The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has today published guidance on its website about how lenders should treat Repayment History Information (RHI) for customers that are experiencing financial hardship. RHI is information about whether repayments on loans and credit cards are made on time. Proposed laws will make it…
Financial Counselling Australia welcomes the establishment of a new financial complaints watchdog that will provide a one-stop shop for complaints from consumers and small businesses about banks and other financial institutions, including superannuation funds. Consumer advocates have long supported the creation of a single ombudsman-style scheme. The new Australian Financial…
MEDIA RELEASE Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) welcomes the Government’s proposals to curb gambling advertising on radio and television. Although a complete ban on advertising is preferable, the Government’s plan to prohibit gambling advertising during live sports events between 5:00am and 8:30pm is a step in the right direction. We are…
Financial Counselling Australia welcomes today's announcement from the ACCC that they will continue to allow the banking industry to subsidise privately provided ATMs in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The ACCC needs to authorise this arrangement as its collective nature means it would otherwise breach Australia's competition laws.…
MEDIA RELEASE: FCA is excited to announce the launch today of the Financial Counselling Foundation. The Foundation is a charitable trust set up to provide grants for financial counselling casework and help build the capacity of the sector. Many businesses – including banks, credit unions, telecommunication companies, utility companies and debt…
MEDIA RELEASE: Consumer rights in telecommunications, including mobile and broadband services, are so parlous that thousands of people are being left without access to essential services or meaningful redress when their suppliers fail them, according to consumer advocates. A group of leading consumer advocates today pointed to staggering complaint levels,…
Financial Counselling Australia's Representative Council - made up of the leaders of the financial counselling sector in Australia - is calling on governments around Australia to get tougher on businesses that rip people off. Businesses like payday lenders, rent-to-buy companies and for-profit debt management companies can cause enormous harm, with…
Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) is putting its support, loud and clear, behind the ACOSS-led campaign calling on the Government to stop demonising people on social welfare and reverse planned cuts to social security benefits. FCA is one of the many community organisations that signed a joint statement calling out the…
Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) welcomes amendments to the Interactive Gambling Bill (IGA) that passed through Parliament yesterday. "The online wagering companies will no longer be able to give people credit to gamble online. This was getting people into so much trouble" said Lauren Levin, Director Campaigns and Policy, FCA. "We're…
A quote attributed to Chinese philosopher Lau Tzu say "a leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves." This quote is apt to describe Fiona Guthrie's role in the consumer movement over 25 years.…