Giving energy users access to fair finance for new energy tech
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission - AA1000439 New Energy Tech Consumer Code Application

On 9 September 2019, Consumer Action attended a pre-decision conference on AA1000439 New Energy Tech Consumer Code (The Code) Application. We have provided a further submission following the discussio...

September 20, 2019

“I don’t want other women falling into the same trap.” Victorian woman joins Canberra delegation to urge Government to stop predatory payday lenders

A Victorian woman who has suffered at the hands of payday lenders  has an important message for the Government about the dangers of payday loans as she joins the Stop the Debt Trap Alliance, a coaliti...

September 17, 2019

Making sure Victorian energy is safe for those requiring power for life support purposes
Essential Service Commission - Strengthening protections for life support customers draft decision

Most people would take the reliability of electricity services for granted.  When the power goes out, it is frustrating, but not life threatening. But for many Australians, a loss of electricity is...

September 13, 2019

Rent4Keeps sued over unaffordable consumer leases

A Victorian woman living with a disability has brought proceedings in the Federal Circuit Court regarding five consumer lease contracts from Darranda Pty Ltd, trading as Rent4Keeps, and Mobberley Ente...

September 13, 2019

Looking after the needs of Victorian energy consumers
Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria - Independent Review

The Energy & Water Ombudsman Victoria (EWOV) plays an important role in ensuring Victorian households have ongoing access to fair outcomes in relation to the provision of essential energy and wate...

September 12, 2019

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...

September 9, 2019

Keeping comprehensive credit reporting fair for those who have previously experienced hardship
Treasury - National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Mandatory Comprehensive Credit Reporting) Bill 2019

Leading consumer advocacy bodies are concerned that customers who experience financial difficulty repaying loans will be unfairly penalised by credit reporting reforms proposed by the National Consume...

September 5, 2019

The norm of fairness must be recognised
Final Report of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission Digital Platforms Inquiry

Our existing consumer protection framework has failed to prevent unfairness from becoming embedded in business practices. From unclear marketing, subscriptions that make cancellation difficult, to...

September 2, 2019

Closing the ‘unfair contract terms’ loophole for insurance – Exposure draft legislation
Treasury - Consultation on Extending Unfair Contract Terms to Insurance Contracts

There is a big fairness problem in insurance. People often make insurance claims when they are at a low ebb, but they can face shocking outcomes when insurers rely on unfair terms in insurance contrac...

August 30, 2019

Response to ASIC’s update to internal dispute resolution requirements for financial firms (RG165)
Australian Securities and Investments Commission - Consultation Paper 311, Internal Dispute Resolution: Update to Regulatory Guide 165 (May 2019)

It is critical that the process to make and resolve complaints with a bank, insurer, or super fund is timely, fair, and accessible, including for people experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage.  O...

August 26, 2019

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...

August 26, 2019

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...

August 21, 2019

Protecting guarantors from financial abuse
Banking Code Compliance Committee - Inquiry into banks’ compliance when accepting and enforcing guarantees

In our feedback to the Banking Code Compliance Committee (BCCC) inquiry into banks’ compliance when accepting and enforcing guarantees, Consumer Action discusses our concerns with guarantee provision...

August 19, 2019

Opening statement: Public hearing on ASIC’s responsible lending guidance

The following is the opening statement from Consumer Action CEO, Gerard Brody at the public hearing on ASIC’s responsible lending guidance held in Melbourne on Monday, 19 August 2019.   I’m G...

August 19, 2019

Victorian Default Offer to apply from 1 January 2020 Issues Paper
Essential Service Commission - Victorian Default Offer to apply from 1 January 2020 Issues Paper

The Victorian Default Offer (VDO) was designed to re-regulate electricity pricing to ensure that more Victorian households receive a fair price on their electricity service. Since the VDO’s establishm...

August 12, 2019

NZ Select Committee on Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Bill: Opening Remarks

The below statement was delivered on 31 July 2019 by Consumer Action Law Centre CEO, Gerard Brody to the New Zealand Select Committee on Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Bill.   High co...

July 31, 2019

Insurance in super: Putting Members’ Interests First Bill 2019
Senate Economics Legislation Committee - Inquiry into provisions of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Putting Members’ Interests First) Bill 2019

Consumer Action Law Centre and Financial Rights Legal Centre made a joint submission to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee’s inquiry into provisions of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Putting Mem...

July 15, 2019

Consumer Action lodges complaint to Commonwealth Ombudsman about the Department of Human Services’ poor administration of Centrepay

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) has made a formal complaint to the Commonwealth Ombudsman about the Department of Human Services (DHS).  This complaint comes after the department failed o...

July 10, 2019

Ensuring energy contracts are clear and fair, ESC Issues Paper
Essential Services Commission - Ensuring Energy Contracts are Clear and Fair Issues Paper

Deregulation in Victoria’s energy retail market has not delivered fair outcomes for all households accessing their essential energy services. The State Government has taken a number of steps to hel...

July 1, 2019

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...

June 25, 2019