News - Consumer Action Law Centre

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

Review of the Limited Merits Review Regime

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)...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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]....

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