Consumer Action Law Centre Archives - Consumers' Federation of Australia

24 November , 2023

Banking Industry Announces First Big Step in Addressing Scams

Original media release by CALC (24/11/2023). Consumer Action Law Centre has welcomed the scams safe accord announced by the Australian Banking Association (ABA) and Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA) which has involved, for the first time, member banks joining forces and agreeing on key steps to enhance scams protections for Australian banking customers. “We are…

10 November , 2023

Class Action Launched in Federal Court Against Pawnbroker ‘Taylors Business’

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) has filed a class action in the Federal Court of Australia against Taylors Business Pty Ltd. The lead plaintiff, a Victorian woman, represents herself and a group of Taylors Business customers who pawned goods of value to them, but can no longer access their goods because the business has been shut down. Consumer Action became involved when we had a spike of enquiries to our frontlines from affected customers, many distraught at the prospect of losing their items.

19 October , 2023

Changing Gears: Towards a car market people can trust (Webinar)

Original text from here. Faulty cars are far too common and disrupt too many lives. Join us at the launch of a major report by the Consumer Policy Research Centre, ‘Detours and Roadblocks’, that examines the experience of consumers with faulty cars in Victoria. The report, commissioned by Consumer Action Law Centre, puts forward a…

19 October , 2023

CALC: Victoria Overrun with Lemon Cars as Current Dispute Process Totally Unfit for Consumers

“For years, Consumer Action has been saying we need to fix how we deal with car disputes. It shouldn’t be costing people years of their lives and thousands of dollars to get what they are owed under the law, and people shouldn’t be forced to drive or sell unsafe cars,”

19 October , 2023

Dispute Resolution Process Unfit for Purpose

In a recent report released by the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) more than half of Victorian’s who bought a car, used or new, in the past five years have experienced major or minor faults with their vehicle.

1 September , 2023

Consumer Groups Advocate for Change as Consultations Open on Unfair Trading Practices

Almost a year after state and territory consumer ministers agreed to open consultation on options to address the gap in Australian Consumer Law (ACL) around unfair trading practices, Treasury has released a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (CRIS) and given stakeholders 91 days to respond starting 31st August and ending 29th November 2023.

18 August , 2023

ASIC sues ‘Debt Vulture’ Solve My Debt Now, and Director

Proceedings have commenced against operator of Solve My Debt Now, Bakken Holdings Pty Ltd (Bakken). The case is brought to the Federal Court by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) over concerns of substantial consumer harm in a move that has been welcomed by consumer advocates.

Image 4 April , 2023

Now is the time to make positive reforms to bankruptcy laws say consumer advocates

From Consumer Action Law Centre, Released 03/04/2023. Original here. Consumer advocates around Australia have welcomed moves by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus KC MP to reform bankruptcy laws. Last month, consumer advocates attended a Ministerial Roundtable on Personal Insolvency to discuss pressure points in the current system, critical reform areas and longer-term strategic challenges with the Attorney-General and…

1 March , 2023

Watch CFA webinar: Is Insurance an Essential Service? Promoting affordability & accessibility for all

With extreme weather continuing to affect large parts of Australia, the importance of insurance is larger than ever. Following from CFA’s webinar on the UK’s System for Flood Insurance, this webinar will examine measures to improve affordability and access of general insurance, including home & contents insurance. It was hosted by CFA on the 7th…

1 March , 2023

Watch CFA Webinar: Flood Insurance and Relief – the UK experience

This webinar was designed for CFA members, consumer advocates and others to learn from the experience in the UK with flood insurance and relief. It was hosted by CFA on the 6th of September 2022, and was followed by a webinar on the affordability and access of insurance. Below, watch presentations by: Andy Board, CEO,…

28 September , 2022

Car sales in remote Indigenous communities: A broken system

In part two of CHOICE’s investigation, we look at the problems faced when trying to get a repair or refund. It’s July 2022 and Marilyn and Peter are sitting in the Cairns office of the Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network (ICAN). They’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. This is an article from CHOICE.…

28 September , 2022

People should get their money back quicker and more easily following new ASIC guidance, say consumer advocates

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has today published updated and revised remediation guidance for financial firms with the goal of treating wronged customers fairer and ensuring they repay losses companies have caused in a timelier fashion. This is a media release from Consumer Action Law Centre (CALC). It was originally published on 27th September, 2022. Consumer Action…