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Archives:
What's newand Watch out for it!
Archives of our 'What's new' links
- Please note : we aim to remove stories that are no longer linked.
If you find a link that no longer works, please let us know.Beware: scam phone surveys
SCAMwatch warning: be alert to scam telephone surveys which gather your personal and banking information and use it to make
future scam phone calls you receive appear legitimate
Scammers pose as government & banks offering to reclaim overcharged bank fees
Beware of scam callers pretending to be from the Government or a bank and asking for an upfront fee to reclaim your overcharged bank fees
The Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) has published a draft report on customer care and complaints-handling in the telecommunications industry.
Australian telecommunications users are living in a ’confusopoly’ in which ‘bill shock’ is common and advertising practices can be misleading, an industry regulator says. Read more
Latest report from Energy and Water Ombudsman (Victoria)
Credit issues show up in latest report from Telecommunications Industry OmbudsmanCheck out how your financial service provider compares (Financial Ombudsman Service site)
Queensland Ombudsman for water complaints
New Australian Consumer Law - from 1 Jan 2011
Australia now has a single, uniform consumer law for fair trading and consumer protection. The Australian Consumer Law replaces provisions in 20 national, state and territory consumer laws. It applies to all businesses and includes:- a new national unfair contract terms law covering standard form contracts
- a new national law guaranteeing consumer rights when buying goods and services, which replaces existing laws on conditions and warranties
- a new national product safety law and enforcement system
- a new national law for unsolicited consumer agreements, which replaces existing State and Territory laws on door-to-door sales and other direct marketing
- simple national rules for lay-by agreements
- new penalties, enforcement powers and consumer redress.
More Australian Consumer Law info inc. links to consumer & business guides
- Issues being worked on by the Consumers Federation of Australia (CFA)
Telco/Finance bundling contracts - action so far
Australian Consumer Law Updates
(from Fair Trading NSW)
Annual report: Energy & Water Ombudsman Vic
Annual report: Public Transport Ombudsman Vic
Customs changes after traveller complaints
Hoon Hotline Queensland: 1300HOON
ACCC's Unit Pricing report card (Dec 2010)Senate inquiry into film & literature classification
Door-to-door energy marketing: problems, advice and how to help with complaints info
- Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman releases Annual Report
Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW Annual Report
Dodgy motor dealer hotline for QLD
Solar panel retailers forced by ACCC to amend claims on discounts and electricity savings
Private Health Insurance Ombudsman's 2010 Annual Report released
Changes mean you stay on the 'do not call register' longer
Solar power - understand what you're buying
ASIC Bulletin on new national credit laws
Community group's FOI reveals unrecorded air traffic complaints
'Financial redress' campaign on bank fees
Find a financial counsellor in your state
Ombudsman peak body calls for halt to misuse of the term Ombudsman - ANZOA statement
General insurance - revised Code of Practice effective from 1 May 2010
ACCC info on complaints about debt collectors
'Do not call' register - registration lasts 3 years only - don't forget to renew yours!
Beware of fake Australian taxation office emails
Complaints about credit insurance marketing
Increased $ limit for Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman complaints: In latest TIO Talks
Privacy Foundation's Big Brother awards
Energy retailer fined by ACMA for calls to numbers on 'Do not call' register
- Policy action on complaint issues:
Consumers Federation & Consumer Action Law Centre
ASIC: national consumer credit regulation
Australian Federation of Travel Agents discussion paper on consumer protection measures
Building capacity with Indigenous communities
Victim of a Telco scam? Meeting of consumers
QLD: $978,000 for payday lender customers in crackdown on credit providers + watch our for about door-to-door bitumen layers and rogue insulation installers
ACCC's warranties & refunds guide
Financial Ombudsman Service E-NewsEnergy and Water Ombudsman E-newsletters:
Victoria NSW QueenslandFair Work Australia: info on workplace rights
ASIC info on switching bank accounts
Guide to mobile premium services: 19sms.com.au
Productivity Commission Report suggests ACCC should copy our best bits! here - Vol 2
Storm Financial update from ASIC
CAV: How to spot an unfair contract and watching out for dodgy door to door tradespeople
Choice welcomes consumer credit changes
Grocery unit pricing - your views are sought
Financial Ombudsman Service's Bushfire & Flooding Disaster Hotline
Have your say: Bank Mergers Inquiry
Watch out if you're going online by phone
SA: Know your warranty rights here
New grocery choice site - judge for yourself
New Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)
from 1 July 2008
Vic unfair contracts law guides national here
New CAV toy and nursery safety line hereFacts on switching to renewable energy here
Want to have your say on bank fees? here
Changing home loans - read ASIC's advice here
Dodgy tax schemes here
VIC - CAV's 10 things to know about credit hereWA - COTA seminars - reverse mortgages here
TAS - Code of Practice for Caravan Parks here
NSW Fair Trading - survey on buying petrol
over Easter here
Thinking about a 'reverse mortgage'? Read this new ASIC report first here
Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce's 'Fraud Fortnight 2008' - read more here
New Aged Care Complaints Scheme here
QLD fact sheet on water tanks here
'Do not knock' campaign launched here
Missed mobile phone call scam here
Counterfeit money orders here
Latest timeshare scam hits Qld here
Suspect domain name registration offer here
'Do not call register' rules amended - research calls now allowed on Sunday hereASIC's 'cold calling blacklist' - helps you check whether overseas callers are reputable here
New QLD consumer guide to retirement villages here
New Energy Ombudsman QLD here
New QLD Workplace Rights Ombudsman here
'Do not call' Register here
Protect your financial identity here
Home, travel and motor insurance complaints top in 2006 - Insurance Ombudsman Service releases its Annual Report - report and media releases here
New Insurance Code of Practice is in now hereSome telcos not telling you that you can take your complaint to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman here
National 'do not call' register on the way herePostal Industry Ombudsman website here
- Inspected house a $65,000 termite meal here
New Internet Industry Spam Code of Practice here
Protect yourself against 'phishing' here
Online chain letters & other hoaxes here
ASIC's Shadow Shopping Survey on Superannuation Advice here
ASIC questionnaire for Westpoint investors here
New category & code - 'migration agent' here
Joint Banking and Financial Services Ombudsman/Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman 'Youth Bulletin' - info for young people about mobile phone, credit card and other debt problems and how they can be resolved here
Western Australia now has an Energy Ombudsman here
Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria now takes LPG complaints here
Annual Reports 2005
Banking and Financial Services Ombudsman's Annual Report 2005 here
Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW Annual Report 2005 here
Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria Annual Report here
Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman's Annual Report 2005 here
Buying a plasma TV - Fair Trading NSW here
Don't pass on the "Baby Natalie" email more info here
Don't pass on the "It takes guts to say Jesus" email - it's a hoax more info here
From Fair Trading Qld - 'free' mobile ringtones come at a cost
New Vic real estate laws (from 1 July 2005) here
Tougher Qld toy safety standards (from 1 July 2005) here
CAV Link newsletter from Consumer Affairs Victoria (June 2005) here
Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) calls on industry to improve telemarketing practices (May 2005) here
Three industry codes for child protection in online and mobile access (May 2005) here
Telecommunications Industry Code - Consumer Contracts (March 2005) (This Code seeks to ensure that the terms of contracts between service providers and residential and small business consumers are fair and are presented by service providers in a form that is readily accessible, legible and capable of being readily understood by consumers.) here
2004 Annual Reports:
Energy & Water Ombudsman (Victoria) here
Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW here
Energy Industry Ombudsman SA here
Insurance Ombudsman Service here
Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman here
Banking & Financial Services Ombudsman here
Health Services Commissioner here
New Electricity Industry Code for Qld here
New WA Electricity Customer Service Code here
Consumer Affairs Victoria warning about mobile phone contracts here
The latest "Little Black Book of Scams" here
Info on ADMA's 'do not contact' service here
ACCC's consumer newsletter July 04
Complain about an international trader at http://www.econsumer.gov/
9 0 # code hoax back
Don't be a "Scam Sucker"!- New Direct Marketing Code (QLD)
- Changes to the Code of Fair Practice for Retirement Villages (WA)
- ACCC's page on e-commerce (all sorts of interesting ecommerce stuff)
- Franchising industry participants
- Mandatory comparison rates - fixed term credit
- VIC: Fare go for taxi passengers
- Consumer Tool Kits for Mobile Phones, Fixed Lines and Internet
- QLD: Have your say on secondhand car dealers
- Worldwide Consumer Fraud Guidelines
- VIC: Complaints against doctors rise
- Fitness industry and gym complaints
- Australia to take action on spam
- $1.2m Refunds For Misled Consumers
- Telstra ad "misled customers"
- Red alert on bank fees
- Bankers target identity fraud
- Your say - Qld's car rental industry
- New direct marketing restrictions in Vic
- New ombudsman for wheat growers' complaints
- Changing electricity retailer in NSW
- New Chairperson for EWON Council
- New laws for Introduction Agents (QLD)
- New paper on Spam (ISOC)
- New Credit Union complaints scheme
- Call centre for one stop banking, insurance and investment assistance
- New safeguards for NSW car buyers
- Crikey.com.au
- NSW Community Services Commission merges with State Ombudsman
- Updated Gas Retail Code (Vic)
- ANZ Bank to pay customers $7million
- Retirement Village Contracts
- ACCC's Petrol Price Initiative
- Useful info on scams (WA)
- Written-off Vehicle Certificates
- Real Estate Practice Code of Conduct (Qld)
- Motor Dealing Practice Code of Conduct (Qld)
- New Tax Watchdog
- Food labelling
- Internet gambling content (& industry code)
- New Code of Banking Practice
- NEW EFT CODE FROM 1 APRIL 2002
- ACCC calls for clearer insurance info
- Important reforms to the financial services industry
- QLD - 'No door to door' stickers
- Annual Report - Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman
- Full Retail Competition in Electricity in Victoria
- Final Report - Review of Banking Code of Practice
- ACCC unconscionable conduct brochures
- Guidelines to National Privacy Principles
- ACCC's forums on advertising and selling in Rural and Regional Australia
- ACCC's Consumer Express newsletter
- Produce and Grocery Industry Ombudsman
- Community Services Complaints
- WA Fair Trading - new name
- Global Consumer Protection website
- NSW - advertising materials
- Archives - Watch out for it!
- Please note : we aim to remove stories that are no longer linked, so the archives are "active" links only.
ATM scam - travellers watch out- Dodgy seminars
- Scam mail
- "Jason Lee" chain letter
- The spy inside your home computer (BBC News)
- Fake email greeting cards
- Business invoice scams
- Dangerous confectionary banned
- Domain name renewals
- Don't be fooled by chain letters
- Overseas lottery warning
- FBI Internet fraud site
- Domain name renewal
