News - Consumer Action Law Centre

Our finances are a mess – could behavioral science help clean them up?

Hal Hershfield, University of California, Los Angeles and Abigail Sussman, University of Chicago The first few months of a new year can be a stressful time financially. The Christmas holidays typic...

‘Debt vultures’ in the spotlight

Australians live with over $1 trillion in personal debt, according to recent data from the Reserve Bank of Australia. That’s a staggering figure that should have economists, legislators and regulators...

Unemployed and at risk: more help needed for those out of work

The mental health of the unemployed deteriorates the longer they are out of work and this is a barrier to securing future employment, research has found. While different ways to reach this group are b...

Submission to The Treasury on priorities for 2016-17 Federal Budget

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into The Treasury’s budget development for financial year 2016-17. The stated aim of the Government in inviting s...

Good communication the key to successful electricity tariff reform: Gerard Brody

In response to "Andrews Government accused of killing $1.6b benefit of tariff changes" (3/2/2016) in the Australian Financial Review: Claims that the Victorian Andrews Government’s ‘backing away’ f...

Victorian Mum takes on consumer rental company Flexirent and wins

A Victorian Mum of four has won a settlement of nearly $4000 after she took legal action against Flexirent Capital Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the ASX listed company FlexiGroup Limited. Michelle T...

Draft Life Insurance Code of Practice

Joint submission with Financial Rights Legal Centre and Financial Counselling Australia to the draft Life Insurance Code of Practice. Read the full report here [PDF]...

Submission to the 2016 Retail Competition Review Approach Paper (RPR0004)

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the approach to the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) 2016 Retail Competition Review (the Review)....

Submission: SACC Review Interim Report

Consumer Action has made its submission in response to the SACC Review Interim Report. We continue to push for tighter regulation on payday loans and consumer leases, which have been shown to cause si...

Further Education and Training (Training Ombudsman) And Another Act Amendment Bill 2015 (QLD)

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Further Education and Training (Training Ombudsman) And Another Act Amendment Bill 2015 (Bill) (QLD) Read o...

Debt vultures are not your friends

The huge up-front fees and dubious value of services provided by for-profit debt businesses is in the spotlight after a new report by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Co...

Commissioner warns legal clients against email and internet scams

Email and internet scams are finding their way into the provision of legal services offered by honest solicitors. The Victorian Legal Services Commissioner, Michael McGarvie, warned both consumers and...

Don’t give up! Dick Smith customers still have options.

Following the news that electronics retailer Dick Smith has gone into administration – don’t assume you’ve lost your rights. Sarah has recently advised us that she purchased a mobile phone from Dick...

Life Insurance Reform Legislation

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the exposure draft Corporations Amendment (Life Insurance Remuneration Arrangements) Bill 2015 (the draft bill)....

Training Provider Open Colleges sued for breach of consumer law

As the crisis in Vocational Education deepens, another student is fighting back by taking on education provider Open Colleges in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Tanea Ferris (a 52...

Victoria’s Future Industries: New Energy Technologies Discussion Paper

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the New Energy Technologies Discussion Paper. Read our response here [PDF]...

Why an unfairness test might be a better way to tackle big business bullies

Eileen Webb, University of Western Australia Unconscionable conduct proceedings against Woolworths by the corporate regulator announced this week are a (yet another) brave attempt to crack down on an...

Reforming vocational education: it’s time to end the exploitation of vulnerable people

Mary Leahy, University of Melbourne Australia’s vocational education sector is a mess. Tightening regulation and tweaking some of the settings will contain the damage, but these measures alone w...

Stop lifelong debt sentences – Consumer Action responds to Credit Card Inquiry.

The Government must take meaningful action on the lifelong debt sentences wreaking havoc on many Australians by credit cards. Consumer Action Law Centre commends the recommendation of the Senate in...

Junk Merchants – A Consumer Action Law Centre Report

Read our full media release here. Download the 'Junk Merchants' report here [PDF] View the report below: ...

Junk merchants fleecing millions from unknowing Australians

Unknowing Australians could be paying millions of dollars for junk insurance according to a new report from Consumer Action Law Centre. The ‘Junk Merchants’ report says that Consumer Credit (CCI) a...

What to do next – Consumer Credit and Gap Insurance complaints

What to do next... If an insurer rejects your complaint, or their response isn’t good enough, you have further options. Here’s what you can do once you’ve made a complaint. [Haven’t yet made a compl...

How to make a complaint – step-by-step guide

What do I need to start? It's best to have your insurance or warranty documents with you when you complete the letter. If you don't have them, see below for tips for requesting these documents....

Gap insurance – fact sheet

What is it? Gap insurance (sometimes called ‘shortfall insurance’, ‘price protection insurance’ or ‘guaranteed asset protection’) is designed to provide cover for the 'gap' between: What you owe un...

Consumer credit insurance – fact sheet

What is it? If you have taken out a loan recently, or you have a credit card, the finance provider might also have sold you consumer credit insurance. Consumer credit insurance (CCI) is sometimes ca...

Consumer credit insurance – Tips on reading your policy

It is good to check your policy wording so you can decide if your policy is suitable for you or get some advice if you are not sure what protection it gives you. These are some things to look out for...

Building consumer protections welcomed

Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed the introduction into State Parliament of a bill to improve building consumer protection. The Building Legislation Amendment (Consumer Protection) Bill 2015...

Solar sale burns buyer

A Melbourne couple are fighting to get their money back after being sold solar panels that they say were trouble from the moment they were installed. The couple, Michael and Amanda Cousins, assist...

VET Sector needs a national ombudsman: Consumer Action

Consumer Action Law Centre welcomes reforms announced today by the Federal Government for the vocational education and training (VET) sector and calls for the establishment of a national ombudsman sch...

Higher Education Support Amendment (VET FEE-HELP Reform) Bill 2015 Inquiry

Consumer Action Law Centre provides free legal advice and pursues litigation on behalf of vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers across Victoria. In recent years we have built up substantial experienc...

Submission to the draft AER (Retail) Exempt Selling Guidelines

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) is pleased to provide comment on the revised AER (Retail) Exempt Selling Guideline (the Guideline). Read our full submission here [PDF]....

FIX IT! How to fix the energy market rule making process to improve competition and consumer outcomes

The National Energy Retail Rules (NERR) impose minimum requirements that apply to terms and conditions of energy retail contracts. For market retail contracts, energy retailers are required to notify...

FIX IT! How to fix the energy market rule making process – an evaluation

Since 2012, consumer advocates have been able to propose a ‘rule change’ to the National Energy Retail Rules (NERR), which regulates the sale and supply of electricity and gas to retail customers in s...

Lawyering for Change: new research on the value of strategic advocacy by community legal centres and how to do it

Access to justice is not as simple as the provision of free legal services according to a new report. Strategic advocacy is often the missing ingredient to ensure that justice is done. The new report,...

Lawyering for change

Providing our clients with access to free legal services does not necessarily mean we provide them with justice. With 156,854 clients turned away from community legal centres (CLCs) in 2014,1 it is cl...

November 2015

Read, watch and listen to media featuring Consumer Action from November 2015. Suncorp reports spike in smash repairers car-napping vehicles and holding owners to ransom https://www.google.com/url...

Consumer Complaints Register – Joint Submission

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights) welcome the opportunity to comment on the Consumer Complaints Register described in the Discussion...

Accident Towing Regulation – Joint submission

Consumer Action has partnered with Western Community Legal Centre to provide a submission to the Essential Services Commission on its Draft Report on Accident Towing. The submission welcomes the focus...

Acquiring a long list of complaints on privacy

The privacy commissioner has been called in to investigate allegations that the Privacy Act is being flaunted by an education company targeting job-seekers to sell vocational courses. Consumer Acti...

Retirement living parliamentary event

Consumer Action hosted a morning tea at Parliament House on 9 October 2015 which brought together over 70 retirement housing residents with their local parliamentarians. It was a hugely successful d...

Payday loans: Julie’s Story

Julie is a single mother who subsists on Centrelink payments. She was recently involved in a family breakdown and suffers from mental health issues. She has had her Centrelink reduced and as a result...

Payday loans: James’ Story

James says he has had approximately 8 to 12 payday loans from a payday lender (that also operates as a pawnbroker) in the last 12 to 18 months, but he's lost count. James says that he was recently pro...

Ban bad products before they cause harm: Financial System Inquiry

Fairness must be central to the regulation of financial services, says Consumer Action Law Centre commenting on the Federal Government response to the Financial System Inquiry. The Federal Governme...

The common car product you might get a refund for

Australians are demanding better from the products sold with used cars and winning. Sarah from Melbourne’s south east thought she had to buy an extended warranty in order to get a loan. Consumer Ac...

Payday loans: Laura’s Story

Laura lives in public housing and receives a Centrelink pension. She has a mild intellectual disability and suffers from mental illness. Laura has two young children one of which has a mild intellectu...

Used car warranties: Phil’s story

Phil* bought a used car as a gift for his granddaughter in October 2014. He also bought a motor vehicle warranty from National Warranty Company. Phil paid $4500 for the car and $295 for the warranty....

Review of the small amount credit contract laws – Submission

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the review of the small amount credit contract laws and comparable consumer leases (the review). Read the full...

Add-on insurance – watch out!

Consumer Action has helped a client take on one of Australia's biggest finance companies about add-on insurance and a high-cost loan. In April 2013, our elderly client asked for a loan of $10,000 to...

Senate inquiry backs VET Industry Ombudsman

Consumer Action Law Centre reiterates its call for the establishment of an Industry Ombudsman in the vocational education sector as recommended in a Senate report released today. The release of "Th...

New research shows struggling Australians suffering while the payday lending sector booms: Consumer groups

Consumer groups have cautioned policy makers not to fall for payday lending spin as new research from Digital Finance Analytics (DFA) shows the devastating impact of the industry on Australians strugg...

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