Responsible Lending
A client who recently migrated to Australia in 2005 was denied the request for an interpreter and was pressured into signing a car loan contract that she did not understand. The client was not aware of the car buying process in Australia and was mislead by her ex-husband that her signature was needed in order to release the car.
The client was shocked when the bank demanded payments from her as a co-borrower on a car loan that she didn't even know existed and on a car that she couldn't even use. CCLSWA was able to negotiate a waiver of the client's entire debt on the grounds that the lender had breached their responsible lending obligations under the National Credit Code.
Shopping Online
With Christmas around the corner many are turning to online retailers to shop for their Christmas presents.
The online consumer has rights under the Australia Consumer Law. This means that if a consumer receives an incorrect or faulty product they have the right to ask for a repair, refund, or compensation depending on the circumstances.
These rights under the ACL may apply to overseas online businesses. However, the enforcement of these consumer guarantees against business outside Australia is daunting as a consumer may find it impossible to locate and bring legal action against the seller. So, it is crucial for consumers to consider the reputation and internal policies of the online seller before making an online purchase.
CCLSWA recommends that consumers report complaints and scams to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and contact their bank to request the payment to the retailer be reversed.
More information can be found on our website: http://cclswa.org.au/cclswa-online-resources/infographics/ |
