Access to Justice Review
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide input to the Access to Justice Review. We have provided responses to specific relevant questions raised under each...
Our finances are a mess – could behavioral science help clean them up?
Hal Hershfield, University of California, Los Angeles and Abigail Sussman, University of Chicago The first few months of a new year can be a stressful time financially. The Christmas holidays typic...
Unemployed and at risk: more help needed for those out of work
The mental health of the unemployed deteriorates the longer they are out of work and this is a barrier to securing future employment, research has found. While different ways to reach this group are b...
Submission to The Treasury on priorities for 2016-17 Federal Budget
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into The Treasury’s budget development for financial year 2016-17. The stated aim of the Government in inviting s...
Draft Life Insurance Code of Practice
Joint submission with Financial Rights Legal Centre and Financial Counselling Australia to the draft Life Insurance Code of Practice. Read the full report here [PDF]...
Submission to the 2016 Retail Competition Review Approach Paper (RPR0004)
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the approach to the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) 2016 Retail Competition Review (the Review)....
Further Education and Training (Training Ombudsman) And Another Act Amendment Bill 2015 (QLD)
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Further Education and Training (Training Ombudsman) And Another Act Amendment Bill 2015 (Bill) (QLD) Read o...
Commissioner warns legal clients against email and internet scams
Email and internet scams are finding their way into the provision of legal services offered by honest solicitors. The Victorian Legal Services Commissioner, Michael McGarvie, warned both consumers and...
Don’t give up! Dick Smith customers still have options.
Following the news that electronics retailer Dick Smith has gone into administration – don’t assume you’ve lost your rights. Sarah has recently advised us that she purchased a mobile phone from Dick...
Victoria’s Future Industries: New Energy Technologies Discussion Paper
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the New Energy Technologies Discussion Paper. Read our response here [PDF]...
Why an unfairness test might be a better way to tackle big business bullies
Eileen Webb, University of Western Australia Unconscionable conduct proceedings against Woolworths by the corporate regulator announced this week are a (yet another) brave attempt to crack down on an...
Reforming vocational education: it’s time to end the exploitation of vulnerable people
Mary Leahy, University of Melbourne Australia’s vocational education sector is a mess. Tightening regulation and tweaking some of the settings will contain the damage, but these measures alone w...
Junk Merchants – A Consumer Action Law Centre Report
Read our full media release here. Download the 'Junk Merchants' report here [PDF] View the report below: ...
What to do next – Consumer Credit and Gap Insurance complaints
What to do next... If an insurer rejects your complaint, or their response isn’t good enough, you have further options. Here’s what you can do once you’ve made a complaint. [Haven’t yet made a compl...
How to make a complaint – step-by-step guide
What do I need to start? It's best to have your insurance or warranty documents with you when you complete the letter. If you don't have them, see below for tips for requesting these documents....
Gap insurance – fact sheet
What is it? Gap insurance (sometimes called ‘shortfall insurance’, ‘price protection insurance’ or ‘guaranteed asset protection’) is designed to provide cover for the 'gap' between: What you owe un...
Consumer credit insurance – fact sheet
What is it? If you have taken out a loan recently, or you have a credit card, the finance provider might also have sold you consumer credit insurance. Consumer credit insurance (CCI) is sometimes ca...
Consumer credit insurance – Tips on reading your policy
It is good to check your policy wording so you can decide if your policy is suitable for you or get some advice if you are not sure what protection it gives you. These are some things to look out for...
Solar sale burns buyer
A Melbourne couple are fighting to get their money back after being sold solar panels that they say were trouble from the moment they were installed. The couple, Michael and Amanda Cousins, assist...
Higher Education Support Amendment (VET FEE-HELP Reform) Bill 2015 Inquiry
Consumer Action Law Centre provides free legal advice and pursues litigation on behalf of vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers across Victoria. In recent years we have built up substantial experienc...
Submission to the draft AER (Retail) Exempt Selling Guidelines
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) is pleased to provide comment on the revised AER (Retail) Exempt Selling Guideline (the Guideline). Read our full submission here [PDF]....
FIX IT! How to fix the energy market rule making process to improve competition and consumer outcomes
The National Energy Retail Rules (NERR) impose minimum requirements that apply to terms and conditions of energy retail contracts. For market retail contracts, energy retailers are required to notify...
Lawyering for change
Providing our clients with access to free legal services does not necessarily mean we provide them with justice. With 156,854 clients turned away from community legal centres (CLCs) in 2014,1 it is cl...
November 2015
Read, watch and listen to media featuring Consumer Action from November 2015. Suncorp reports spike in smash repairers car-napping vehicles and holding owners to ransom https://www.google.com/url...
Consumer Complaints Register – Joint Submission
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights) welcome the opportunity to comment on the Consumer Complaints Register described in the Discussion...
Accident Towing Regulation – Joint submission
Consumer Action has partnered with Western Community Legal Centre to provide a submission to the Essential Services Commission on its Draft Report on Accident Towing. The submission welcomes the focus...
Payday loans: Julie’s Story
Julie is a single mother who subsists on Centrelink payments. She was recently involved in a family breakdown and suffers from mental health issues. She has had her Centrelink reduced and as a result...
Payday loans: James’ Story
James says he has had approximately 8 to 12 payday loans from a payday lender (that also operates as a pawnbroker) in the last 12 to 18 months, but he's lost count. James says that he was recently pro...
Payday loans: Laura’s Story
Laura lives in public housing and receives a Centrelink pension. She has a mild intellectual disability and suffers from mental illness. Laura has two young children one of which has a mild intellectu...
Used car warranties: Phil’s story
Phil* bought a used car as a gift for his granddaughter in October 2014. He also bought a motor vehicle warranty from National Warranty Company. Phil paid $4500 for the car and $295 for the warranty....
Review of the small amount credit contract laws – Submission
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the review of the small amount credit contract laws and comparable consumer leases (the review). Read the full...
Add-on insurance – watch out!
Consumer Action has helped a client take on one of Australia's biggest finance companies about add-on insurance and a high-cost loan. In April 2013, our elderly client asked for a loan of $10,000 to...
Submission to the Energy Hardship Inquiry Draft Report
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...
Proposed industry funding model for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission: Joint Submission
We welcome the opportunity to comment on Treasury’s consultation paper proposing an industry funding model for ASIC (the consultation paper). The following is a joint submission prepared by the above...
Unable to open the letterbox – money and mental health
Money is a major cause of distress for many Australians and for some Australians with mental health problems, there are times when being financially responsible for yourself simply isn’t possible. Man...
‘Lemon’ laws – An inquiry into consumer protections and remedies for buyers of new motor vehicles
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the need to improve the consumer protections and remedies for buyers of ‘lemon’ motor vehicles. We strongly sup...
October 2015
Read, watch and listen to media featuring Consumer Action from October 2015. Consumer groups call for overhaul of power market controls https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http://www....
Evaluating Consumer Action’s consumer legal advice service
Consumer Action uses various strategies to improve the lives of Victorian consumers and advance fairness in the marketplace, including undertaking public interest litigation, publishing legal informat...
Used car warranties: Christian’s story
Christian (name changed) bought a second hand car in late 2014. He had had gearbox trouble with a previous car which cost him a lot of money, so when he noticed advertising for National Warranty Compa...
Energy disconnections: Rod’s story
When his electricity was disconnected in late 2014, Rod lived with his wife and four of his seven children in Melbourne’s north. The disconnection lasted four days. Rod says the automatic payments he’...
A complex market needs simple dispute resolution – On The Wire
In this month's On The Wire we're calling for simple dispute resolution in the energy market... Dispute resolution must be consistent, regardless of where a consumer’s energy supply comes from, who it...
Energy disconnections: Lyn’s story
Lyn is 58 years old. She lives with her daughter in Melbourne’s north, and they have experienced several energy disconnections. Lyn is a survivor of domestic violence, and her financial problems stem...
We’re hiring – Senior Policy Officer – Vendor Terms
We are undertaking an exciting project with the aim to bring up to date current consumer sector knowledge of unconventional home sales arrangements known as “Rent to Buy” or “vendor terms” for sellers...
Energy disconnections: Sarah’s story
Sarah is a writer in her forties. She lives by herself in an inner Melbourne apartment, which she rents privately. With a tertiary degree and regular work, Sarah had always been able to manage her fin...
Solving Energy Bill Disputes – Studio 10
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06LFC6jclIM] Denise Boyd speaks with Studio 10 about energy bill disputes....
Taking action against a credit repair company
There are easy options for seeking a refund or compensation from a credit repair company. Many Victorians have experienced problems with credit repair companies. If you are one of these people, and yo...
Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Inquiry into the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Debit Card Trial) Bill 2015
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Debit Card Trial) Bill 2015. Read our full submission here [PDF]....
Submission to Northern Australia Insurance Premiums Taskforce Interim Report
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Northern Australia Insurance Premiums Taskforce Interim Report. Read the full submission here [PDF]...
Energy disconnections: Emira’s story
Emira lives in public housing in regional Victoria with her young son, Jack. At 27, she has faced significant challenges in her life: she left a violent family home at 14, and has since found herself...
AEMC Multiple Trading Relationships Consultation Paper
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the AEMC's consultation paper on Multiple Tradition Relationships (MTR) in the National Electricity Mark...