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Telco customers will benefit from clearer communication from their providers; however, further efforts will be needed to protect consumers against unreliable telco services, according to the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN). Released today, the Morrison Government’s Consumer Safeguards Review Part B report provides a high-level framework that aims to address reliability issues of telco…

Read More Telco reliability framework remains a work in progress: ACCAN

Hands opening an empty brown leather wallet Hands opening an empty brown leather wallet

CFA member Nicola Howell (PhD researcher, Melbourne Law School and Senior Lecturer at QUT) is researching the impact of financial difficulty assistance/hardship variations, bankruptcy and debt agreements on consumer debtors . In the next phase of the study, Nicola is keen to hear from financial counsellors, consumer advocates, insolvency practitioners and others working in the…

Read More Share your insights of bankruptcy, debt agreements and financial difficulty assistance

The dashboard of a car, both of the front airbags have deployed The dashboard of a car, both of the front airbags have deployed

The ACCC is warning Australian consumers about a new safety risk in using certain vehicles fitted with a different type of faulty Takata airbag. These airbags, which are fitted with a NADI 5-AT propellant, are not captured under the existing compulsory recall of Takata airbags.  There is a serious safety risk that these NADI airbags…

Read More Consumers warned of new airbag safety risk

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This is a guest post by Product Safety Solutions. In a first for product safety, a new documentary exposes the story of how everyday household products can present unacceptable hazards. Episode 3 of the new US Netflix ‘docuseries’, Broken, titled Deadly Dressers, examines furniture tip-overs that have killed and injured young children. It chronicles how changes to…

Read More Netflix documentary shows how cheap furnture is killing children

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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 devastating consumer harm exposed during the Banking Royal Commission.  Too many lenders, including banks, finance companies, payday lenders, and consumer lease providers have not effectively complied with legal obligations to ensure they do not provide borrowers with unsuitable loans. ASIC’s updated responsible lending guidance make existing laws clearer, easier to enforce and will help to hold…

Read More ASIC’s overhaul of responsible lending guidance should focus lenders on the welfare of borrowers

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Financial Counselling Australia welcomes the implementation of a ban on unsolicited telephone sales of life insurance and consumer credit insurance sold without personal advice.  ASIC announced that the ban will come into effect on January 13, 2020. In the experience of financial counsellors, who work with people in financial hardship, unsolicited telephone selling targets vulnerable consumers. The…

Read More Financial Counselling Australia welcomes ban on unsolicited telephone selling

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The Customer Owned Banking Code Compliance Committee (the Committee) is pleased to release its Annual Report 2018-19. The Annual Report demonstrates how subscribers to the Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice (the Code) have met their compliance obligations, managed Code breaches and responded to customer complaints throughout the year. It provides an overview of the Committee’s work during…

Read More Subscribers to the Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice need to focus on improved customer service delivery

Bananas on a supermarket shelf Bananas on a supermarket shelf

Consumer regulators have today released a report on their collaborative efforts in administering the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) over the last twelve months. The report shines a light on some of the key policy, education and enforcement activities undertaken by the members of Consumer Affairs Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) during the 2018-19 financial year,…

Read More Australian Consumer Law collaboration benefits consumers

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Two key reports released on Friday by the Banking Code Compliance Committee (BCCC) contain important findings for the industry, including: Significant concerns about the reporting of breaches under the 2013 Code of Banking Practice during 2018-19. Banks will need to continue ongoing efforts in order to meet the BCCC’s expectations and the higher standards of…

Read More Reports lead to concern about banks’ breach reporting as they transition to the 2019 Code

A wooden gavel A wooden gavel

The Victorian Government’s proposed changes to class action rules should enable greater access to justice and promote corporate accountability, according to Consumer Action Law Centre. The Justice Legislation Miscellaneous Amendments Bill 2019, introduced to state parliament this week, will reduce barriers to class actions by allowing lawyers to receive a ‘contingency fee’, a fee that is calculated as…

Read More Victorian Government’s class action changes promote corporate accountability

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In her address, Delia Rickard noted that issues raised by consumer organisations with the ACCC commonly form part of its priorities for compliance and enforcement. Delia noted that consumer groups have recently raised issues such as funeral services, debt collection, product safety and sustainability which will be considered for future priorities. Other trends and issues identified by…

Read More ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard provides address to CFA’s annual general meeting