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Everybody has the right to complain which provides organisations with valuable feedback about what users dislike about a product or service. The revised Australian Standard guides organisations to manage their own complaints and enables consistency in the effective treatment of complaints, particularly in a global marketplace. Organizations should adopt a people-focused and proactive approach to…

Read More Complaint’s handling standard a good outcome for consumers

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Volunteering brings people together; it builds communities and creates a better society for everyone. National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering and a chance for all of us to celebrate and recognise the vital work of volunteers, find out more here.  Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) depends on the volunteers who represent CFA…

Read More National Volunteer Week 2022 “Better together”

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Australian travellers are growing increasingly frustrated with Qantas as restrictions ease across the country and travel begins again.  This is a media release from CHOICE. It was originally published on 12th April, 2022.  CHOICE spokesperson, Dean Price, said that Qantas was placing unreasonable barriers in the way of travellers trying to redeem their credits or get a refund.…

Read More Qantas’s flight credits policy is “unfair and unworkable”: CHOICE

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If you’re trying to understand electric and hybrid vehicles, what’s under the bonnet can be a bit of a mystery including the maintenance and servicing requirements, read more here. The revised draft standard AS 5732 Electrical vehicle operations – Maintenance and repair provides requirements and guidance on the safe and appropriate handling procedures for those within the mechanical…

Read More How do you service an Electric Car? – draft open for public comment

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Consumer groups welcomed the consultation on improving the effectiveness of the consumer guarantee and supplier indemnification provisions under the Australian Consumer Law. Ideally, under the Australian Consumer Law, products and services come with a guarantee that they are of acceptable quality, safe with no faults and fit-for-purpose. And when these are not met, consumers are…

Read More Consumer Guarantees – reimaging redress for consumers

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The independent committee that monitors the Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice (the Code) has released its Annual Data Report. Drawn from breach and complaints data and from detailed discussions with all Code subscribers, the report includes insights, recommendations and examples of good practice. This is a media release from the Customer Owned Banking Code Compliance Committee (COBCCC).…

Read More Customer Owned Banking Code Compliance Committee releases Annual Data Report

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The board of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) today announced that Andrew Williams has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer for the organisation. “Following an executive search process, the board has determined that Acting CEO Andrew Williams is the best person to lead ACCAN forward as CEO,” said ACCAN Chair Deirdre O’Donnell. This…

Read More ACCAN Board announces Andrew Williams as CEO

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Driving while under the influence of alcohol affects perception, vision, concentration, reaction time and causes drowsiness – all of which increase the chances of having an accident. Consequences of drink driving include severe penalties, trauma, and death. Breath alcohol testing devices for personal use should be able to perform in a manner that allows the user to make…

Read More Breath alcohol electronic testing devices for personal use – draft open for public comment

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The latest edition of the Queensland Consumers Association’s (QCA) newsletter Unit Pricing Global Update reports that: India will require display of the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) per standardised unit of measure (i.e. the unit price) on pre-packaged commodities sold by retailers after 31 March 2022. Currently only the MRP has to be displayed. In New…

Read More Mandatory grocery unit pricing coming to India and New Zealand

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CFA has made a submission to the consultation the on how the Australian Government can regulate organic products domestically. The consultation document examines the policy problem under consideration, as well as potential regulatory and non-regulatory options for reform. In its submission CFA states: Australian consumers should be protected from misleading and misrepresentation in relation to produce and…

Read More CFA publishes submission to Domestic Organics Regulatory Impact Statement

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CHOICE has joined consumer groups from 9 countries, including Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA), calling for urgent action on buy now, pay later (BNPL) credit providers as new data shows many Australians are struggling with this form of debt.  This is a media release from CHOICE. It was originally published on 17th March, 2022.  The global statement…

Read More Global alliance calls for regulation of harmful buy now, pay later industry

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The Victorian Pride Lobby is surveying LGBTIQA+ Australians on their experiences with and perceptions of insurance products and companies. The goal of this community survey is to provide actionable recommendations for the insurance industry to improve processes and products and for communications to be more inclusive of LGBTIQA+ customers.  This survey is being conducted independently…

Read More Victorian Pride Lobby surveying discrimination in insurance