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Consumer and money problemsYour local generalist Community Legal Centre can help you with information about consumer rights and how to ensure that you are not ripped off by traders, service providers and tradespeople. See the Find a CLC section of our website. The Consumer Action Law Centre is a specialist CLC that helps consumers with car contracts, utility disputes, insurance, unfair contracts and credit and debt related problems, including loan contracts, credit cards, debtor harassment, credit reporting, mortgages and bankruptcy. Services not dependent on where you live. |
Community organisations
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Australian Consumers’ Association (CHOICE)
ACA is a non-profit, independent organisation that provides advice to consumers about faulty products and services, and profiles everything from washing machines to financial advisors. It also publishes CHOICE magazine, which is available online. |
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Financial & Consumer Rights Council
The Financial & Consumer Rights Council is the peak body for Victorian Financial Counselling and Consumer Support services. Its site has publications, resources, media articles and information on consumer issues. |
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Government organisations
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Australian Competition & Consumer Commission(ACCC)
The ACCC administers the Trade Practices Act 1974 and the Prices Surveillance Act 1983 and deals with anti-competitive and unfair market practices, mergers or acquisitions of companies, product safety/liability. |
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Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
ASIC administers the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 to ensure that companies and financial services respect the rights of consumers, creditors and investors. They publish a range of information sheets and consumer alerts. |
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Consumer Affairs Victoria
Consumer Affairs Victoria looks after policy and programs dealing with credit and debt, cars, shopping and services, product safety and e-commerce. |
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Insolvency & Trustee Service Australia
The Insolvency and Trustee Service Australia maintains a bankruptcy registry, which contains public records on insolvency. This government agency also investigates offences under the Bankruptcy Act and provides information on alternatives to bankruptcy. |
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Courts and tribunals
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Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (SCT)
The SCT is an independent Tribunal set up to deal with complaints about superannuation funds; annuities and deferred annuities; and Retirement Savings Accounts. |
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Publications
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Fact sheets – Consumer Action Law Centre
The Consumer Action Law Centre publishes a wide range of fact sheets. |
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Fact sheets – Consumer Affairs Victoria
Consumer Affairs Victoria publishes a wide range of fact sheets |
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Falling on Hard Times, 2006 (12th edition)
Published by Victoria Legal Aid, this is a guide for people in debt. |
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Websites
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Consumers Online
This Commonwealth government site has information on scams and frauds, shopping, services, consumer law, business, trade practices and product safety, as well as information for senior consumers, young people and consumers with a disability. |
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Fairtel
Getting a fair deal with mobile, internet and telephone services. |
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Weighing It Up
Published by Victoria Legal Aid, this is a guide for people considering bankruptcy. |
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Ombudsman schemes
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Banking and Financial Services Ombudsman
Banking and financial |
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Credit Ombudsman
Credit |
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Energy and Water Ombudsman (Victoria) (EWOV)
Energy and water |
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Financial Industry Complaints Service Ltd (FICS)
Financial services |
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Health Services Commissioner
Health Services |
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Insurance Ombudsman Service (IOS)
Insurance Services |
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Legal Services Commissioner
Legal Services |
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Ombudsman Victoria
Ombudsman Victoria |
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Private Health Insurance Ombudsman
Private Health Insurance |
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Public Transport Ombudsman
Public Transport |
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Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman
Telecommunications |
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