Harvey-Norman and Latitude case alleging misleading ‘interest-free’ credit card promotions welcomed by consumer advocates

Consumer Action, Financial Rights Legal Centre and CHOICE have welcomed the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s (ASIC) commencing legal action against Latitude Finance Australia and Har...

October 5, 2022

Consumer advocates welcome recommendation for stricter controls of credit funded gambling online

Financial Counselling Australia (FCA), Financial Rights Legal Centre and the Consumer Action Law Centre welcome the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services’ recommendation...

November 26, 2021

Gambling should not be funded by credit

While gambling is a legitimate form of entertainment for many Australians, we believe it should not be funded by credit and support a prohibition on the use of credit cards, including via e-wallets, f...

May 14, 2021

Not serving the community: Why we oppose the Cashless Debit Card scheme

Consumer Action seeks to enhance the rights of consumers and promote a marketplace where business plays fair. The Cashless Debit Card (CDC) undermines the role of the market in serving consumer and...

October 19, 2020

Regulator reveals telcos failing to do proper credit checks 

The telco regulator has released worrying findings from its mystery shopping study into companies' credit assessments today.  The study released today by the Australian Communications and Media Aut...

June 30, 2020

Credit card reforms long overdue

Today, a package of reforms to improve credit card lending and marketing practices passed Federal Parliament. After a long consultation process, Consumer Action Law Centre is relieved to see the impor...

February 16, 2018

Submission: Inquiry into Competition in the Australian Financial System

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action), Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) and the Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights) have welcomed the Productivity Commission’s review of c...

September 22, 2017

Submission: Credit card reform exposure draft legislation

The Consumer Action Law Centre is pleased to comment on the exposure draft Treasury Laws Amendment (2017 Measures No. 8) Bill 2017: Credit card reforms (the Bill) and National Consumer Credit Protecti...

August 23, 2017

How to avoid a credit card debt disaster

Did you know that Australians owe over $50 billion (and rising) on their credit cards? Here are some tips from Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Gerard Brody on how we can stop Australians’ love of credi...

March 16, 2017

Response to a finance sector Royal Commission: Gerard Brody

In response to the announcement that a Labor Government would initiate a Royal Commission into the finance sector, Consumer Action Law CEO Gerard Brody said: “A Royal Commission into the finance se...

April 8, 2016

Stop lifelong debt sentences – Consumer Action responds to Credit Card Inquiry.

The Government must take meaningful action on the lifelong debt sentences wreaking havoc on many Australians by credit cards. Consumer Action Law Centre commends the recommendation of the Senate in...

December 16, 2015

Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Inquiry into the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Debit Card Trial) Bill 2015

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Debit Card Trial) Bill 2015. Read our full submission here [PDF]....

September 21, 2015

Matters relating to credit card interest rates – Senate Standing Committees on Economics

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and the Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights) welcome the opportunity to provide a submission to the inquiry into credit card interest rates...

August 11, 2015

Submission: Review of Card Payments Regulation Issues Paper

The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights) welcome the opportunity to comment on the Review of Card Payments Regulation Issues Paper (the Iss...

April 24, 2015

Media release: The numbers show Consumer Credit Insurance is a poor deal for consumers

New figures from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority show Australians spent $330 million on Consumer Credit Insurance in the twelve months to June this year, yet only 23 cents in every doll...

November 27, 2013

Plan ahead to avoid the New Year credit crunch

In the months after Christmas our financial counsellors hear from hundreds of Victorians struggling with Christmas debt. Their credit card bills have arrived and the cost of presents and festivities,...

October 9, 2013

Media release: Credit limit regulations so soft they’re almost redundant

The Consumer Action Law Centre has lamented that federal regulations designed to limit the harm caused by unsolicited credit limit increase offers have been watered down to the point where they are al...

June 25, 2012

June 2012

Thrifty moves for plastic users The Age, 27 June2012, Clancy Yeates Warning as banks try hard-sell approach to credit card customers Herald Sun, 19 June 2012, Karina Barrymore Millions of Aust...

June 13, 2012