Access to Justice Review
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide input to the Access to Justice Review. We have provided responses to specific relevant questions raised under each...
Don’t give up! Dick Smith customers still have options.
Following the news that electronics retailer Dick Smith has gone into administration – don’t assume you’ve lost your rights. Sarah has recently advised us that she purchased a mobile phone from Dick...
Training Provider Open Colleges sued for breach of consumer law
As the crisis in Vocational Education deepens, another student is fighting back by taking on education provider Open Colleges in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Tanea Ferris (a 52...
Unable to open the letterbox – money and mental health
Money is a major cause of distress for many Australians and for some Australians with mental health problems, there are times when being financially responsible for yourself simply isn’t possible. Man...
Students will be better off with new VET complaints body
The Victorian Government’s decision to establish a new body with the power to resolve vocational education disputes is a win for students, according to the Consumer Action Law Centre. The dispute r...
Too many Australians have suffered at the hands of financial advisers
Consumer Action Law Centre welcomes reports that independent Senator Nick Xenophon MP and Labor Senator Sam Dastyari have called for a last resort compensation scheme for financial services...
Submission: Law Council of Australia’s consultation on Uniform Rules
Consumer Action and Financial Rights Legal Centre have made a joint submission to the Law Council of Australia's current consultation on the proposed Legal Practice Rules (Solicitors) and Legal Profes...
Submission: The Forrest Review and the Healthy Welfare Card
Consumer Choice We have concerns that forcing welfare recipients to receive and spend their benefits on a certain card will adversely affect their consumer choice. By limiting their ability to pay wit...
Submission: Senate Inquiry into the extent of income inequality in Australia
Consumer Action has provided comment on the extent of, and impact of, income inequality in Australia. We are concerned by the signals of distress from the most vulnerable in our community and their i...
Joint submission: Financial Ombudsman Service proposed Terms of Reference Changes
Consumer Action and Financial Rights Legal Centre have provided comment on the Financial Ombudsman Service's proposed Terms of Reference changes. The consultation paper notes that operational guideli...
Are Private Car Parks “Fines” Legitimate?
One of the most common questions asked of our legal practice is about the legitimacy of private car park payment notices and how to challenge them. A number of car parks are operated by private compa...
Media release: Single mother of four appeals VCAT second-hand car decision to Supreme Court
A Victorian mother of four has requested leave to appeal a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) decision in the Supreme Court. She took M&G Motors to VCAT in January 2014, seeking a...
Joint submission: Productivity Commission’s Access to Justice draft report
Consumer Action and Consumer Credit Legal Centre NSW have made an extensive submission to the Productivity Commission's Access to Justice draft report. A summary of our submission is below or you can...
Media release: Dozo car sales ordered to pay $2,150 after breaching consumer guarantees
Dozo Car Sales has been ordered to pay $2,150 to a vulnerable consumer after it refused, within a reasonable time, to provide a refund on a defective car and, instead, bought it back at a reduced pric...
Submission: Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria independent review issues paper
This submission is the result of a collaboration between the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre, the Victorian Council of Social Services, Consumer Action Law Centre and the Financial and Consumer Rig...
Media release: High cost of car cases in VCAT putting justice out of reach
A Victorian couple has successfully used the Australian Consumer Law to claim $17,495 from Melbourne Street Cars after it sold her a faulty 2003 Nissan X Trail. But while the victory in the Victorian...
Submission: Changes to Credit Ombudsman Scheme Rules
Consumer Action had provided comment on the Credit Ombudsman Service’s proposes changes to COSL Rules: 9th Edition. We commend the Credit Ombudsman Service on its drafting of the proposed changes, mo...
Why improved consumer protections for default judgment cases are needed
A recent report from the Consumer Action called for changes to Magistrates Court procedures to protect consumers from inaccurate law suits and inappropriate judgments. Each year 30,000 to 40,000 Victo...
Submission: Access to Justice Arrangements
Consumer Action has provided a submission to the Productivity Commission on its Issues Paper, Access to Justice Arrangements. The key points and recommendations made in this submission are: The inq...
Joint submission: Independent Review of the Financial Ombudsman Service
Consumer Action and Consumer Credit Legal Centre (NSW) have coordinated and written a consumer submission to the independent review of the Financial Ombudsman Service. The submission contains contribu...
Submission: The performance of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
Consumer Action Law Centre has made a submission to the Senate Economics References Committee inquiry into the performance of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Briefly: w...
Submission: Credit hardship obligations—outstanding issues
Consumer Action, Consumer Credit Legal Centre NSW, and Financial Counselling Australia have made a joint submission on Australian Securities and Investments Commission's discussion paper Credit Hardsh...
Media release: New report highlights procedural failings in Magistrates Court—80 per cent of small money claims go undefended
A new report from the Consumer Action Law Centre calls for changes to Magistrates Court procedures to protect consumers from inaccurate law suits and inappropriate judgments. Each year 30,000 to 40,00...
Report: ‘Like juggling 27 chainsaws’: Understanding the experience of default judgment debtors in Victoria
A new report, prepared for the Consumer Action Law Centre by Dr Eve Bodsworth of the Brotherhood of St Laurence, explores the experiences of people who have received ‘default judgments’ for debt-relat...
Submission: Review of the Benchmarks for Industry-based Customer Dispute Resolution Schemes
Consumer Action has made a submission to the Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council review of the benchmarks for industry dispute resolution schemes. In broad terms, we strongly support the b...
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...
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: 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...
Dispute Resolution: Consumer Disputes in VCAT
Key points If you have a dispute with a business, you can make a complaint to VCAT; Small Claims in VCAT are designed for consumers to represent themselves; application fees are usually wai...
Submission: Proposed regulations for the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protections) Bill
Consumer Action has made a submission to the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department on proposed regulations for the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protections) Bill. This submission discusse...
Media release: Bulk complaint made against Motor Finance Wizard to the Credit Ombudsman Service
The Consumer Action Law Centre has assisted consumers to lodge a bulk complaint against DTGV1 Pty Ltd (which trades as Motor Finance Wizard in Victoria). Gerard Brody, Director of Policy and Campaign...
Advocating for vulnerable, low income debtors
Low-income debtors often get the worst deal when it comes to dealing with debt—inaccessible or weak hardship assistance, particularly for those in long-term hardship; misleading or severe debt collect...
What if I have been sued for a debt?
Key message Act quickly to get advice if you have been sued for a debt in the Magistrate’s Court of Victoria. The Magistrates Court Process If the amount owed is $100,000 or less, a creditor...
Media release: Punk Jobs ordered to refund $1150 to unhappy job seeker
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has ordered Punk Jobs to repay $1150 to a dissatisfied customer who alleged he was mislead and that Punk Jobs failed to deliver promised services...
Media release: VCAT cases will put Victoria’s new debt collection laws to the test
In what are believed to be two of the first cases to test Victoria's new ‘prohibited debt collection practices’, the Consumer Action Law Centre is helping two clients pursue legal cases against debt c...
Media release: Payday lending practices challenged in court
The lending practices of Australian’s biggest payday lender, Cash Converters, are being challenged in proceedings issued in the Victorian Magistrates Court. A disability support pensioner is alleging...