to allow steep price rises for Melbourn...

Media release: Small debt in a big pond – pensioner to lose home in bankruptcy over a $1000 Telstra internet bill

Consumer Action Law Centre has begun acting for a 60 year old pensioner who has sought help after being bankrupted for what started as a Telstra Internet services bill for less than $1,000. Nicole Ri...

Media release: Combined financial pain – finance broker stitches up low-income client

Consumer Action Law Centre has launched legal action against finance broking firm Combined Financial Services Australia Pty Ltd (Combined Financial) on behalf of a low income client alleging she was u...

Media release: Very Long Odds – elderly pensioner pressured by horse race tipsters

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) has warned Victorians to be wary of services offering horserace betting tips, after launching legal action against two companies involved in selling a bett...

Media release: Rogue broker not so affordable

Consumer Action Law Centre has launched legal action against finance broker Affordable Home Loans and Mortgage Advice Pty Ltd (Affordable Home Loans) and its director, William Curry, on behalf of a cl...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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