Overwhelmed by bills or struggling financially as a result of COVID-19?
There are things you can do!
COVID-19 means this year we are staying at home now more than ever. As a result, your bills might be a lot higher than they were. As we enter the winter months, keeping warm and safe is more impo...
$3.7 million package announced for Victorians struggling with energy bills
Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Gerard Brody says that the Victorian Government’s $3.7 million package for people having difficulty paying their energy bills is a well-timed funding boost as we head in...
Government reaffirms commitment to implement Banking Royal Commission reforms in full
Today the Government announced a six-month deferral to the implementation of commitments associated with the Banking Royal Commission. Under the updated timetable, measures previously scheduled for...
Hayne Royal Commission insurance reforms should be introduced into Parliament in next sitting
A coalition of consumer advocacy groups is calling on the Federal Government to urgently implement much-needed reforms to the insurance industry as recommended by the Royal Commission into Misconduct...
Over 1,000 requests to disconnect Victorians for not paying their electricity bills during Covid-19 health crisis
The latest figures from the Essential Services Commission (ESC) reveal that more than 1,000 requests have been made to disconnect Victorians from electricity for not paying their bills since late Marc...
Consumer group tells Bushfire Royal Commission that climate change is creating a perfect storm for insurance affordability
Consumer Action has warned that climate change is expected to make insurance unaffordable for many as extreme weather events hit Australia as part of its submission to the Bushfire Royal Commission re...
We’re at crisis point. Government needs to shut down predatory lenders.
Every week, community and consumer advocates speak to people trapped in payday lending debt. For years, we’ve been campaigning to stop the debt trap and harm caused by payday lenders. We’ve talked to...
Predatory lender Cigno has case thrown out by Federal Court
Today the Federal Court has dismissed an application by predatory lender Cigno to overturn the financial regulator’s ban on its exploitative lending model.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) took swift action in September 2019 using its new product intervention powers to shut down the high cost lending model, which was causing wi...
No impact on credit files during COVID-19 pandemic a welcome announcement by banks
Consumer groups welcome the announcement by the Australian Banking Association that bank customers applying for payment deferrals as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will not have a missed payment or...
Telco companies are failing people in financial hardship
A report released this week by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) shows that telco providers are not adequately identifying and supporting customers experiencing financial hardsh...
Community and consumer organisation joint proposal: COVID-19 National Energy Hardship Relief Package
Community groups call for energy hardship relief package as household energy bills jump
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre joins a coalition of leading consumer and community organisations to call for immediate Commonwealth Government funding and stronger commitments by energy businesse...
Consumer Action Law Centre’s work during COVID-19 health crisis
The team at Consumer Action Law Centre are continuing to support people experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage through COVID-19. Our free Consumer Legal Advice Service continues to operate,...
Keep communities connected, urge more than 40 community organisations across Australia
As more people face the prospect of losing work due to the COVID-19 health crisis, community organisations are calling on banks, telcos, energy retailers, and rental providers to help people stay con...
A little relief will go a long way for thousands struggling due to COVID-19
Widespread disruption caused by COVID-19 is being felt across Australia. It won’t be long before we have thousands of people trying to survive on a reduced income, worried about whether they can pay t...
Banking Royal Commission reforms: “Pivotal moment in implementing Hayne’s vision”
Consumer advocates comment on draft legislation that responds to over a quarter of Banking Royal Commission recommendations.
Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA), CHOICE, Consumer Action Law Centre, Financial Counselling Australia, Financial Rights Legal Centre and Super Consumers Australia have today published policy submi...
Legal Assistance To Victims Of Financial Services Wrongdoing Needs Boost
Collectively, our services assist thousands of Australians subjected to poor bank and insurer behaviour every year. However we are only ever able to serve a fraction of the demand. Free and independen...
This isn’t news, but thousands of people getting caught in debt is
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) has made a submission on reforms to make payday loans and rent-to-buy schemes safer, fairer and more affordable. This is the fourth time the Centre has mad...
New report reveals how irresponsible lenders are causing harm in Victorian Aboriginal communities
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) are launching a new report on how irresponsible lenders are causing harm in Victorian Aboriginal communit...
Consumer advocates welcome Act implementing three key Banking Royal Commission recommendations
Today the Government passed the first omnibus bill in the wake of the Banking Royal Commission, which consumer advocates say will help address long-standing problems with unfair insurance contracts, f...
One year on and greater focus needed to complete Hayne’s vision
Tomorrow marks one year since Commissioner Kenneth Hayne submitted the Banking Royal Commission Final Report. The Government has taken big steps towards cleaning up the finance sector, but consumer ad...
Government must regulate exploitative insurance claims managers in wake of bushfires
As significant numbers of insurance claims loom in the wake of Australia’s bushfire crisis, consumer groups today called on the Federal Government to urgently regulate insurance claims management serv...
Tricky terms in electricity and gas contracts to be abolished
Victorian energy users are set to benefit from more clarity and fairness when it comes to their energy bills. This comes as a result of the Essential Services Commission (ESC) draft decision on Recomm...
ASIC’s overhaul of responsible lending guidance should focus lenders on the welfare of borrowers
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights) say ASIC’s overhaul of its responsible lending guidance is a welcome announcement in the wake of the d...
ASIC bans cold-calling telephone sales of life, funeral and consumer credit insurances
As the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) bans life insurance and consumer credit insurance (CCI) providers from flogging products via outbound telephone sales, Consumer Action La...
