Articles Archives - Page 94 of 180 - Consumers' Federation of Australia

7 April , 2017

ACCC to monitor Australia’s broadband performance

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement that it will fund a new broadband performance monitoring program to provide Australian consumers with accurate and independent information about broadband speeds. The program will use hardware-based devices to perform remote testing of around 4,000 households to determine typical speeds on fixed-line NBN…

29 March , 2017

Progress on banking code, but missed opportunities too: consumer advocates

The Australian Banker’s Association (ABA) response to the Independent Review of the Code of Banking Practice (Khoury Review) is a positive start, but consumer advocates say there are some missed opportunities for the banking industry. Advocates say improving responsible lending assessments and making it easier to cancel credit cards will help Australians have a better…

25 March , 2017

Victoria considers prohibitions on rent-to-buy homes and residential vendor finance

Consumer Affairs Victoria is asking for feedback to help shape the laws that control how Victorians buy and sell property. A new options paper presents a range of possible reforms to modernise and improve Victoria’s 55-year-old Sale of Land Act 1962 (the Act). “Victoria’s property market is booming, and it’s essential the Sale of Land…

25 March , 2017

Standards Australia releases Issues Paper to support APEC’s Silver Economy

Standards Australia has released an Issues Paper titled The Role of Standards and Innovation for Driving APEC’s Silver Economy, providing insights to assist Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies to prepare for the challenges and opportunities created by ageing societies. In 2016, Standards Australia and the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, on behalf of…

22 March , 2017

Bush telecoms group tells Canberra it’s time for action

“We hear you and we want to help” was the majority message from politicians in Canberra this week when they met with the Regional, Rural & Remote Communications Coalition. The Coalition met with more than 50 members of parliament over two days with the aim of highlighting the plight of telecommunications in the bush. National…

18 March , 2017

Mortgage broker mayhem

CFA members CHOICE, Consumer Action Law Centre and Financial Rights Legal Centre are calling on the federal government to act on conflicted remuneration in the mortgage market following an ASIC report that found widespread conflicts of interest for brokers and bank staff have led to an aggressive sales culture and poor outcomes for borrowers.[1] Quotes…

16 March , 2017

Nine Hours of Conditions Apply *

CHOICE says global companies need to stop pushing consumers into signing off on long, unreadable online contracts Consumers’ Federation of Australia member CHOICE is calling on the Federal Government to stop companies from forcing consumers to accept tens-of-thousands of words of complex requirements, just to use a product, after a review of e-reader terms and…

7 March , 2017

Multi-billion Dollar Credit Card Rip-Off

CHOICE says consumers have lost $3.49 billion because credit card interest rates haven’t moved in line with the cash rate As the banks front a Parliamentary Inquriy this week to explain their poor practices, new research from CHOICE reveals their failure to pass on the official interest rate cuts to their credit card customers has…

3 March , 2017

Consumers unable to pay high power bills advised to contact their retailer early

The Queensland Consumers Association says householders experiencing difficulty paying high power bills caused by keeping cool during the sweltering summer should contact their power retailer as soon as possible. Association spokesperson, Ian Jarratt, says many power bills received, or those yet to arrive, will be well above normal due to the use of power guzzling…

2 March , 2017

ACCC names key enforcement and compliance priorities for 2017

The Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Rod Sims says 2017 will see its enforcement teams hone in on misleading and deceptive practices, anti-competitive conduct and unfair contract terms affecting small businesses. Speaking at a Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) event in Sydney today, Mr Sims launched the ACCC’s 2017 Compliance…

1 March , 2017

NSW Fair Trading Commissioner honoured

Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Matt Kean has today paid tribute to NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe for his 40 years of service to the people of NSW, including 28 years in the consumer affairs portfolio. Mr Stowe’s love of public service began appropriately on Valentine’s Day in 1977, when he was appointed…

22 February , 2017

CFA publishes Submission to the Commission’s Consumer Law Enforcement and Administration Draft Report

Consumers’ Federation of Australia has published its submission to the Commission’s Consumer Law Enforcement and Administration Draft Report. The submission calls for additional public funding for consumer advocacy. Furthermore, CFA encourages the Productivity Commission to develop mechanisms which found fund the necessary consumer advocacy and input, aside from a call on the Federal Budget. The…