Rent-to-buy products must be kicked off Centrepay

Leading consumer groups are calling for the Australian Parliament to support moves by the Senate to protect the integrity of Centrelink’s budgeting tool for essentials, Centrepay, by excluding rent-to...
September 10, 2015

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...
September 10, 2015

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...
September 9, 2015

September 2015

Read, watch and listen to media featuring Consumer Action from September 2015. Mental glitch that's making us spend https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http://www.news.com.au/financ...
September 8, 2015

Energy disconnections: Julie’s story

Julie is 48 years old and lives alone in a public housing unit. In the past Julie has struggled with alcohol addiction, and has recently escaped a violent partner. She suffers from post-traumatic stre...
September 4, 2015

Energy disconnections: Karen’s story

Karen is a single mother of four children living in public housing. Her gas and electricity were disconnected for about a week in October 2014. At that time Karen was a victim of domestic violence. He...
September 1, 2015

The energy market is failing struggling Victorians

Victoria’s energy market is failing our most vulnerable people, according to Consumer Action Law Centre. With the release of the Essential Services Commission’s Energy Hardship Inquiry Draft Report to...
September 1, 2015

August 2015

Finance: Personal Debt https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http://blogs.abc.net.au/victoria/2015/08/finance-personal-debt.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyHTkyNDA4NmMwOGZiNTEzMDE6Y29tLmF1OmVuOk...
August 31, 2015

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...
August 31, 2015

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...
August 28, 2015

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...
August 25, 2015

Don’t make the poor pay more: Consumer Action

Today, ALP Senator Doug Cameron will be leading debate on a Bill to exclude consumer lease products from Centrelink's welfare budgeting tool Centrepay. What are 'consumer leases'?  A consumer le...
August 20, 2015

VET Funding Review – Issues Paper Submission

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on consultation questions on the future directions outlined in the VET Funding Review Issues Paper. Download our f...
August 11, 2015

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...
July 30, 2015

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...
July 20, 2015

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...
July 20, 2015

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...
July 6, 2015

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...
July 6, 2015

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...
July 1, 2015

Fake discounts must end: Consumer Action

Energy companies regularly offer discounts to Australians, but these “discounts” often hide the true costs faced by customers. According to the Australian Market Energy Commission’s latest Retail Comp...
July 1, 2015

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...
June 30, 2015

Life insurance overdue for change

Consumer Action Law Centre says that proposed changes from the life insurance industry (welcomed by Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg) to overhaul excessive commission structures and questionable ad...
June 25, 2015

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...
June 4, 2015

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...
June 2, 2015

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...
May 29, 2015

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...
May 27, 2015