After nearly 15 years in the role, Fiona Guthrie is stepping down as CEO of Financial Counselling Australia (FCA), the FCA board has announced. Fiona is leaving FCA to take up a new position as the CEO of Way Forward, a not-for-profit organisation that provides free assistance to people in…
At a glance Financial counsellors rated the hardship practices of the big four banks, non-major banks, non-bank lenders and debt collectors on a scale of one to 10 (1 being the lowest) The big four banks are best when it comes to treating customers in financial hardship, with scores of…
Financial Counselling Australia is delighted with today’s Government announcement about the establishment of an independent body to accept contributions from industry to fund financial counselling services. FCA CEO Fiona Guthrie said the announcement was momentous for the financial counselling sector, coming after years of advocacy. It is an important recognition…
The Board of Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) is delighted to announce the appointment of two new board members, Delia Rickard and Carly Baker. The Board also acknowledges and thanks Greg Tanzer and Lyndall Millburn, who are leaving the Board after seven and three years of service respectively. New Board Members…
First Nations consumer advocates from the Save Sorry Business Coalition have greeted the announcement that the Federal Government will extend its Interim Youpla Scheme with a renewed call for the urgent establishment of a fair and culturally appropriate resolution for First Nations people. Advocates recognise that this extension of the…
Stronger laws will protect people from data breaches and misuse More than 20 advocates and researchers are calling on the government to urgently implement major reforms to the Privacy Act in a joint open letter released today. The signatories, which include leading experts on privacy and assistance services working with…
Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) giant Afterpay is luring Australians into even more debt with a new product that consumer advocates warn will only add to Australia’s BNPL debt bubble. Afterpay recently launched Afterpay Plus which charges a $10 monthly subscription to allow customers to enter into Afterpay loans using…
Lotteries and instant scratch tickets must be included in the same law that bans the use of credit cards for online gambling, a gambling-consumer protection advocate says. Financial Counselling Australia’s Director of Policy and Campaigns Lauren Levin said the exclusion of lotteries from the credit card ban, which was introduced…
Consumer Action Law Centre and Financial Counselling Australia say they hope the Australian Securities and Investment Commission’s (ASIC) court action announced today against Cigno and BSF Solutions and their directors, will lead to a final ‘nail in the coffin’ for two of the country’s worst ‘credit’ providers. “Cigno and BSF…
Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) has welcomed legislation that will ban the use of credit cards for online gambling. Legislation introduced today by the Federal Government will mean online gambling companies can no longer accept bets funded by credit cards, including cards linked to e-wallets. The ban will also cover the…