2022 Victorian Default Offer
Consumer Action welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Essential Services Commission’s (the Commission) consultation paper, Next steps for the Victorian Default Offer (the Consultation Paper). The...
Surge in disconnections a blow to thousands during COVID
The latest data from the Essential Services Commission (ESC) reveals a big surge in the number of people being disconnected from their energy supply and increasing numbers of people struggling to keep...
Consumer remediation: Update to Regulatory Guide 256
We strongly support a continuing focus on consumer remediation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in its enforcement. Remediation programs have been a very welcome develop...
Vic Government called on to act as big gaps in consumer protection put solar customers at risk
Consumer Action has today published a report calling on the Victorian Government to fix the gaps in consumer protections that are leaving thousands of solar customers prey to high-pressure sales tacti...
Report: Our response to the New Energy Tech Consumer Code
The New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NET Code) is a voluntary industry code of conduct, which sets practice standards for the sale of New Energy Technology (NET) products, systems, and services by retai...
REPORT: Telcos miss the mark on hardship support during COVID, time to treat them as an essential service
A new report by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) Customer financial hardship in the telco industry reveals stark variations in hardship support offered during the COVID-19 cris...
Strong compliance and enforcement is needed in telecommunications industry
Australian Communications and Media Authority - ACMA compliance priorities 2020-21 (consultation 36/2019)
Consumer Action receives 2-3 new calls per week through our legal assistance and worker advice lines or the National Debt Helpline about clients who are negatively affected by unaffordable phone debt....
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...
Enhanced protections and clearer responsibilities will better support retirees
Engage Victoria – ‘Review of the Retirement Villages Act 1986’ Issues Paper
There are many systemic issues exist with retirement housing that adversely affect retirees’ wellbeing in their golden years. These include housing providers using threats of eviction to discourage re...
Access to basic bank accounts essential for vulnerable banking customers
ACCC – ABA Application for authorisation AA10000441, Amendments to the 2019 Banking Code of Practice, 31 October 2019 response
In our joint submission with Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights) and Financial Counselling Australia (FCA), we offered strong support for the conditions proposed by the ACCC in its Draft...
Effective banking codes require enforcement measures with teeth
Customer Owned Banking Association – Report Three of the independent review of the Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice
In our joint submission with Financial Rights Legal Centre to Report Three of the Customer Owned Banking Association’s (COBA) independent review of the Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice (COBA Co...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Telecommunications Consumer Protection Code Inadequately Protects Consumers: Consumer Groups
The revised Telecommunications Consumer Protection (TCP) Code fails to adequately protect telco consumers, according to consumer groups. Despite consultation with the telco industry and regulator,...
Comment on the ACCC’s authorisation of amendments to the 2019 Banking Code of Practice
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission - Authorisation of amendments to the 2019 Banking Code of Practice
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action), the Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights) and Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) have provided comment on the Australian Banking Association...
New Banking Code must have teeth: consumer groups
Australia’s banks will have to commit to strict enforcement and strong resourcing for the new Code of Banking Practice, if the Code is to achieve real change in the industry, say consumer advocates....
Submission: Data Governance Australia Draft Code of Practice
The collection, use and management of data by companies is of significant and growing interest for consumer advocates. We welcome industry efforts to better protect and promote the rights of people wh...
Progress on banking code, but missed opportunities too: consumer advocates
The Australian Banker's Association (ABA) response to the Independent Review of the Code of Banking Practice (Khoury Review) is a positive start, but consumer advocates say there are some missed oppor...
Consumer groups urge banks to implement recommendations of banking code report
Consumer Groups today welcomed the release of the Independent Khoury Review of the Australian Banking Association’s Code of Banking Practice as an important step in the right direction of improving th...
Submission to the draft ACDBA Code of Practice.
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the draft ACDBA Code of Practice (the Code). Read the submission in full here (PDF)....
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...