July 2015
Complaints about power bills jump https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/complaints-about-power-bills-jump/2692753/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyHTkyNDA4NmMwOGZ...
How do I claim a refund for a used car warranty?
Are you unhappy with a used car warranty you bought? Read the following to complain and ask for a refund. Step one: Download our template letter here (Microsoft Word document) It will be useful to h...
I’ve complained about a used car warranty – what do I do next?
What to do next... See what they say If you are unhappy with the warranty provider's response or if the warranty provider does not respond within 45 days, lodge a complaint. Just because they sa...
Submission to Review of Governance Arrangements for Australian Energy Markets Draft Paper
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide input to the Review of Governance Arrangements for Australian Energy Markets Draft Paper (the Draft Paper). Download t...
Who do I complain to about a private college or education provider?
Do you have a problem with a private college or education provider? Below explains who to go to depending on your circumstances. The role of regulators If you have a complaint about a Registered Tra...
HAAG Submission – Residential Tenancies Act Review
Housing for the Aged Action Group's (HAAG) submission to the Residential Tenancies Act Review dated 17 August 2015 identified a number of key areas of concern for older residents living in Independent...
Revised Inspector-General Practice Guideline 1: Submission
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action), Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights) and Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) welcome the opportunity to comment on the proposed changes...
Modernising Victoria’s Energy Licence Framework and General Exemptions Order: Submission
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) welcome the opportunity to provide input to the Essential Services Commission (ESC) and the Department...
Australian Retail Credit Association Authorisation A91482 – draft determination – Submission
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action), Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights) and Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) welcome the opportunity to make a submission in response to...
Matters relating to credit card interest rates – Senate Standing Committees on Economics
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and the Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights) welcome the opportunity to provide a submission to the inquiry into credit card interest rates...
Submission on Amendments to the AER Retail Pricing Information Guidelines
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) is pleased to provide further input into the Australian Energy Regulator's (AER) Amendments to the AER Retail Pricing Information Guidelines V4.0, specific...
Housing Decisions of Older Australians
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action), Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG), Residents of Retirement Villages Victoria (RRVV) and Council on the Ageing Victoria (COTA Vic) welcome the o...
Private VET providers: Supplementary submission
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide a supplementary submission on the operation, regulation and funding of private vocational education and training (V...
Unfair Trading: Discussion paper
Predatory businesses that build their fortune by relying on unfair tactics are far too common in Australia. While most businesses play by the rules, there are still many businesses that take advantage...
Joint submission to Melbourne Water Price Review 2016: Submission
Consumer Action has joined with the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre and the Victorian Council of Social Service to provide a submission to the Melbourne Water Price Review. Water is a basic essenti...
Electricity bill relief for thousands of Victorian battlers: Herald Sun
Consumer Action has welcomed moves from AGL to provide an automatic discount for concession card holders. From the Herald Sun: "Claire Maries, senior energy policy officer for the Consumer Action L...
Privacy Regulatory Action Guides: Submission
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on Chapter 2 of the OAIC’s Guide to privacy regulatory action exposure draft. The Financial Rights Legal Centre and Consumer Action Law Centre will address thr...
Australian Payments Plan Consultation: Submission
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Australian Payments Council (APC) consultation paper on the Australian Payments Plan. Read the submission i...
New protections for VET students welcomed
New vocational education & training guidelines will protect students enrolled in courses involving VET FEE-HELP student loans. From 1 January 2016, students will benefit from new protections safeg...
June 2015
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xClwSkgvBxI] Consumer advocates back expanded powers for ASIC to probe banks https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http://www.theage.c...
Insurance companies: Prove your loyalty to us. Be upfront on price rises.
Australians want their insurance companies to be upfront with yearly price rises according to a survey commissioned by Consumer Action. If you own general insurance (for example, insurance for your...
Stop builders turning dream homes into nightmares
Gerard Brody, CEO of Consumer Action says that building a home is turning into a nightmare for too many Victorians. "Building your own home is a dream for many Victorians, but too often it can turn i...
Junk Insurance and Rubbish Warranties: Help stop others going through the same.
Earlier this year we shared about the risks of junk insurance and rubbish warranties. Now we need your help. We would like to hear from you if you’ve recently been sold: a motor vehicle warran...
Submission: Sharing the future
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on Sharing the future: Getting the policy right in the Age of the App. We are generally supportive of new business...
Retirement villages
In our experience, Retirement Village contracts can be extremely complex and contract terms around fees and exit entitlements can lack transparency. Different types of retirement accommodation can als...
Competition Policy Review Final Report
Consumer Action has made a submission to the Federal Treasury’s consultation on the Competition Policy Review Final Report. In summary, the submission argues: • Competition policy should promote the...
Clean Energy Council application for revocation and substitution A91495 – A91496
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide you with comment on the Clean Energy Council's application of revocation and substitution of the voluntary PV Code of C...
AEMC Draft Determination on Expanding Competition in Metering and Related Services
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the AEMC's draft rule determination to expand competition in metering and related services. Read the fu...
Submission to the Notice of draft instrument: Amendments to the AER Retail Pricing Information Guidelines
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the Australian Energy Regulator's (AER) Notice of draft instrument: Amendments to the AER Retail Pricing Inf...
Submission: AEMO’s Metering Data Provision Procedures
We welcome the opportunity to comment on AEMO’s Metering Data Provision Procedures (MDPP). Read the full joint submission with CUAC and the ATA here. [PDF]...
May 2015
Rogue energy door knocker tries to sign 12-year-old-girl to contract Herald Sun, May 1 2015 The creeping danger of Australian household's love affair with credit Sydney Morning Herald, May 2 2015...
Facebook makes it easier to buy and sell, but what are your rights?
You may have noticed this option pop up in your Facebook groups. It looks like Facebook is on a mission to make it easier to sell and buy items through their network, but what are your rights? I...
Submission to the draft ACDBA Code of Practice.
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the draft ACDBA Code of Practice (the Code). Read the submission in full here (PDF)....
Submission to Review of Governance Arrangements for Australian Energy Markets Issues Paper
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide input the Review of Governance Arrangements for Australian Energy Markets Issues Paper (the Issues Paper). Click her...
Submission to the Inquiry into the financial hardship arrangements of energy retailers
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...
Submission to the Inquiry into the financial hardship arrangements of energy retailers
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...
Junk Insurance and Rubbish Warranties
You might have bought something useless and don’t even know it. If you’ve purchased a used car or taken out a credit card or loan, you may have paid for some junk insurance or a rubbish warranty that...
Submission: VET Funding Review
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on how to improve the quality, stability and sustainability of the Victorian training market. Read our full submis...
April 2015
ANZ bank wins court appeal against late payment fees PM with Mark Colvin, 8 April, 2015 The vexed issue of payday loans News.com.au, 8 April, 2015 Upfront fees will make it cheaper for consume...
On the Wire: April 2015
Consumer action has published the April edition of On the Wire, a quarterly publication featuring updates on national energy market reforms and regulatory processes. Edition 42 can be found here....
Media Release: Australians want changes to Payday Lending industry
Australia’s leading consumer advocates and largest microfinance organisation have today called on the Australian Government to take a fresh look at regulation governing payday lending. New research r...
Consumer Action is encouraged by interim report into vocational education training providers
Consumer Action is encouraged by the Education and Employment References Committee’s interim report into the operation, regulation and funding of private vocational education training (VET) providers...
March 2015
Fee shock pushes pensioners to take on retirement industry The Age, 4 March 2015, Simon Johanson Think For Yourself: Short Term Loans Independent Australia, 3 March 2015, John Turnbull ‘They’re no d...
Consumer Action’s statement to the Senate Inquiry into the performance and management of electricity network companies
Consumer Action’s addressed the Senate Inquiry into the performance and management of electricity network companies on 18 February 2015. Our opening address was as follows: "Thank you for the oppor...
Consumer Action’s hopes for the new Victorian Parliament
Consumer Action has published its first newsletter for the new Victorian Parliament. The newsletter outlines pressing issues facing Victorian consumers and the action we're seeking in this parliamenta...
Buying a car? Beware of being sold discretionary risk products
Extended warranty products are often sold with used cars. However, some of these warranty products, known collectively as “discretionary risk products”, give the provider an absolute discretion overpa...
February 2015
Should payday lenders be regulated under NCCP? Banking Day, 24 February 2015, Nathan Lynch Payday loans: beware the lure of quick money The New Daily, 23 February 2015, Alice Uribe Bills take...
Submission: Law Council of Australia’s consultation on Uniform Rules
Consumer Action and Financial Rights Legal Centre have made a joint submission to the Law Council of Australia's current consultation on the proposed Legal Practice Rules (Solicitors) and Legal Profes...
January 2015
Don’t mention the ‘P’ word News.com.au, 31 January 2015, Frank Chung Property spruiker facing legal action over rent-to-own scheme Brisbane Times, 24 January 2014, Chris Vedelago Former top banker i...
December 2015
Read, watch and listen to media featuring Consumer Action from December 2015. Government in "emergency" funding crackdown on vocational colleges https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=...