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ASIC recently completed a project reviewing insurance claims handling outcomes for consumers affected by the 2019-20 ‘Black Summer’ bushfires.  The fires were declared a catastrophe (CAT195) by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) on 8 November 2019. During the 2019-2020 fires thirty-three people died, more than five and a half million hectares of bushland was…

Read More ASIC encourages home insurers to be consumer-centric in handling claims this summer

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New research from the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has revealed that almost three in four Australians agree that it needs to be easier to make a complaint and to get their issues resolved when dealing with digital platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, eBay, and Service NSW. This is a media release from the Australian Communications Consumer…

Read More New research finds nearly three-quarters of Australians want better complaints handling from digital platforms

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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 for legislation to prohibit online gambling operators from accepting credit card funded deposits. This is a media release from the Financial Counselling Australia. It was originally published on 26th November, 2021. Yesterday the Committee released…

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

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Data released by the Public Transport Ombudsman Mr Simon McKenzie today shows that complaints about public transport fell 47% from the previous year due to lockdowns and travel restrictions. This is a media release from the Public Transport Ombudsman. It was originally published on 24th November, 2021. For the 2020/2021 year, overall approaches at 2072 were down 39% from…

Read More Complaints fall as public transport usage hit by lockdowns

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The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) today released a report on systemic investigations into fraud enabled through phone and internet accounts. This is a media release from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO). It was originally published on 24th November, 2021. The report “Defending phone and internet accounts from fraudsters” shares the TIO’s findings on fraudsters being able to access telco…

Read More “Defending phone and internet accounts from fraudsters” report released

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Energy rating labels provide consumers with information on the energy efficiency of a range of appliances including dishwashers and clothes dryers. High levels of performance, energy efficiency and water efficiency (where applicable) are priorities when purchasing electric dishwashers and rotary clothes dryers and included in the recently amended standards (AS/NZS 2007.1:2021 and AS/NZS 2442.1:2021). Consumers’ Federation of Australia…

Read More How efficient is your dishwasher, and clothes dryer?

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The Banking Code Compliance Committee’s (BCCC) Inquiry into Code-subscribing banks’ compliance with Chapter 45 of the Banking Code of Practice (the Code) is one of its current major monitoring activities. The obligations under Chapter 45 of the Code are key consumer protections for the representatives and next of kin of deceased customers. This is a media release from the Banking…

Read More BCCC launches deceased estates Inquiry

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The ABA consumer outcomes group (COG) is a joint bank and consumer representative forum for discussing and responding to existing and emerging issues to improve consumer outcomes in retail banking. There are seven ABA member banks involved, and seven consumer representatives. The group meets formally on a quarterly basis and there are additional monthly meetings…

Read More Australian Banking Association Consumer Outcomes Group: expression of interest for consumer representative role

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Over 90 per cent of identified unsafe product listings were removed within two business days by online businesses signed up to the Australian Product Safety Pledge. This is a media release from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC). It was originally published on 19th November, 2021. The voluntary initiative commits signatories to 12 product safety actions, that go…

Read More ACCC’s product safety pledge improves consumer safety online

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The Australian Government is seeking to align regulation across the aged care, disability support and veterans’ care sector. The 2021-22 Budget encompasses a range of measures including short to long term program reforms. To progress this work, the Cross Agency Taskforce on Regulatory Alignment is now inviting input from a range of stakeholders, including consumers,…

Read More Aligning regulation across aged care, disability support & veteran’s care

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Whistleblowers play an important role in identifying and calling out misconduct and harm to consumers and the community. The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) identifies the obligations of companies under the Corporations Act if they receive a report from a whistleblower and the requirement to have a whistleblowing policy. Whistleblowing processes – or systems for encouraging…

Read More Why do we need a whistleblowing management system?

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Australians who have recently bought a new caravan are being urged to participate in an ACCC survey about possible consumer law issues in the industry. The ACCC has received more than 1,300 reports about the caravan industry over the past five years. Common complaints include retailers selling new caravans that do not meet consumer guarantees,…

Read More Views sought on caravan industry