Consumers' Federation of Australia

7 December , 2021

New report shows buy now pay later debt is causing significant financial stress

A new survey of financial counsellors about the impact of buy now pay later (BNPL) on their clients is a wake up call to the community about this new form of debt. This is a media release from Financial Counselling Australia . It was originally published on 6th December, 2021. The report’s title says it all: It’s credit, it causes…

6 December , 2021

Insurers stop renter robodebt and commit to minimum standards to protect tenants

Joint campaign from WEstjustice and CHOICE improves landlord insurance recoveries processes WEstjustice and CHOICE have secured insurance industry commitments to stop the practice of unfairly pursuing renters for accidental damage. This change means that no renter in Australia should receive a bill for accidental or unintentional property damage to the homes they rent. All major…

6 December , 2021

International Volunteer Day – 5 December 2021

International Volunteer Day (IVD) mandated by the UN General Assembly, is held each year on 5 December, the theme for 2021 is Volunteer now for our common future. Consumers Federation of Australia (CFA) thanks and acknowledges the CFA representatives for their valuable contribution to the standards development committees as part of the CFA Standards Project. The CFA…

6 December , 2021

Supporting business through improvements to mandatory standards regulation under Australia Consumer Law – Feedback invited

The Treasury has released the Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (CRIS): Supporting business through improvements to mandatory standards regulation under the Australian Consumer Law. The CRIS considers options to improve the regulatory framework for mandatory standards under the Australian Consumer Law with a focus on minimising compliance costs for business while maintaining consumer protections. Treasury is seeking feedback on…

2 December , 2021

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

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…

29 November , 2021

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

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…

29 November , 2021

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

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…

25 November , 2021

Complaints fall as public transport usage hit by lockdowns

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…

25 November , 2021

“Defending phone and internet accounts from fraudsters” report released

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…

25 November , 2021

How efficient is your dishwasher, and clothes dryer?

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…

22 November , 2021

BCCC launches deceased estates Inquiry

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…

22 November , 2021

ACCC’s product safety pledge improves consumer safety online

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…