Media Release - Consumer Action Law Centre

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....

$250K: the shocking cost of retirement housing disputes

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“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...

Veda to refund consumers after breaching privacy rules

Veda Advantage Information Services and Solutions Ltd (Veda) is being forced to refund thousands of consumers who paid to obtain credit reports under Veda’s expedited delivery deal, according to a dec...

Debt vulture companies are ripping off Australians and stirring up the credit industry

It is not often that consumer advocates and the credit industry see eye to eye. Money worries keep many Australians up at night and for some companies this is good for business. When watching TV br...

Time to abolish unfair energy appeals

At their meeting in Melbourne this week, Energy Ministers from around the country will consider an issue that has the potential to save households and businesses hundreds of millions of dollars each y...

Victims of financial scandals need simple justice – response to Ramsay EDR Review

Following the slew of financial scandals Australians have faced in recent years, consumer advocates say that Australians need simple and accessible justice with reformed Ombudsman services. The Rev...

Power price shock – fake discounts gouge Victorians

Energy price rises announced today will hit Victorians hard as the Consumer Action Law Centre warns energy companies to remember that their product is an essential service. "Over 60,000 Victorians...

Cooling-off periods for consumers don’t work: study

Paul Harrison, Deakin University When customers are offered a “cooling off” period, they don’t change their minds, even when the alternative is considered subjectively better, our research finds. W...

Payday lending reform will make people’s lives better

Consumer advocates say that the Government’s response to a recent review of payday lending and consumer leases laws is a good start and can go further to support Australians who are struggling to make...

Cooling off doesn’t work: New research

Australians have been told for decades that “cooling off” periods will protect them from predatory salespeople, but new research shows dodgy salespeople still have the upper hand. Dr Paul Harrison,...

House of Representatives’ Economics Committee, Review of the Four Major Banks – Consumer Action response

In response to the report published today by the House of Representatives’ Economics Committee, Review of the Four Major Banks, Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Gerard Brody said: “Dispute resolution...

Federal Government takes on VET scandals with Ombudsman — states urged to play their part.

Following years of vocational educational scandals, students with debts under the beleaguered VET FEE-HELP scheme will soon have somewhere to turn to for help. Consumer Action Law Centre (“Consumer...

Cash Converters penalty not enough. Government must act on payday loans: Consumer Action

Struggling Aussies are set to get much-needed cash back in their pockets following major enforcement action by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). With news that payday len...

Life insurance code a modest first step, needs more work: Consumer Groups

The life insurance industry’s new code of practice is a modest step but much more work is needed to deliver good consumer protection, say Financial Rights Legal Centre and Consumer Action Law Centre....

The “Australian dream” devastated by housing black market: Report

Professor Allan Fels launches “Fringe Dwellings: The vendor finance and rent-to-buy housing black market” – High res for download here. Struggling Aussies are losing their life savings to...

New legal advice shows Government can claw back VET FEE-HELP money

Consumer Action Law Centre today released new legal advice from an eminent Queen’s Counsel about the Federal Government’s ability to claw back VET FEE-HELP funding. The advice is that the Government...

Parliamentary Inquiry into Retirement Housing commences today

The much anticipated Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the retirement housing sector commences today at Parliament House. Representatives from government, the retirement housing industry and the co...

Junk insurance victims fight back as ASIC report damns industry

Australians sold junk insurance are demanding their money back as ASIC releases a damning report into the atrocious value and shocking sales practices at car yards. The ASIC “A market that is faili...

Banking tribunal may not deliver: Consumer experts

A coalition of consumer organisations have cautioned the Turnbull Government about the establishment of a Banking Tribunal. Consumer Action Law Centre, Financial Rights Legal Centre, Financial Coun...

Unfair bank fees live another day. Now time for law reform: Consumer Action and CHOICE

The law must be changed to restore fairness in bank fees according Consumer Action Law Centre and CHOICE. Following the High Court’s decision today which allows banks to continue charging exorbitan...

Indigenous insurance exploitation must be stopped following court decision: Consumer groups

A Federal Court decision has allowed for the continued exploitation of Indigenous Australians through dud Funeral Insurance schemes. For years, low income Indigenous communities have been targeted...

New polling shows that Australians are ready for a Retail Ombudsman

A new poll released today made a strong case for the establishment of a Retail Ombudsman, a free and informal way to resolve disputes between everyday Australians and businesses, including tradies and...

Andrew Leigh and Labor announce beefed up ACCC

Today at a media conference with Labor's Andrew Leigh, Consumer Action Law Centre's Gerard Brody called out current penalties under the Australian Consumer Law as "inadequate". The following commen...

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