FCA Archives - Consumers' Federation of Australia

22 April , 2025

Every dollar counts – financial counsellors launch election campaign

Financial counsellors have launched their federal election campaign – When every dollar counts, so does financial counselling – we can’t afford to wait. Financial Counselling Australia (FCA), along with all the state financial counselling associations, is calling for a commitment from all sides of politics to provide increased and more sustainable funding, particularly for face-to-face financial…

16 January , 2025

Number of People Reaching Out to the NDH Increases

There’s been a significant increase in the number of people reaching out to the National Debt Helpline (NDH) over the past year. During 2024 more than 169,000 people called in or used the online chat tool to seek help from financial counsellors – a 12% increase on 2023. Total visits to the NDH website also…

15 January , 2025

Joint Submission Urges Law Reform and Mandatory Industry Action

This is a joint submission made on behalf of:• Consumer Action Law Centre• CHOICE• The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network• Financial Rights Legal Centre• Super Consumers Australia• Financial Counselling Australia• Westjustice• Consumer Credit Legal Service WA Our organisations are pleased to have the opportunity to provide our feedback to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee. We…

6 December , 2024

Review Finds Systemic Failures in Insurers’ Internal Dispute Resolution

Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) has welcomed an ASIC report calling on Australia’s insurers to improve their complaints handling processes. “We are disappointed but not surprised.?The findings from ASIC’s review of insurance complaints handling mirrors the experience of many financial counsellors supporting their clients through the claims process,” said Vicki Staff, FCA’s insurance expert. ASIC’s review of…

3 December , 2024

New Centrepay Reform Bans Predatory Rent-to-Buy’s in Win for Consumers and Advocates

Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Stephanie Tonkin said she was absolutely delighted that Minister Bill Shorten has announced consumer protections and reforms to Centrepay that restore it to its original purpose; that it should only be used by consumers to make regular voluntary payments for essential bills and expenses. (link to media release) “We have…

10 October , 2024

Advocates Warn Scams Prevention Framework Needs Assumption of Reimbursement, Not Halfway Measures

A broad coalition of consumer advocates is calling for the Albanese Government to make one fundamental change to the proposed Scams Prevention Framework (SPF) and put reimbursement at its core, warning that without this improvement the SPF is not going to work for the tens of thousands of Australia’s robbed by scammers. The group’s call…

1 October , 2024

Strengthening Food Security in Remote First Nations Communities

ICAN is united with CHOICE, Community Credit Legal Service Western Australia (CCLSWA), Financial Counselling Australia (FCA), Financial Rights Legal Centre (FRLC), and Mob Strong Debt Help, in supporting the proposed National Strategy for Food Security in Remote First Nations Communities. We believe this Strategy is a significant step forward in addressing the critical issue of…

18 September , 2024

Consumer Groups Call on NIAA to Strengthen Remote Food Security Strategy

Mandatory code of practice, subsidies for food transportation and increased income support needed A coalition of consumer and indigenous groups is calling on the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) to better protect vulnerable residents in remote areas. The organisations have welcomed the proposed National Strategy for Food Security in Remote First Nations Communities, but they…

26 June , 2024

Advocates Welcome Sanctioning of Westpac for Branch Closure

Financial Counselling Australia welcomes the sanctioning of Westpac for breaching the Banking Code of Practice when it closed its branch in Tennant Creek. The branch was suddenly shut in September 2022 leaving some customers with no access to money. “It was a complete mess and done with no consultation. Some people were unable to buy…

5 June , 2024

Consumer Groups Welcome New Credit Regulations for Buy Now, Pay Later

New laws regulating Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) have been announced today. Consumer groups respond as follows: Quotes attributable to Stephanie Tonkin, CEO of Consumer Action Law Centre “We welcome the Albanese Government’s new laws that regulate Buy Now, Pay Later as credit and introducing consumer protections. “Every day we speak to people in financial…

22 April , 2024

Financial Counselling Industry Fund Launches

More Australians will now have access to support from financial counsellors with the launch of the Financial Counselling Industry Fund (FCIF). The FCIF is the result of a collaboration between the financial counselling sector and a number of industries and companies – Australian Banking Association member banks, Australian Energy Council, Energy Networks Australia, Insurance Council…

12 April , 2024

Cost of Living Crisis sees more calls to Free Debt Helplines

Australians struggling with debt and cost-of-living pressures are turning to free and independent debt helplines in their thousands. Calls and chats to the National Debt Helpline (NDH) and the Small Business Debt Helpline (SBDH) have soared over the past 12 months. Both services are coordinated by Financial Counselling Australia. “In February NDH dealt with 14,871 enquiries. That’s a 17%…