News - Consumer Action Law Centre

Media release: Call to end penalty fees on basic bank accounts: Consumer groups want reform from CBA & ANZ

CHOICE and Consumer Action are calling on the Commonwealth Bank and the ANZ banks to stop gouging low-income earners through unfair penalty fees on their concession accounts. CBA and ANZ continue to...

Media release: Major bank outsources its responsibility for financial hardship to notorious debt collector

The National Australia Bank (NAB) has been selling off the credit card debt owed by customers, some in genuine financial difficulties, to a debt collector well-known to community workers and financial...

Media release: Time for government to put home equity out of risk over small debts

Consumer Action Law Centre has today called on the Federal Government to make the simple law change needed to put a stop to unfair bankruptcy actions that strip home equity. Gerard Brody, Deputy Dire...

Media release: Time for governments to close reckless lending loophole

Consumer Action Law Centre has today issued legal proceedings against a fringe lender that exploits loopholes in the law to take advantage of vulnerable consumers. Consumer Action is acting on behalf...

Presentation: Fairness – The New Touchstone in the Regulation of Credit Fees and Charges (Credit Law 2008 Conference)

To read our presentation, please click: Addressing the concept of fairness...

Media release: Dodgy First Choice betting software scam should be your last choice

Consumer Action has warned Victorians to beware of spruiker of computer betting software First Global Pty Ltd (trading as First Choice), after it today issued legal proceedings against the company. R...

Media release: Bank fees unfair but no action from the Senate

CHOICE and the Consumer Action Law Centre say they are extremely disappointed with the Senate Economics Committee’s failure to recommend new laws to protect consumers from unfair bank penalty fees. T...

Media release: Consumer Action ‘king-hits’ unlicensed motor car trader

Consumer Action has issued two legal proceedings against a Brunswick businessman alleging he is selling poor quality motor vehicles to consumers without a licence. Celia Tikotin, Director of Legal Pr...

Media release: Australian report exposes psychological tricks used to market credit card limit increases

A landmark report released today by the Consumer Action Law Centre has exposed the different psychological manipulations used by banks and other lenders to persuade people to take up offers for higher...

Policy report: An analysis of credit limit upselling letters

Consumer Action commissioned Dr Paul Harrison, Deakin Business School, Deakin University and Marta Massi, School of Marketing and Communication, Lumsa University (Rome), to study the psychological asp...

Media release: Consumer Action welcomes privacy report’s fair and sensible approach to credit reporting and privacy reform

Consumer Action Law Centre today welcomed the recommendations of the Australian Law Reform Commission’s (ALRC) report into Australia’s privacy laws and practice. But it warned the Australian Governmen...

Media release: Court attack launched on private car park’s ‘fines’

Consumer Action Law Centre has today instituted legal proceedings in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) against Australian National Car Parks Pty Ltd (ANCP), the operator of a numb...

Joint submission: Review of the Code of Banking Practice 2007-2008

CHOICE and Consumer Action support and endorse the joint consumer submission to the Review of the Code of Banking Practice. This submission concentrates on the issue of bank penalty fees in more detai...

Submission: Inquiry into competition in the banking and non-banking sectors

Consumer Action is pleased to make a submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics inquiry into competition in the banking and non-banking sectors. Our submission conside...

Media release: VCAT orders spruiker of computer gambling software to refund consumer

Consumer Action Law Centre has today succeeded in obtaining a refund from a spruiker of computer gambling software at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (the Tribunal). Reliance Investme...

Submission: Review of trustee remuneration

As detailed in this submission, we support many of the amendments to the framework for trustee remuneration proposed by the paper. However, we are concerned that the tenor of the paper is primarily de...

Submission: Inquiry into the Unit Pricing (Easy comparison of grocery prices) Bill 2008

Consumer Action welcomes opportunity to provide this submission to the Senate Economics Committee’s Inquiry into the Unit Pricing (Easy comparison of grocery prices) Bill 2008. In summary, our reco...

Briefing paper: Some views about “Responsible Lending” (July 2008)

To read the briefing paper, please click here....

Submission: Financial Services and Credit Reform Green Paper

Consumer Action strongly supports Option 2 proposed on page 12 of the Green Paper, where the Commonwealth Government would assume responsibility, not only for mortgage credit and advice, but also for...

Submission: Financial Services and Credit Reform Green Paper

Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to provide comment on the Financial Services and Credit Reform Green Paper, released by the Australian Government Treasury on 3 June 2008. Consumer Action s...

Submission: Reform of Australia’s payments system

Consumer Action is supportive of the approach by the Reserve Bank of Australia to the electronic payments system and we welcome the pragmatism of the RBA in stepping in and regulating interchange fees...

Media release: Consumer Action launches litigation against Motor Finance Wizard

Consumer Action Law Centre has issued proceedings against Motor Finance Wizard (Melbourne Sales) Pty Ltd (‘Motor Finance Wizard’) and Kwik Finance (Melb) Pty Ltd (‘Kwik Finance’) in the Victorian Civi...

Media release: Consumer Action seeks orders against Australian Institute of Mathematics and Lombard Finance

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) has instituted legal proceedings in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (the Tribunal) against Addsup Education trading as Australian Institute...

Media release: Consumer win with unfair debit success contract

Consumer Action Law Centre has obtained a favourable outcome for its client, a mother of two young children, who purchased self defence classes for her children from Albion Self Defence Academy using...

Policy report: The consumer protection provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974

This comprehensive report examines Australia’s consumer protection framework in light of international developments, including those from the USA, Canada, UK and European Union. The report complements...

Media release: Regional water customers on the drip feed, says Consumer Action

Consumer Action Law Centre has slammed a number of Victorian regional water businesses for unfairly restricting the water supply of consumers and initiating legal action in relation to small debts. T...

Submission: Inquiry into Australia’s Mandatory Last Resort Home Warranty Insurance Schemes

Consumer Action welcomes the Senate Economics Committee Inquiry into Australia’s Mandatory Last Resort Home Building Warranty Insurance (HBWI) schemes. We have long been concerned that the mandatory H...

Media release: Consumer Action alleges debit success contract contains unfair terms

Consumer Action Law Centre has instituted legal proceedings in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (the Tribunal) against Debit Success Pty Ltd (Debit Success) and Rif and Jean Mustafa tra...

Media release: Consumer Action puts traders and Government on notice

Consumer Action Law Centre has released its 2008 Policy Plan on World Consumer Rights Day. Unfair, excessive and unlawful bank penalty fees, high cost exploitative credit and dodgy motor car traders w...

Media release: Consumer Action calls on car parks to be fair

Consumer Action Law Centre has written to two operators of private car parks in Melbourne seeking a review of their business practices and the installation of barriers so that consumers are not fined...

Media release: Finance broker flouts federal court orders, claims Consumer Action

Consumer Action Law Centre has claimed that a finance broker is flouting Federal Court orders. The broker, Sample & Partners, agreed to orders in May 2007 intended to remedy harm caused to hundred...

Media release: Finance broker flouts federal court orders, claims Consumer Action

Consumer Action Law Centre has claimed that a finance broker is flouting Federal Court orders. The broker, Sample & Partners, agreed to orders in May 2007 intended to remedy harm caused to hundred...

Media release: Customers to bear costs for energy retailers failure

Consumer Action Law Centre has labelled the decision by the Essential Services Commission (the ESC) to charge consumers should their retailer go bankrupt or leave the market as outrageous and unfair....

Submission: Discussion paper 72: review of Australian privacy law

Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to comment on the above Paper prepared by the Australian Law Reform Commission. Our submission focuses on some key credit reporting issues as well as some gene...

Submission: Abacus Draft Code of Practice

Consumer Action has made a submission in relation to the proposed Abacus Australian Mutuals Draft Code of Practice. As a general comment, we record our support for both the tenor and quality of the Dr...

Media release: Consumers challenge basis for rising energy prices

Victorian consumers will be hit by huge energy price increases from 1 January 2008 but without any public information about the basis for these price rises, said Consumer Action Law Centre today. Sta...

Policy report: Coercion and harassment at the door Consumer experiences with energy direct marketers

Since the introduction of full retail contestability in the Victorian energy market, Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and the Financial & Consumer Rights Council (FCRC) have received n...

Submission: Victorian motor vehicle lemon laws

Consumer Action is pleased to have the opportunity to submit its views regarding the proposed introduction of motor vehicle lemon laws in Victoria. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank...

Media release: Don’t harass us at home, say consumers

Consumer Action Law Centre has today launched a campaign to assist consumers to avoid door-to-door marketers if they wish to do so. The campaign will distribute a ‘Do Not Knock’ sticker, which warns s...

Submission: Alternative dispute resolution – discussion paper

Consumer Action has made a submission on the Alternative Dispute Resolution Discussion Paper prepared by the Victorian Parliament Law Reform Committee. In particular, Consumer Action has a number of s...

Submission: Review of the effectiveness of competition in electricity and gas retail markets in Victoria – first draft report

Consumer Action has commented on the Australian Energy Market Commission’s Review of the Effectiveness of Competition in Electricity and Gas Retail Markets – First Draft Report which was released for...

Submission: Water Tariff Structures Review – Issues Paper

Consumer Action has commented on the Essential Services Commission’s Water Tariff Structures Review – Issues Paper released on 22 October 2007. To read our submission, click here: Water Tariff Stru...

Presentation: A consumer advocate’s view on effective internal dispute resolution (WA Energy Ombudsman/Economic Regulatory Authority Utility Dispute Resolution Forum)

To read our presentation, please click: A consumer advocate’s view on effective internal dispute resolution...

Presentation: Consumer Priorities (2007 Abacus Convention Regulatory Affairs Conference)

To read our presentation, please click: Consumer Priorities...

Submission: Civil Justice Reform

Consumer Action is pleased to have the opportunity to submit its views on the second exposure draft of Victorian Law Reform Commission’s review of the civil justice system in Victoria. To read our...

Media release: More penalty fees cut as campaign gains momentum

CHOICE and Consumer Action have welcomed NAB’s announcement today it will cut direct debit dishonour fees from $50 to $30 and will launch a new mainstream transaction account that allows consumers to...

Presentation: Unfair credit contracts – Advocating on behalf of consumers (2007 South Australian Financial Counsellors Association Conference)

To read our presentation, please click: Unfair credit contracts...

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