March 2015
Fee shock pushes pensioners to take on retirement industry The Age, 4 March 2015, Simon Johanson Think For Yourself: Short Term Loans Independent Australia, 3 March 2015, John Turnbull ‘They’re no d...
Pensioners head to VCAT to challenge ‘deferred management fees’
The legality and fairness of ‘deferred management fees’ will be challenged in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in a case that should be watched closely by the retirement living i...
Submission: Private vocational education and training providers in Australia
Consumer Action has provided comment to the Senate Education and Employment Committees on the operation, regulation and funding of private vocational education and training (VET) providers in Australi...
Consumer Action’s statement to the Senate Inquiry into the performance and management of electricity network companies
Consumer Action’s addressed the Senate Inquiry into the performance and management of electricity network companies on 18 February 2015. Our opening address was as follows: "Thank you for the oppor...
Submission: 2015 Retail Competition Review Approach Paper
Consumer Action has provided input to the Australian Energy Market Commission's 2015 Retail Competition Review Approach Paper. Effective competition is critical for energy consumers to the extent that...
Submission: Regulating innovative energy selling business models
Consumer Action has made a submission to Australian Energy Regulator about regulating innovative energy selling business models under the National Energy Retail Law. The issue of appropriate regulati...
Consumer Action’s hopes for the new Victorian Parliament
Consumer Action has published its first newsletter for the new Victorian Parliament. The newsletter outlines pressing issues facing Victorian consumers and the action we're seeking in this parliamenta...
Submission: Interim report on Retail Life Insurance Advice
Consumer Action, Financial Rights Legal Centre, Choice and Maurice Blackburn Lawyers have provided comment on the Interim report on Retail Life Insurance Advice. In brief, the submission argues:...
Media release: Life insurance report lacks imagination in failing to look beyond commission based sales
The life insurance industry’s initial response to a damning report which revealed 37 per cent of all life insurance advice provided by Australia’s financial services licensees failed to comply with th...
Submission: 2015-16 Federal Budget
Consumer Action welcomes the Government’s invitation to the Australian community to provide input to the 2015-16 Commonwealth Budget. We continue to be mindful of the current economic conditions and...
Submission: National Approach to Electricity Network Tariff Reform
Consumer Action and the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre have provided input to the Energy Networks Association's position paper, Towards a National Approach to Electricity Network Tariff Reform. O...
Buying a car? Beware of being sold discretionary risk products
Extended warranty products are often sold with used cars. However, some of these warranty products, known collectively as “discretionary risk products”, give the provider an absolute discretion overpa...
February 2015
Should payday lenders be regulated under NCCP? Banking Day, 24 February 2015, Nathan Lynch Payday loans: beware the lure of quick money The New Daily, 23 February 2015, Alice Uribe Bills take...
Media release: ‘Vendor terms’ home ownership deal a fantasy with no basis in reality
The spotlight will be on ‘vendor terms’ home sales in a new case before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). ‘Vendor terms’ contracts are an alternative to mainstream bank mortgages...
Submission: Facilitating electronic financial services disclosure
Consumer Action has provided a submission on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission's Consultation Paper 224: Facilitating electronic financial services disclosure. Our responses to the...
Submission: Legal Services Council’s consultation on General Rules
Consumer Action and Financial Rights Legal Centre have made a joint submission to the Legal Services Council's consultation on the proposed General Rules under the Legal Profession Uniform Law. Our s...
Submission: Law Council of Australia’s consultation on Uniform Rules
Consumer Action and Financial Rights Legal Centre have made a joint submission to the Law Council of Australia's current consultation on the proposed Legal Practice Rules (Solicitors) and Legal Profes...
January 2015
Don’t mention the ‘P’ word News.com.au, 31 January 2015, Frank Chung Property spruiker facing legal action over rent-to-own scheme Brisbane Times, 24 January 2014, Chris Vedelago Former top banker i...
December 2015
Read, watch and listen to media featuring Consumer Action from December 2015. Government in "emergency" funding crackdown on vocational colleges https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=...
Submission: The performance and management of electricity network companies
Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications about the performance and management of electricity network companie...
December 2014
What the Murray Inquiry will mean for you News.com.au, 9 December 2014, Frank Chung Consumer groups broadly labelling the Financial System Inquiry report a 'win' ABC PM, 8 December 2014, Amy Bainbrid...
Media Release: Financial System Inquiry puts consumer welfare first
Consumer Advocate urges Government to implement recommendations ASAP The David Murray-led Financial System Inquiry represents a “paradigm shift” for Australia’s financial system. The report recogni...
Have you borrowed from Sunshine Loans or Cash Loan Money Centre?
Have you had loans from Sunshine Loans or Cash Loan Money Centre? If so, you may be entitled to compensation after ASIC expressed concern that these companies had business models designed to avoid...
Submission: 2015 Retail Competition Review Approach Consultation Paper
Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the approach to the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) 2015 Retail Competition Review. Effective competition is critical for ener...
Media release: Major parties urged to commit to helping vulnerable seniors before election
Overly complex contract terms and unfair fee structures can make the decision to move into retirement accommodation a gamble. Many Victorians move into purpose-built retirement villages or other retir...
Submission: Competition Policy Review Draft Report
Consumer Action has provided comment on the Draft Report of the Competition Policy Review. Key points We agree that an effective competition policy must be focused on making markets work in the lon...
Submission: Revisions to the Telecommunications Consumer Protections Industry Code
Consumer Action has provided the following thoughts on the proposed revisions to the Communications Alliance Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Industry Code (DR C628:2014). Duplication bet...
Submission: Energy Green Paper
Consumer Action has provided the following submission to the Department of Industry on the Energy Green Paper. Australia’s energy market is rapidly changing, with the unprecedented fall in energy d...
Scam alert: Scammers falsely using Consumer Action’s name
Scam alert! We’ve had reports of scammers falsely using Consumer Action's name to obtain money and banking details from their victims. Consumer Action is not responsible for these calls. We will never...
November 2014
Bloody shocker: The dodgy things power companies do that drive us crazy News.com.au, 28 November 2014, James Law Consumer lease companies accused of targeting vulnerable people ABC PM, 27 November 20...
Media release: Ensuring ‘fixed’ means ‘fixed’ when it comes to energy contracts
Consumer Action Law Centre and the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre welcomed the Coalition's announcement that it will ban energy retailers using the term "fixed" when referring to contracts with va...
Are debt businesses unfairly targeting vulnerable consumers?
Ever seen an ad urging you make a quick phone call in order to get debt free fast, so you can get on with living a stress-free life? Chances are it was an ad for a debt agreement. Regulated by the Ba...
Legal Services Commissioner reprimands Mr James Woods of E C Legal
In what should act as a warning to legal firms involved in debt collection, the Legal Services Commissioner has reprimanded Mr James Woods, principal of E C Legal, for conduct which the Commissioner w...
Consumer Action’s 2013/2014 Annual Report
Consumer Action’s 2013/2014 Annual Report and Financial Report now available and features information about our: Legal practice; policy team; MoneyHelp financial counselling service; Volunteer p...
Energy retailers given green light to increase prices at will
Consumer advocates lament a lost opportunity to repair Australia’s broken energy retail market Energy retailers will continue increasing prices at their leisure after the Australian Energy Market Com...
Submission: Key Recommendations arising from the Review of Enforcement Regimes under the National Energy Laws Final Report
Consumer Action has provided comment on the Discussion Paper on Key Recommendations arising from the Review of Enforcement Regimes under the National Energy Laws Final Report. Consumer Action provided...
Submission: AEMC Rule Change on Distribution Network Pricing Arrangements Draft Determination
Consumer Action, Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre and Victorian Council of Social Service have provided input into the AEMC's draft determination on distribution network pricing arrangements. Our o...
Consumer Action’s Agata Wierzbowski announced as the 2014/15 Community Legal Centre Fellow
Consumer Action is thrilled that one of our solicitors, Agata Wierzbowski, has been announced as the 2014/15 Community Legal Centre Fellow. Agata will be researching strategic casework. These are cas...
Media release: Victorian energy retailers failing struggling customers – disconnection on the rise
The Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria (EWOV) Annual Report for 2013/14 suggests energy retailers are failing to offer sufficient assistance to customers struggling with high bills. During the year,...
Media release: Government’s pre election energy statement a welcome addition to the debate
Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed the State Government’s pre election energy statement, in particular the focus on making Victoria’s energy market easier to navigate, and keeping vulnerable memb...
Media release: Parliament urged to protect Victorian home owner-builders
In its final sitting week, the Victorian Parliament is being urged to pass new domestic building consumer protections into law as a matter of priority. The Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 wou...
Bank West to stop charging a fee for cancelling a direct debit payment
Earlier this year consumer advocates got wind that that Bank West was charging a $15 fee for cancelling a direct debit payment. So we looked around and couldn’t find a single other bank or mutual that...
October 2014
Power companies given ‘green light’ to bait and switch, consumer advocates say news.com.au, 24 October 2014, Frank Chung Retailers forced to be upfront about rising electricity prices Canberra Ti...
Submission: Retailer Price Variations in Market Retail Contracts
Consumer Action and Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre have made a supplementary submission on the Australian Energy Market Commission's Draft Rule Determination: Retailer Price Variations in Market...
Media release: Competition Policy Review Draft Report welcomed, but panellists urged to consider consumer experience and protection
Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed the Competition Policy Review Draft Report and its emphasis ‘on protecting competition and not competitors.’ But Consumer Action will be asking the review’s pan...
Submission: AEMC Rule Change on Customer Access to Information about their Energy Consumption
As in Consumer Action's previous submission to the consultation paper, we agree with the premise of the rule change that 'in practice it is difficult for customers to access their data from market par...
Submission: The Forrest Review and the Healthy Welfare Card
Consumer Choice We have concerns that forcing welfare recipients to receive and spend their benefits on a certain card will adversely affect their consumer choice. By limiting their ability to pay wit...
Submission: Senate Standing Committees on Economics – Corporations Amendment (Streamlining of Future of Financial Advice) Bill 2014
The Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Corporations Amendment (Streamlining of Future of Financial Advice) Bill 2014 (the Bill). We generally do not support the amendment Bill...
Submission: Financial System Inquiry – Improving Consumer Disclosure
The Financial System Inquiry Interim Report notes that the current disclosure regime for retail financial products and services is not always effective in meeting its objective. It produces complex an...
Media release: Stitched up by two traders in the one deal – Foton Dandenong & All Loans R Us in the spotlight
After a protracted legal battle, car dealer Foton Dandenong has been found to have broken the Australian Consumer Law by selling a defective car. An associated company, All Loans R Us financed the pur...