CFA’s new quarterly webinar series will commence on Tuesday 30th October at 2pm with special guest Erin Turner, Director of Campaigns & Communications at CHOICE. Erin will be presenting on Insights from the International Consumer Movement, having recently attended an event with Consumers’ International for Directors of Advocacy and Campaigns. This webinar will cover learnings from other consumer advocacy organisations, primarily those…

Read More CFA Webinar Series Commencing October 30th

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The following is an excerpt from a report by Professor Michelle Kelly-Louw, President of the International Association of Consumer Law. The International Association of Consumer Law’s (IACL’s) 16th conference, entitled “Economic Development and Consumer Law” was held at the Faculty of Law of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in 2017. One of the topics…

Read More Access to Justice for International Tourists

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The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman has published its 2017-2018 Annual Report today (17 October 2018). Launching the report, Ombudsman Judi Jones said, “The number of complaints about telecommunications services in Australia appear to be turning a corner. “Declining complaints across all landline, mobile and internet services are a positive indicator of recent industry, government and regulator efforts…

Read More Phone and internet complaints turning a corner

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World Standards Day is celebrated on the 14 October each year – to raise awareness about the importance of standards and pay tribute to the thousands of experts worldwide who help develop the voluntary agreements that are published as international standards, read more here. Just as standards were crucial during the first industrial revolution, over 250…

Read More World Standards Day 2018 “International standards and the 4th industrial revolution”

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A lot of people do not realise how significant injuries can be while having fun at a Trampoline Park – read more here. Consumers Federation of Australia (CFA) representative, John Furbank is on the Standards Australia Technical Committee SF-051 which has developed part 1 of a new Australian Standard on trampoline parks. Speak up for Australians by participating…

Read More Trampoline Parks and Injuries

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Businesses that make product and service recommendations will be forced to come clean on commissions, referral fees and kickbacks under new Better Business Reforms. Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Matt Kean said it would put buying power back in the hands of consumers and small businesses. “Consumers are increasingly relying on referrals from third…

Read More Coming clean on kickbacks with better business reforms

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The ACMA has directed Telstra to commission an independent audit of compliance with its priority assistance obligations for customers with life-threatening medical conditions. Telstra must also implement a range of systems, processes and reporting to assure the future reliability and effectiveness of priority assistance. The remedial direction results from an investigation into Telstra following two incidents in 2017, where…

Read More Telstra breaches priority assistance obligations

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The Commonwealth Bank, KitchenAid, Nutri-Grain and Marriott Vacation Club are among the big brands whose bad behavior has earned them a lemon gong at the 13th annual CHOICE Shonkys. “From cots that put our kids’ lives at risk, to a bank that buys its way into our schools and the toaster that leaves your bread…

Read More 2018 Shonkys winners revealed

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The following is a guest post by The Code Compliance and Monitoring team, a separately operated and funded business unit of the Financial Ombudsman Service. Unfair treatment of customers by institutions has been under the spotlight at the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry. Beyond the Commission, however, consumer protection…

Read More Codes of Practice – Consumers benefit

2018 Annual Energy Network Consumer Engagement Award recognises network businesses that made significant effort to engage with consumers and improve outcomes for households and small businesses. This award recognises leadership in the design, development and application of a ground-breaking Australian energy network initiative, technology, service, or solution. It may apply to asset management, distributed energy…

Read More Energy Network Consumer Engagement Award – Applications invited