CFA member ACCAN is celebrating a major step forward in its campaign for fair calls following an announcement today that the telco regulator, the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) will put an end to the high cost of 1800 and 13 calls from mobiles. The ACMA has plans to alter what’s known as the…
Read More Major victory in campaign for Fair Calls from Mobiles
CFA member ACCAN was established in 2009. At the time the government committed to conduct a review of ACCAN’s performance after two years of operation. Having now reached that point, the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) is keen to hear all views. Submissions are due by 19th October. The terms of…
Read More ACCAN – what do you think? Government review happening
The United Nations International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has said that agreement has been reached on a globally-recognised set of methodologies to assess the environmental impact of information and communications technologies (ICTs), and on preparing a report on guidelines on the use of minerals from conflict areas. See more information here.
Read More UN reports agreement on ways to assess green impact of information technologies
CFA Member ACCAN has provided its view on Telstra’s proposed structural separation undertaking (SSU) in a submission to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC). Along with much of the industry, we agree with the ACCC that the current SSU is lacking a clear and enforceable commitment to fair treatment of retail competitors. ACCAN supports…
Read More Fair treatment of competitors needed in Telstra separation
The banking industry has recently announced that retailers will be charged (or charged more than in the past) when their customers choose to use EFTPOS rather than cash or a credit card. Media reports have suggested that this may lead to some retailers sur-charging consumers for using EFTPOS. The EFTPOS consortium (mainly banks) argue the…
Read More Would ATM style EFTPOS fees deliver a more efficient payment system?
The Travel Compensation Fund (TCF) protects consumers against loss if a travel agent becomes insolvent. Consumer group submissions have been important in ensuring that the TCF continues to offer statutory protection to Australian consumers. Earlier this year a government discussion paper raised options for the future of the TCF. One option was to wind up…
Read More Consumer groups help ensure continuation of travel compensation fund
The 2011-12 Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee will begin a series of public consultations around Australia as it examines telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote parts of the country. The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today welcomed the beginning of the consultation process and the release of the…
Read More Public consultations begin for 2011-12 Regional Telecommunications Review
The first meeting of the reformed Consumer Standing Forum was held in Sydney on 14 September 2011. Representatives attended from CFA, Consumer Affairs Victoria, NSW Fair Trading, QLD Office of Fair Trading, ACCC and Standards Australia. It was chaired by John Furbank from the CFA. The purpose of the CSF is to a. raise with…
Read More Of Eggs, Cots and Insurance Claims: Standards AustraliaConsumer Standing Forum
Anna Bligh
Premier Anna Bligh wants insurance companies forced to pay their clients’ full claims if they are not dealt with in a reasonable time. This proposal, which would require Federal legislation, is contained in the Queensland Government’s submission to the federal parliamentary inquiry into the insurance response to natural disasters. “We also want to see insurance…
Read More Queensland Government wants insurers to pay up
New research shows welfare recipients are using payday lenders to meet regular living expenses and are then trapped in a debt spiral, continuously indebted to one or more loan companies for considerable periods according to Caught Short an Interim Report by RMIT University and the University of Queensland and funded by National Australia Bank and…
Read More RMIT & UQ research: Payday loans a debt trap for welfare recipients
As long ago as 2006 CFA member Choice called attention to the huge losses suffered by consumers through fees and administrative costs on lost and multiple superannuation accounts. With input from data from Rice Walker actuaries Choice estimated consumers lost between $1.2 and $2 billion per annum in unnecessary fees and charges At that time…
Read More Welcome action on billion dollar multiple super fund problem
AAP The Federal Government has taken significant steps in recent years to protect consumers from predatory lending practices, such as very high-interest “payday loans”. An unfortunate, though surely unintentional, consequence of lending regulation is that people on low incomes or with poor credit records may find it difficult to secure loans. Under our National Consumer…
Read More Responsible lending doesn’t have to be restrictive
