News - Consumer Action Law Centre

Fresh start or false hope: Are debt agreement administrators overstating their abilities?

A debt agreement, regulated by the Bankruptcy Act, is an option available to a debtor as a way of dealing with unmanageable debt. Debt agreements typically involve a compromise with creditors on the t...

A Policy Trilemma: A workshop towards creating an Affordable, Secure and Sustainable energy market

Energy: A Policy Trilemma A workshop towards creating an Affordable, Secure and Sustainable energy market 9 am – 4 pm Thursday 27th of June at Oaks on Market 60 Market Street Melbourne RSVP...

Joint Submission: Changes to Disclosure Requirements under the National Consumer Protection Act 2009

Consumer Action and the Consumer Credit Legal Centre welcomes Treasury's approach of basing revised disclosure on the findings made by the Uniquest report. Uniquest was commissioned by the Standing Co...

Total replacement insurance for home buildings

Earlier this year our former CEO, Catriona Lowe, appeared on ABC TV's The Checkout suggesting that consumers look for total replacement cover when shopping around for insurance. Since then we've had a...

Joint submission: Credit Reporting Privacy Code

Consumer Action has, in conjunction with five other consumer and privacy advocate organisations, made a submission to the review of the Credit Reporting Code of Conduct. An industry code should be se...

Consumer Affairs asked to investigate National Warranty Company

The National Warranty Company (NWC) sells warranty products to people buying new and used motor vehicles. But Consumer Action recently had concerns about a NWC 'Grand Warranty Plan' provided in 2012 a...

May 2013

The power of flexibility Christine Long, 26 May 2013, The Age AGL launches ‘do not knock’ sticker campaign while fighting legal battle against stickers UmBRELLA, 23 May 2013, Nic Christensen A...

Media release: Improved concessions and hardship programs will be the key if water price rises proceed

Improved access to water concessions and affordable payment plans will be paramount if the Essential Services Commission (ESC) proceeds with its draft decision to allow metropolitan water retailers to...

April 2013

Draft ruling by utilities regulator could mean water retailers slug customers with 25pc rise Herald Sun, 23 April 2013, Karen Collier Push for air conditioners to be fitted with remote switches...

Media release: Pensioner sues two Cash Converters lenders in the Magistrates’ Court

A Victorian Disability Support Pensioner has issued proceedings in the Magistrates' Court against two Cash Converters lenders.[1] Consumer Action's client alleges that over approximately a three year...

New Report: Regulator Watch

Consumer Action believes that a regulatory scheme with well-designed rules will be ineffective in addressing industry or market-wide problems if it can only be enforced by individual consumers taking...

New Indigenous consumer education film released by ACCC

A new Indigenous consumer education film is now available from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The film, ‘Six Simple Rules’, encourages Indigenous consumers to use their ref...

ASIC raises concern about Carboodle’s ‘potentially misleading representations’

Car lease company, Green Light Auto Group Pty Limited which trades as Carboodle, has recently written to its customers about potentially misleading claims. In summary, Carboodle says that it promoted...

Nimble one cent loan could be setting you up to fail

A recent report looking at use of short-term cash loans showed half of borrowers interviewed had taken out more than ten loans in the previous two years, and three quarters of this group had taken out...

Submission: The exemption of retailers from the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009

Consumer Action has made a submission on Treasury's Discussion paper regarding the exemption of retailers from the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009. Briefly, this submission: supports o...

Consumer InterAction – Issue 2 of 2013

The second edition of Consumer InterAction for 2013 is now online. This edition includes information on: New Consumer Action CEO; Energy retailers end door-to-door sales; Review of Centrepay; Th...

Submission: Commonwealth Treasury consumer leases issues paper

Consumer Action has made a submission to the Commonwealth Treasury on regulation of consumer leases. The submission argues that the purpose of any reform of regulation of consumer leases should be to:...

New Report: Solving Problems – A Strategic Approach

This report is a joint project of the Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and the Footscray Community Legal Centre (FCLC), who have asked Dr Liz Curran of the Australian National University t...

New CEO Appointment

The Board of Consumer Action Law Centre is very pleased to announce that Gerard Brody has been appointed CEO, following a rigorous recruitment process. Gerard has been the Director Policy and Campaig...

Submission: Exposure Drafts of the National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Credit Reform Phase 2) Bill 2012

The Consumer Action Law Centre welcomes the opportunity to comment on the draft National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Credit Reform Phase 2) Bill 2012. Briefly, this submission: strongly s...

Submission: Federal Government’s independent review of Centrepay, Centrelink’s voluntary bill-paying service

The Consumer Action Law Centre welcomes the opportunity to comment on the independent review of the Centrepay system. Consumer Action believes that Centrepay can be a valuable financial management too...

Submission: ASIC Consultation Paper on an online database for small amount lenders

Joint submission with Financial Counselling Australia and the Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA) to ASIC's Consultation Paper on an online database for small amount lenders. The Consumer Action Law Ce...

Media Release: AGL is second energy retailer in as many days to agree to blanket cessation of door-to-door sales – Consumer Action calls on others to follow their lead

Householders should soon notice a meaningful decrease in visits from unwanted energy hawkers, with the announcement by a second major energy retailer, AGL, that it too will cease all door-to-door sell...

Submission: Proposed variation to Numbering Plan – charges for calls to free-phone and local rate numbers

Consumer Action believes the Australian Communications and Media Authority's proposal of amending the numbering plan to make 1800 numbers free of charge and 13 and 1300 numbers (hereafter '13 numbers'...

Media release: EnergyAustralia leads industry in ending door-to-door sales

EnergyAustralia’s announcement that it will end door-to-door marketing will be warmly welcomed by Australian households. Last year the Consumer Action Law Centre surveyed consumers regarding their vie...

Submission: Essential Services Commission Victoria Harmonised Energy Retail Code

The signatories to this submission represent the interests of the majority of Victorian residential and small business energy consumers – being particularly cognizant of the special needs of low incom...

Submission: Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Fees Regulations

Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Department of Justice’s Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) for the proposed Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Fees Regulations. In...

Mr Rental enters into enforceable undertaking

Mr Rental Australia Pty Ltd, a household goods rental business, has entered into an enforceable undertaking with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) under which it will provide...

ASIC’s strong action against Zaam Rentals welcomed

Consumer Action is pleased to see ASIC take strong action against credit licence holder Zaam Rentals – the cancellation of Zaam Rentals’ credit licence should act as a warning to other credit provider...

Fair Work Ombudsman’s new report a welcome addition to work experience debate

Consumer Action welcomes the Fair Work Ombudsman’s new report into unpaid work experience and internships. Experience or Exploitation? The nature, prevalence and regulation of unpaid work experience,...

Submission: Limited merits review of decision-making in the electricity and gas regulatory frameworks

Consumer Action's submission to the Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement on the framework for limited merits review of decision-making in electricity and gas regulation argues that Option 3, Amend...

Revised Code of Banking Practice

Today marks the beginning of the revised Banking Code of Practice. The Code specifies how banks should treat their customers and represents a contract between the two parties, giving banking customers...

Submission: Water Price Review 2013-2018

Consumer Action and the Consumer Utility Advocacy Centre Ltd have made a joint submission to the Metropolitan and Regional Businesses Water Plans for 2013-2018. Our comments in this submission apply...

Submission: Taxi Industry Inquiry—Response to Final Report

Consumer Action has made a submission on the Taxi Industry Inquiry’s Final Report, Customers First—Service, Safety, Choice. This report is an important one. The taxi industry is one where consumers...

Media release: Proposed taxi overhaul receives strong backing from consumers

Victoria’s specialist independent consumer law and advocacy centre believes the recommendations of Professor Allan Fels' Taxi Industry Inquiry will significantly improve the industry if implemented co...

Consumer InterAction – Issue 1 of 2013

The first edition of Consumer InterAction for 2013 is now online. This edition features articles on: Proposed VCAT fees increases; Unfair contract terms extended to insurance industry; R...

Media release: Questions raised about students’ entitlement to refund of NAB loans

The Consumer Action Law Centre is urging consumers who took out loans with the National Australia Bank to pay for course fees with the College of Creative Arts and Technology, and who did not get to...

Media release: Internship company Borch Leeman consents to pay $2500 to unhappy customer

Internship company Borch Leeman has agreed to pay $2,500 to a disgruntled customer who claimed it had, amongst other things, imposed unfair contract terms and breached consumer guarantees in contraven...

Submission: Single pricing requirements – proposal to exempt restaurants and cafes

Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to comment on the proposed amendments to the Australian Consumer Law in Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2012 (Cth). Precedent of exemptions wit...

Amendments to privacy legislation

Amendments to privacy legislation regulating credit reporting passed Federal Parliament late last year. While the reforms won't come into effect until March 2014, lenders can already begin collecting...

Keeping Food on the Table – training and support to Victorian Community Legal Centres

Consumer Action has received funding from the Legal Service Board to provide training and support to Victorian Community Legal Centres. The project aims to build the capacity of the Community Legal C...

January 2013

Water price rises may slow as report urges desal payback delay Herald Sun, 31 January 2013, Karen Collier How to cure Christmas credit hangover Herald Sun, 13 January 2013, Karina Barrymore Victoria...

Media Release: Consumer group welcomes extension of unfair terms protections to insurance contracts

Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed the announcement from Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury that unfair contract term laws will be extended to general insurance contracts. Protections against unf...

Submission: Consumer Affairs Victoria’s review of section 32 of the Sale of Land Act

Consumer Action’s submission to Consumer Affairs Victoria's review of section 32 of the Sale of Land Act makes the following general points: we support efforts to reduce regulatory burden, but cutti...

Media release: ASIC asked to investigate Radio Rentals and its ‘rent try $1 buy’ offer

The Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed the release of the Australian Securities & Investments Commission's (ASIC) updated Good Practice Guidance for Credit and Financial Service Advertising a...

Consumer Action’s 2011/2012 Annual Report

Consumer Action’s 2011/2012 Annual Report is now available and features information about our: Legal practice; policy team; MoneyHelp financial counselling service; Volunteer program; and Outrea...

Media release: Review of energy retailers’ customer service is damning

The Essential Services Commission’s (ESC) annual review of Energy retailers’ customer service performance is damning of the industry’s ability to assist struggling households. The Consumer Action Law...

Accessing free insurance advice

The Financial Rights Legal Centre provides a range of self help kits on insurance matters. The Australian Financial Complaints Authority also offers insurance fact sheets on: Life Insuranc...

Consumer Action supports improved regulation of unsupervised finance and debenture companies

Consumer Action has voiced its support for improved regulation of unsupervised finance and debenture companies. The Centre believes the recent collapse of Banksia in regional Victoria has highlighted...

December 2012

Companies too quick to disconnect utilities: report ABC News, 11 December 2012 Big increase in gas, electricity disconnections ABC News, 10 December 2012 12 days of Christmas on the cards Syd...

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