News - Page 4 of 29 - Consumer Action Law Centre

Payday lenders: trusted friends or debt traps?

Need a loan? Research reveals social media users should be wary of payday lenders using digital platforms to peddle their wares to the vulnerable. If you have ever needed money in a hurry it may ha...

Protecting Australian families from dodgy vendor terms and rent-to-buy arrangements
Consumer Affairs Victoria – Implementation consultation for the Sale of Land Amendment Act 2019

Over the years, our team has assisted a number of people who have been adversely affected by failed vendor finance and rent-to-buy deals, which are promoted as an opportunity to achieve home ownership...

Energy compliance and performance reporting guideline
Essential Services Commission – Compliance and Performance Reporting Guideline updated to include new entitlements for customers Draft Decision

Monitoring is only as effective as the information gathered. In our submission to the Essential Services Commission (ESC) Compliance and Performance Reporting Guideline updated to include new entit...

Financial product design and distribution obligations must be consumer centred and limit loopholes
The Treasury – Corporations Amendment (Design and Distribution Obligations) Regulations 2019 (Cth)

The Design and Distribution Obligations (DADOS) require financial service providers to provide products that meet customer needs rather than focussing on securing the sale. In our joint submission on...

ASIC Enforcement Review
Australian Securities and Investments Commission - Exposure draft legislation, ASIC Enforcement Review Taskforce Final Report

In our joint response to exposure draft legislation implementing certain aspects of the ASIC Enforcement Review Taskforce (ERT) Final Report, Consumer Action and Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financi...

Customer-owned banking code must adequately address financial vulnerability
Customer Owned Banking Association – Report Two of the independent review of the Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice

In our joint submission with Financial Rights Legal Centre to the Report Two of the Customer Owned Banking Association’s (COBA) independent review of the Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice (COBA...

Making it easier for vulnerable customers to access fee-free banking
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission – Draft Determination AA1000441, Australian Banking Association application for authorisation of certain amendments to the 2019 Banking Code

Access to fee-free ‘basic bank accounts’ are an important support for vulnerable banking customers. In light of the harm banking fees can cause for low-income and vulnerable consumers, Commissioner Ha...

Integrated Practice Project: 2019 Mid-Year Report

Recognising that we need to take a coordinated approach to addressing the civil needs of Victorian Aboriginal communities, Consumer Action Law Centre and the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service teamed...

Government crackdown on dodgy insurance sales could save Australians millions

When insurance is added onto the sale of another product or service, consumer groups reveal that it’s likely to be a rip-off. This comes in the wake of the Australian Government’s consultation on how...

Submission: Inquiry into credit and financial services targeted at Australians at risk of financial hardship

Reforming the sale of add-on insurance
Treasury - Reforms to the sale of add on insurance: Proposal Paper

Seven leading consumer groups commented on The Treasury’s Reforms to the sale of add on insurance: Proposal Paper: Consumer Action Law Centre Financial Rights Legal Centre CHOICE Consume...

National Energy Retail Amendment (Strengthening Protections for Customers in Hardship) Rule 2018 Draft Rule Determination

The mortgage broking industry is long overdue for reform
The Treasury – Mortgage broker best interests duty and remuneration reforms

The mortgage broking industry is long overdue for reform. Landmark inquiries from the Banking Royal Commission and the Productivity Commission, as well as a number of ASIC investigations, have all...

CommBank criminal charges reinforces need for urgent law reform

The Banking Royal Commission exposed the considerable harm caused by unsolicited selling of insurance products. Today one of Australia’s big four banks has been charged with 87 criminal counts of “haw...

Energy regulators should have strong powers to stop misconduct
Treasury - Treasury Laws Amendment (Prohibiting Energy Market Misconduct) Bill 2019

Consumer Action supports the Treasury Laws Amendment (Prohibiting Energy Market Misconduct) Bill 2019 (the Bill). We feel that it will ensure the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has appropriate powe...

Royal Commission into Mental Health Terms of Reference Consultation

Cashless Debt Card undermines the role of the market in serving consumer and community interests
Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee – Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management to Cashless Debit Card Transition) Bill 2019

Much of the Federal Government’s effort to address cost of living pressures involves making it easy to switch and exercise choice, for example, through the new Consumer Data Right. However, the Cashle...

ASIC’s intervention in junk ‘add-on’ insurance market open to abuse by car dealers as DemandaRefund.com tops $5 million

Consumer Action says the Australian Securities and Investment Commission’s (ASIC) proposal to use its product intervention powers (PIP) for add-on insurance and warranties sold by caryards lacks teeth...

Fairness needs to be at the forefront of the energy market
Energy Security Board - Post 2025 Market Design Issues Paper

It is our firm stance that fairness should be at the forefront of all markets. In our comment on the Energy Security Board (ESB) Post 2025 Market Design Issues Paper (Issues Paper), Consumer Action...

New telco industry data highlights urgent need for effective regulation and enforcement powers to protect Australians

New complaints data released by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) emphasises the clear need for regulation and strengthened regulator enforcement powers to protect Australians from poor...

Giving energy users access to fair finance for new energy tech
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission - AA1000439 New Energy Tech Consumer Code Application

On 9 September 2019, Consumer Action attended a pre-decision conference on AA1000439 New Energy Tech Consumer Code (The Code) Application. We have provided a further submission following the discussio...

“I don’t want other women falling into the same trap.” Victorian woman joins Canberra delegation to urge Government to stop predatory payday lenders

A Victorian woman who has suffered at the hands of payday lenders has an important message for the Government about the dangers of payday loans as she joins the Stop the Debt Trap Alliance, a coaliti...

Making sure Victorian energy is safe for those requiring power for life support purposes
Essential Service Commission - Strengthening protections for life support customers draft decision

Most people would take the reliability of electricity services for granted. When the power goes out, it is frustrating, but not life threatening. But for many Australians, a loss of electricity is...

Rent4Keeps sued over unaffordable consumer leases

A Victorian woman living with a disability has brought proceedings in the Federal Circuit Court regarding five consumer lease contracts from Darranda Pty Ltd, trading as Rent4Keeps, and Mobberley Ente...

Time is up for predatory credit agent, Cigno as ASIC confirms ban of lending model

Cigno has been weighed, measured and found wanting as the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) takes decisive action to ban a predatory lending business model using its newfound p...

Looking after the needs of Victorian energy consumers
Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria - Independent Review

The Energy & Water Ombudsman Victoria (EWOV) plays an important role in ensuring Victorian households have ongoing access to fair outcomes in relation to the provision of essential energy and wate...

Keeping energy market prices down during energy shortages or network constraints
Australian Energy Market Commission - Draft determination allowing demand response service providers to participate in the wholesale energy market

Demand response service providers could play an important role in the event of energy shortages, coordinating high energy users to consumer less to help keep energy prices down across the market. Curr...

Preparing vulnerable Victorians for electricity outages
Essential Services Commission - Electricity Distribution Code Review Issues Paper

Consumers rely on energy distribution businesses to ensure a consistent supply of their essential electricity services. It is important that these businesses are regulated effectively so that consist...

Keeping comprehensive credit reporting fair for those who have previously experienced hardship
Treasury - National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Mandatory Comprehensive Credit Reporting) Bill 2019

Leading consumer advocacy bodies are concerned that customers who experience financial difficulty repaying loans will be unfairly penalised by credit reporting reforms proposed by the National Consume...

Submission: Telecommunications Consumer Safeguards Review Part A – Consumer Redress and Complaints Handling

The norm of fairness must be recognised
Final Report of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission Digital Platforms Inquiry

Our existing consumer protection framework has failed to prevent unfairness from becoming embedded in business practices. From unclear marketing, subscriptions that make cancellation difficult, to...

Urgent need for payday loan reform acknowledged by Consumer Affairs Ministers

The need for urgent law reform to protect consumers from unfair and predatory payday loans has been reinforced at a meeting of Australian and New Zealand ministers in Queenstown, New Zealand. Minis...

Closing the ‘unfair contract terms’ loophole for insurance – Exposure draft legislation
Treasury - Consultation on Extending Unfair Contract Terms to Insurance Contracts

There is a big fairness problem in insurance. People often make insurance claims when they are at a low ebb, but they can face shocking outcomes when insurers rely on unfair terms in insurance contrac...

ASIC’s proposed ban on outbound phone sales of life, funeral and consumer credit insurance
Australian Securities and Investments Commission - Consultation Paper 317, Unsolicited telephone sales of direct life and consumer credit insurance

Unsolicited selling is an outdated and abusive practice with a significant risk of mis-selling people products they don’t want, need or understand. Financial Rights Legal Centre and Consumer Action...

Response to ASIC’s update to internal dispute resolution requirements for financial firms (RG165)
Australian Securities and Investments Commission - Consultation Paper 311, Internal Dispute Resolution: Update to Regulatory Guide 165 (May 2019)

It is critical that the process to make and resolve complaints with a bank, insurer, or super fund is timely, fair, and accessible, including for people experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage. O...

Consumer advocates unite as Government inaction on payday loan reform hits 1,000 days

As the counter ticks over to 1,000 days since the Coalition Government accepted the recommendations from the Small Amount Credit Contract (SACC) review, consumer advocacy organisations across the coun...

Insurance pricing differences: New vs existing customers

Support for an independent review of the Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice
Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice Independent Review, Report One

In our joint submission with Financial Rights Legal Centre, Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA), Financial Counselling Australia and the Financial & Consumer Rights Council, we support Cameron Ralp...

New Energy Tech Consumer Code must protect Australians from exploitative buy now pay later arrangements
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission - AA1000439 New Energy Tech Consumer Code Application for Authorisation Draft Determination

Consumer Action regularly assists vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers in Victoria with legal and financial issues that arise due to new energy technology such as solar. . The New Energy Tech Consu...

Protecting guarantors from financial abuse
Banking Code Compliance Committee - Inquiry into banks’ compliance when accepting and enforcing guarantees

In our feedback to the Banking Code Compliance Committee (BCCC) inquiry into banks’ compliance when accepting and enforcing guarantees, Consumer Action discusses our concerns with guarantee provision...

Opening statement: Public hearing on ASIC’s responsible lending guidance

The following is the opening statement from Consumer Action CEO, Gerard Brody at the public hearing on ASIC’s responsible lending guidance held in Melbourne on Monday, 19 August 2019. I’m G...

Who is making Australians bankrupt?

One of Australia’s largest debt collectors – Lion Finance (a subsidiary of ASX-listed Collection House Ltd) – turns to bankruptcy procedures to collect consumer debts far more often than its rivals, a...

Time to implement Hayne recommended law reform following court decision

The Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights) and Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) have called for the Government to amend responsible lending laws to ensure that lenders make reaso...

Victorian Default Offer to apply from 1 January 2020 Issues Paper
Essential Service Commission - Victorian Default Offer to apply from 1 January 2020 Issues Paper

The Victorian Default Offer (VDO) was designed to re-regulate electricity pricing to ensure that more Victorian households receive a fair price on their electricity service. Since the VDO’s establishm...

ASIC Consultation Paper 313: Product intervention power
Australian Securities and Investments Commission - Consultation Paper 313: Product Intervention Power

We welcome the introduction of the product intervention power (PIP) and look forward to ASIC using the power to target businesses that cause consumer detriment by engaging in predatory conduct or fail...

NZ Select Committee on Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Bill: Opening Remarks

The below statement was delivered on 31 July 2019 by Consumer Action Law Centre CEO, Gerard Brody to the New Zealand Select Committee on Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Bill. High co...

ASIC Consultation Paper 316: Using the product intervention power: Short term credit
Australian Securities and Investments Commission - Consultation Paper 316: Using the product intervention power: Short term credit

Businesses such as Cigno Pty Ltd, which facilitate access to predatory and unregulated payday loans by exploiting loopholes in the law, are on notice as the Australian Securities and Investment Commis...

Regulator to implement blanket ban on insurance cold calling

An Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) consultation paper, released today, proposes a ban on unsolicited telephone sales of direct life insurance and consumer credit insurance (CCI...

Landmark report shows Victorian Government’s new policies are reducing energy disconnections, but energy companies are still falling short addressing consumer vulnerability

A new report shines a light on the Victorian Government’s ‘Payment Difficult Framework’ finding that disconnections have significantly decreased, but some energy companies are still giving vulnerable...

Energy Assistance Report: tracking how Victoria’s changing energy policies are impacting households in the state

Consumer Action's new landmark report shows that the Victorian Government's new policies are reducing energy disconnections, but energy companies are still falling short addressing consumer vulnerabil...

Insurance in super: Putting Members’ Interests First Bill 2019
Senate Economics Legislation Committee - Inquiry into provisions of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Putting Members’ Interests First) Bill 2019

Consumer Action Law Centre and Financial Rights Legal Centre made a joint submission to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee’s inquiry into provisions of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Putting Mem...

Victoria’s Mental Health Royal Commission must examine links between links between poverty, debt and mental health
Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System

Consumer Action’s financial counsellors and lawyers speak regularly to individuals experiencing mental health issues. These individuals are commonly trying to deal with a range of consumer problems in...

Regulator slams ‘junk insurance’ sold by banks as Aussies demand over $2 million in refunds

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) report released today confirms that consumer credit insurance, commonly tacked on when taking out a loan or credit card, is junk. This news...

Consumer Action lodges complaint to Commonwealth Ombudsman about the Department of Human Services’ poor administration of Centrepay

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) has made a formal complaint to the Commonwealth Ombudsman about the Department of Human Services (DHS). This complaint comes after the department failed o...

Consumer Action supports ASIC use of new powers to tackle predatory credit agents such as Cigno

1 2 3 4 5 6 … 29

SERVICES

ASSISTANCE FROM US

HELP IS HERE:

COURSES

RESOURCES

ENGAGE WITH US

SUPPORT IS HERE:

POLICY

CAMPAIGNS

CHANGE IS HERE:

ABOUT US

WORK WITH US

WHO WE HELP

WE ARE HERE: