News - Consumer Action Law Centre

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...

Retail Remuneration Review – Issues Paper

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action), is pleased to provide a submission in response to the Retail Remuneration Review Issues Paper (Issues Paper). As stated in our joint response to th...

Competition is failing in energy retail and it’s hurting households: Gerard Brody

In his address to the National Press Club last week, prime minister Malcolm Turnbull called out that families across the nation need not just reliable but affordable power. For lower income earners wh...

EDR Review – Interim Report

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Review of the Financial System Dispute Resolution Framework – Interim Report (Interim Report). This joint submission was coordinated by Consumer Action...

BMW Finance – you could get compensation

The Australian Securities Investment Commission (ASIC) recently took action against BMW Australia Finance (BMW Finance) for signing up customers to car loans they could not afford between 1 January 20...

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...

Submission in response to Consultation Paper 272 – Remaking ASIC class orders on time-sharing schemes

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights) are pleased to make this submission to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s (ASIC) p...

Productivity Commission Draft Report – Consumer Law Enforcement and Administration

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) is pleased to provide comment in response to the Productivity Commission Draft Report – Consumer Law Enforcement and Administration (Draft Report)....

Submission to The Treasury on priorities for 2017-18 Federal Budget

Consumer Action has provided input into The Treasury’s budget development for financial year 2017-18. We have identified four budget measures that would, if implemented, enhance justice for all Aus...

Proposed Industry Funding Model for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission – Proposals Paper.

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and CHOICE welcome the opportunity to comment on the Proposed Industry Funding Model for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Re...

Submission: ANZ Banking Group Ltd—Exclusive Dealing Notification N99426

Thank you for the invitation to comment on the ANZ Banking Group Ltd—Exclusive Dealing Notification N99426 (the Notification), under which ANZ is only financing Esanda and ANZbranded comprehensive car...

Public Inquiry: Data Availability and Use – Draft Report

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Data Availability and Use – Draft Report October 2016 (Draft Report). Read the full submission here [PDF]...

Submission to Consumer Property Law Review: Options for reform of the Owners Corporations Act 2006

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) is pleased to make this submission to Consumer Affairs Victoria's (CAV) comprehensive review of Victoria's consumer property laws, specifically on Opti...

Deferred Management Fees case settled: law reform now desperately needed

“The relief was immense”, a simple enough statement from one of the fourteen residents from Willow Lodge Over 50s Resort (Willow Lodge), but universally felt following the settlement of the long-runni...

Why we are willing to pay for mega expensive things

Paul Harrison, Deakin University It may not seem logical or good value for money, but there are plenty of us that will fork out for expensive presents this Christmas. Maybe it will be close to A$3,...

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...

Australian Consumer Law Review: Interim Report

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Australian Consumer Law Review—Interim Report (Interim Report). While we are engaged with the process, we...

Supplementary Submission: Applications for authorisation—A191556-A91557 Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Company Australia Pty Ltd & Ors

We refer to our original submission on the application by insurers for Australian Competition and Consumer Authority (ACCC) authorisation to cap commissions on add-on insurance sold through motor vehi...

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...

Submission: Life insurance industry inquiry

This submission will focus on issues seen in Consumer Action’s casework and policy work, including life insurance contract terms which could be ‘unfair’, an assessment industry self regulation and p...

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...

iTutor Learning Systems

Consumer Action has assisted a Somali woman to file a complaint relating to education software, iTutor Learning Systems. The software was sold to the woman in her home by a salesperson representing Vi...

Transition to Metering Competition in Victoria

The Alternative Technology Association (ATA), Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action), and Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre (CUAC) welcome the opportunity to respond to the Energy Policy and Pr...

Submission on the proposed safety net for energy consumers facing payment difficulty

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and Financial and Consumer Rights Council (FCRC) welcome the opportunity to comment on the Commission’s proposed safety net for energy consumers facing...

Financial Services Council – Draft Minimum Standard Medical Definitions

Thank you for the opportunity for the Financial Rights Legal Centre and the Consumer Action Law Centre to comment on the Financial Services Council’s Draft Minimum Standard Medical Definitions. Rea...

Codes of Conduct for Registered Building Practitioners

Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Victorian Building Authority’s (VBA) Draft Codes of Conduct Protocol (the Draft Protocol). The Draft Protocol has been designed to assist bui...

Parliamentary Inquiry into the Retirement Housing Sector

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) is pleased to contribute to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Retirement Housing, which we believes speaks to a real and urgent need for more effective re...

New car retailing industry market study: Response to Issues Paper

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) is pleased to make this submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC’s) review of the new car retail market. Read the full sub...

Second-hand cars: No warranty? No worries

Victorians have been handed a huge win after the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) confirmed that a car dealer can still be responsible for problems with a faulty car even where there...

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...

Submission: Applications for authorisation—A191556-A91557 Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Company Australia Pty Ltd & Ors

This submission focuses on the public benefit and detriment of the proposal for consumers. Any benefits to motor vehicle dealerships or insurers are private and not public in nature, and we do not b...

Inquiry into the VET Student Loans Bill 2016, the VET Student Loans (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016 and the VET Student Loans (Charges) Bill 2016

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) is pleased to make this submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Education and Employment in relation to the Inquiry into the VET Student Loans Bill...

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