Consumer groups are extremely disappointed in ASIC’s decision not to appeal the Full Federal Court’s decision in the Westpac case to the High Court of Australia.[1] The Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights), Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action), CHOICE and Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) had supported the view,…
All of the State and Territory financial counselling associations,[1] together with Financial Counselling Australia, have joined the National Day of Action to Raise the Rate of the JobSeeker payment for good. The campaign has been coordinated by the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS). Financial counsellors across the country…
Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) has welcomed a $6.8 million funding boost for financial counselling services in Western Australia as part of the state government’s WA Recovery Plan. The money will be used to increase the number of financial counsellors in Western Australia through supporting existing services and establishing a new…
Financial Counselling Australia notes that Australia’s independent financial dispute resolution body, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, has today banned MCR Partners from accessing its services for a period of time. FCA strongly welcomes this move from AFCA. MCR Partners says it helps individuals and small business in financial hardship. This…
Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) welcomes Tuesday’s announcement of an extra $3.5 million from the Federal Government to help people affected by the devastating bushfires. The money will be used to fund financial counselling work in 22 not-for-profit organisations located in those communities most affected by the bushfires – NSW, Victoria,…
The 2020 Jan Pentland Scholarship winners were announced at a virtual “zoom” dinner this evening attended by hundreds of people across Australia and New Zealand. This year 21 people were awarded the highly sought-after scholarship, which helps people who are studying or intend to undertake study in financial counselling. “Financial counselling…
Financial Counselling Australia welcomes today’s court decision which dismissed the appeal by short-term lender Cigno and its associated company Gold-Silver Standard Finance against its banning. ASIC had used its new product intervention powers to ban Cigno and Gold Silver Standard because of the significant consumer detriment its products cause -…
Consumer groups welcome the announcement by the Australian Banking Association that bank customers applying for payment deferrals as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will not have a missed payment or hardship flag appear on their credit file. Importantly, this approach will apply across the board to all consumer debt, including mortgages,…
As businesses shut down to stop the spread of Covid 19, and more and more people lose their jobs, financial counsellors want Australians to know that we’re here to help. Financial counsellors are qualified professionals who provide information, advice and advocacy to people in financial difficulty. Their services are free,…
Is your small business suffering? Free financial counselling is available. We are here to help. Just call us. Financial Counselling Australia is excited to announce the launch of Australia’s first financial counselling service for small business. The Small Business Bushfire Financial Counselling Support Line (1800 413 828) fills a much-needed…