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...

November 28, 2016

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,...

November 24, 2016

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...

November 24, 2016

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...

November 22, 2016

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...

November 22, 2016

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...

November 22, 2016

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...

November 22, 2016

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...

November 22, 2016

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...

November 16, 2016

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...

November 16, 2016

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...

November 11, 2016

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...

November 9, 2016

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...

November 9, 2016

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...

October 21, 2016

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...

October 20, 2016

Do insurers deserve the special treatment they receive under the law? Mental Health Week 2016

John* got a car loan for a modest run-about car and also bought add-on insurance.  He alleges that he was told it would kick in if he became unable to work due to illness.  He thought it sounded like...

October 14, 2016

Regulation of the Legal Profession: Consumer Focus and Engagement

The objectives of the Legal Profession Uniform Law, which currently applies in NSW and Victoria, include: “enhancing the protection of clients of law practices…” and “empowering clients of law pract...

October 12, 2016

Dispute resolution and complaint handling in the financial services sector – Letter to the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP

Consumer advocates have written to the Prime Minister about access to justice in the finance and banking sector. "Our organisations have supported and represented thousands of consumers in disputes w...

October 11, 2016

EDR Review: Joint Consumer Submission

The following consumer advocacy organisations have made a joint submission to the Ramsay EDR Review: Care Inc Financial Counselling Service and the Consumer Law Centre of the ACT Caxton Legal...

October 11, 2016

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....

October 11, 2016

Consumer Protections for Behind the Meter electricity supply

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre (CUAC) welcome the opportunity to respond to the Council of Australian Governments Energy Council (Energy Council) c...

October 10, 2016

Review of the Limited Merits Review Regime

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre (CUAC) welcome the opportunity to respond to the Council of Australian Governments Energy Council (Energy Council) r...

October 7, 2016

Stand-alone energy systems in the Electricity Market

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre (CUAC) welcome the opportunity to respond to the Council of Australian Governments’ Energy Council (Energy Council)...

October 7, 2016

Eager homebuyers still falling victim to shadowy rent-to-buy deals

Eileen Webb, Curtin University and Allan Fels, University of Melbourne Those looking to get a piece of the Australian dream of buying a home are still falling victim to the shadow property market o...

October 7, 2016

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...

October 5, 2016

Fringe dwellings – the vendor finance and rent-to-buy housing black market: Report

Vendor finance and rent-to-buy schemes promise the Australian dream of owning your own home—without a bank loan. However, these deals typically do not result in successful homeownership and in some...

October 5, 2016

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...

October 5, 2016

Fringe dwellings – the vendor finance and rent-to-buy housing black market: Report

Vendor finance and rent-to-buy schemes promise the Australian dream of owning your own home—without a bank loan. However, these deals typically do not result in successful home ownership and in som...

October 5, 2016

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...

September 28, 2016

Expansion of the Financial Ombudsman Service’s (FOS) Small Business Jurisdiction

Financial Counselling Australia, Consumer Action Law Centre and Financial Rights Legal Centre welcome the opportunity to respond to the Expansion of FOS’s Small Business Jurisdiction – Consultation Pa...

September 23, 2016

Consumer Action takes Commonwealth Bank to Ombudsman over alleged irresponsible lending

Consumer Action has lodged a complaint against the CBA with the Financial Ombudsman Service. A 57 year old Melbourne woman living with a disability alleges alleges that the bank has not met its legal...

September 22, 2016

Draft Life Insurance Code of Practice – Second Public Consultation

Thank you for the opportunity for Consumer Action Legal Centre (Consumer Action) and the Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights) to comment on the Financial Services Council’s (FSC’s) Draft L...

September 16, 2016

Independent review of product sales commissions and product based payments

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action), Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights) and Good Shepherd Microfinance (GSM) are pleased to provide a joint submission in response to the Aus...

September 16, 2016

Joint Consumer Representative Submission to the Australian Bankers’ Association Inc Independent Review of the Code of Banking Practice 2016

Click here to read the Joint Consumer Representative Submission to the Australian Bankers’ Association Inc Independent Review of the Code of Banking Practice 2016 [pdf]....

September 16, 2016

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...

September 12, 2016

Productivity Commission Issues Paper – Consumer Law Enforcement and Administration

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

September 8, 2016

General Exemption Order Review

Consumer Action has joined with Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre to make a submission to the Department of Land, Water and Planning Position Paper on the General Exemptions Order. The Paper proposes...

September 1, 2016

Speech to the ACPET National Conference 25 August 2016, Hobart

On Wednesday, 18 May 2016, Consumer Action's Director of Policy & Campaigns Denise Boyd gave a speech to the ACPET National Conference on telling the stories of our clients who have been impacted...

August 25, 2016

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...

August 24, 2016

Legal action against Get Qualified Australia

Consumer Action has assisted a 34 year old migrant to take legal action against Get Qualified Australia. GQA claims to assist people with the process of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). RPL is an...

August 19, 2016

Research report: Review of Tenants’ and Consumers’ Experience of VCAT

There are “very substantial barriers” that inhibit people from accessing justice at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), according to a new research report. Consumer Action Law C...

August 16, 2016

Emergency Service Levy Monitor – price exploitation and false conduct draft guidelines

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) is pleased to comment on the Emergency Services Levy Insurance Monitor Act 2016 Draft Guidelines on the prohibition against price exploitation and Draft Gu...

August 9, 2016

Productivity Commission’s Issues Paper Human Services – Identifying sectors for reform (Issues Paper).

Consumer Action Law Centre is pleased to provide this submission to the Productivity Commission’s Issues Paper Human Services – Identifying sectors for reform (Issues Paper). This submission provides...

August 2, 2016

Power Transformed

The rapid development of new technology in electricity supply is disrupting the traditional means of delivery of this essential service. As in other sectors, the consumer is at the heart of these chan...

July 31, 2016

Power Transformed

The rapid development of new technology in electricity supply is disrupting the traditional means of delivery of this essential service. As in other sectors, the consumer is at the heart of these chan...

July 31, 2016

Public Inquiry: Data Availability and Use

Consumer Action has provided a submission in response to the Productivity Commission's Issues Paper for its inquiry on Data Availability and Use. The submission primarily focuses on the need to mai...

July 29, 2016

Submission to the ESC Water Pricing Approach Review

Consumer Action has partnered with the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre and the Victorian Council of Social Service to provide a submission to the Essential Services Commission Position Paper, A New...

July 29, 2016

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...

July 27, 2016

Review of Enforcement Regimes under the National Energy Laws: Proposed policy positions for consultation

Consumer Action Law Centre welcomes the opportunity to comment on the consultation paper, Review of Enforcement Regimes under the National Energy Laws: Proposed policy positions for consultation, rele...

July 20, 2016

Federal Circuit Court Financial Counselling Project Evaluation

Since September 2014, the Federal Circuit Court (FCC) in Melbourne has provided direct financial counselling services to self-represented debtors in the FCC’s Bankruptcy Lists. This pilot service, imp...

July 14, 2016