Consumer Support
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Associations
- General Sites & Portals :
- Australian Consumer’s
Association
With their magazine ‘Choice’. Lots of advice and information about goods, how to write complaining letters, etc.. - Australian Direct Marketing Association
If you bought something from a direct marketer and are not happy and can’t get satisfaction, you can at least try here. - Communications Alliance
Self-regulating body for the telecommunication industry.
Previously known as Australian Communications Information Forum - Communications Law Centre
- Consumer Watchdog
A series of consumer links is provided here. - Consumer’s Health Forum
For discussions about health matters this is, at the least, a good starting place. - Econsumer.gov
A world consumer site linked to 29 different countries including Australia. Consumer tips and more in several language choices. - Franchise Council of Australia
With offices in NSW, Qld, SA, Vic and WA, this is the place if you have franchise concerns. - Internet Industry Association
Not happy with something to do with the Australian internet process, an ISP or something similar - go here. - New South Wales Tenants Union
This is from New South Wales, but all states would have them. For government bodies you could also go to [NSW] Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal. These are accessed through Fair Trading Departments in each state [see below]).
Finance & Banking
- General Sites & Portals :
- Credit Union Dispute Reference Centre :
This is the place if you have a dispute with a Credit Union. Not all belong, but the centre does have the power to make an award. Contact - 1 800 624 241 - My Credit File
Your Credit File and Rating are the core of getting many financial services, particularly loans. Do you know what your credit rating is like ?, whether someone has added undesirable things to it ?, what your file actually contains ?. You can get copies of your credit file, either for Free if you are prepared to apply and wait for a short period of time, or as a Fee-based service if you need it quicker than with the free period transaction. Even then it is still quite reasonable in cost. - Financial Industry Complaints Service
Handles complaints about insurance, finance, superannuation and investments. - Australian Financial Planning Sites
A listing of a significant array of planning sites and companies providing these services. - Financial Services Consumer Policy Centre
Information and research on banks and advice on e-commerce in particular. - Insurance Complaints & Enquiries
Find information or make a complaint about something in the Insurance area. - Life Insurance Complaints
- Protect Your Financial Identity
‘This website provides information for the public about how you can protect your financial identity in everyday life and minimise the damage if a problem occurs. While there are no guarantees about avoiding identity theft, there are steps you can take to reduce risk and improve security at home and work.’ - Superannuation Complaints Tribunal
If you can’t get any satisfaction and you still believe there is a problem with your superannuation, visit this site. - Social Securities Appeal Tribunal
This group, which travels around Australia, can handle any disputes with Social Security payments of any kind. Forms come through Centrelink. -
Credit-Card-Crusher
Free software that is ‘a simple learning tool which illustrates the real cost of carrying high-interest debt. Simply fill in your current credit card debt. Crusher will then analyze your debt and show you the real carrying cost - in terms that are concrete and meaningful.’ You could also try the Credit Repair Planner software from the same site, which works to help improve your credit usage and payment.
Government Bodies
- Fair Trading Offices
These are established in each state/territory as listed below. - Australian Capital Territory, Office of Fair Trading
- New South Wales, Office of Fair Trading
- Northern Territory, Consumer & Business Affairs
- Queensland, Office of Fair Trading
- South Australia, Consumer & Business Affairs
- Tasmania, Consumer Affairs & Fair Trading
- Victoria, Consumer Affairs
- Western Australia, Consumer Protection
- General Sites & Portals :
- Consumer Affairs
Part of the Treasury web site. Click on ‘Consumer Affairs’ in the left hand column. - Consumer.gov.au
The Ministerial Council that handles consumer affairs. For Online Shopping advice go to their electronic shopping link. - Consumer Sentinel
‘See how law enforcement all over the world work together to fight fraud, using Consumer Sentinel, an innovative, international law enforcement fraud-fighting program.’ - Consumers Online
Consumer information provided by the government. - new !FuelWatch [WA]
This is the site for the WA version of Fuel Watch, which seems to be the basis for the Australian version to be introduced in late 2008. - new !GorceryChoice
‘Each month, GROCERYchoice publishes the price of grocery baskets at supermarket chains across Australia. The baskets include 500 products typically purchased by Australian households.’ - National Consumer Web Site
- Product Safety Recalls
The federal site for ensuring what you buy is safe and making sure things that aren’t are recalled. - Scamwatch
‘Scamwatch covers all sorts of scams from financial and investment scams such as pyramid schemes to miracle cures and instant weight loss treatments. Many scams have been around under different names for several years. Scamwatch keeps a look out for new scams, rorts and rip offs - our latest coverage includes some really professional new scams.’ - Specific Government Bodies :
- Australian Broadcasting Authority
For all matters related to broadcasting. - Australian Communications Authority
While the ABA does broadcasting, this site covers all forms of communication. - Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
The Federal body handling complaints about business and looks after both individual and Australian interests. - Australian High Tech Crime Centre
Its role is to ‘provide a national coordinated approach to combating serious, complex and multi-jurisdictional high tech crimes, especially those beyond the capability of single jurisdictions; assist in improving the capacity of all jurisdictions to deal with high tech crime.’ - Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
[APRA]
The regulator of banks, other finance bodies, insurance and superannuation. - Australian Securities and Investment Commission
Keeps an eye on investments, financial matters and takeovers. - FIDO
Financial Information Delivered Online - a sub-group of ASIC giving hints and advice, especially in the finance and e-commerce areas. - Food Standards Australia New Zealand
Joint group making decisions about all matters relating to foods. - Office of the Privacy Commissioner
Find specific information relating to privacy for business, government, individuals and related to health. Examples of government responsibility and actions in this area include : - Guidelines …
[For Federal and Australian Capital Territory Government Websites] - Privacy and Copyright
‘Applies to your interactions with Australian Government Information and Services’. - Privacy.org
‘The site for news, information and action.’ - Workcover
Find out about major injuries in the workplace and how to avoid them. An educational tool.
Ombudsmen
- Anti-Discrimination
While these are not specifically ombudsmen, they perform a similar function in the area of discrimination. - Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
- General Sites :
- Australian Banking Industry Ombudsman
A really good person to be able to contact when you have concerns with a bank or their actions.
[Personally - have used them and found them Excellent.] - Private Health Insurance Ombudsman
If you have a dispute with any aspect of your private health insurance and can’t get satisfaction visit this site. - Telecommunication Industry Ombudsman
When you have troubles with telecommunications that just don’t seem to be solvable in the normal manner. - State Ombudsman Offices :
Comparison Sites
- Banking :
- Bank Account 4u ?
‘Your guide through the financial maze.’ Helps you compare the cost of credit cards, bank accounts, personal loans, insurance and mortgages. - BankChoice
See further details in the ‘Infochoice’ listing below. - Credit Cards Australia
‘Credit Cards Australia helps you compare credit cards on offer before applying for the one that fits your needs. All credit cards in our database accept online applications. Offers are displayed so you can easily compare key factors such as lowest interest rates 0% balance transfer no annual fee as well as other features.’ - Credit Card Offers
‘We provide our visitors with vital information about credit card offers in Australia, current special offers and related financial reference material along with secure applications to apply for cards online.’ - High Interest Savings Accounts
‘We help you to find the best high interest savings accounts in Australia and we compare all of the account’s features to make sure your money is not being eaten away by fees and other charges.’ - Personal Loans
Compare, guides & tips, types & features. - Fuel :
- Fueltrac
‘FUELtrac monitors retail [pump] fuel prices throughout Australia. With over 130 locations to choose from, and historical data available for a number of years, we provide one of the most comprehensive libraries of fuel prices in Australia.’ Also provides information about ‘cycles’ and alternate fuels.
Not all information is free. - MotorMouth - Fuel Prices and Petrol Prices
Australia
‘MotorMouth is here to save you time and money, and with our improved range of services we’re making it even easier to beat the average price of fuel !’ - National Fuel Prices
‘Nationwide fuel prices are shown in tables by state name. Automatic price updates occur daily from official sources.’ - General Sites & Portals :
- BuyItSellIt
Compare prices from 500+ retailers. Channel through specific areas to find these. Australian site. - Comp@re
Another of the Australian comparison sites designed to help you get the best possible value for your money. - Epinions
If you are interested, these sites provide other people’s opinions on the quality and usefulness of goods. Take each with a grain of salt ! Not all may be as it seems. - GetPrice
Use the comparison information to your advantage. - InfoChoice
Australian online comparison tool for financial, telecommunication and travel areas. No bias to any one supplier. Also has sub-groups covering : - My Shopping
A ‘Free comparison shopping site for smart shoppers.’ Australian. - Product Review
‘A discussion forum where people can rate particular products and services, list the price they paid for it and where they got it from - all to help others make an informed shopping choice.’ - Shop Ferret - Comparison Shopping
‘Find products with ease, compare prices and read user-provided merchant reviews and ratings’. 441 000+ products from 384 shops. - Shopping.com Australia
‘Shopping.com’'s mission is to help consumers anywhere use the power of information to find, compare and buy anything !’ - Simple Savings
A wealth of advice, tips and more to make savings in a variety of ways. Much is common sense though not always thought about. Tipsheets and more. You need to join to gain full access to all the hints and ideas, but this could be worthwhile. - Health & Medical :
- Good Medicine
Looks at private insurance, private health insurance funds and provides the tools to do some comparisons between the various funds. - iSelect
Compare a great range of health insurance policies from participating funds to help you get cover that meets your needs and budget. - PrivateHealth
‘Welcome to PrivateHealth.gov.au where you can find out about private health insurance, search for and compare selected features for all private health insurance products offered in Australia.’ - Insurance :
- Australian Insurance Guide
[Health, Travel, Life, Home, Car Insurance Quotes Online]
‘This online guide will help you find information on different types of insurance as well as providing links to online Australian company websites that can give you instant quotes online.’ There is also a collection of articles relevant to insurance. - Insurance Watch
‘Easily compare quotes online for over 80 Life insurance [including Total and Permanent Disability insurance], Trauma insurance and Income Protection insurance products. Our website also explains the difference between the policy types and outlines policy benefits and features.’ - Insure Simply
‘Searches some of the most competitive home and motor insurance quotations from a panel of Australia’s leading insurers. All it takes is a few minutes and you can compare and buy the cover you want.’ - Technology
Includes, computing, technology, telephones, … - Internet Fact Sheets
A range of information, downloadable in .pdf format, covering subjects from ADSL - a guide to VOIP. Developed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. - ShopBot
Find, compare and buy in the areas of computing and electronics. Multiple groups and Top 5 Categories are listed for you. - Staticice
Particularly useful for technical and computing materials covering 250+ stores and more than half a million gadgets.