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CCLSWA April Law Reform 2019 Newsletter 
After all the excitement of the Banking Royal Commission and our excellent CCLSWA Supporters launch last month, life in the office has been more settled.  One highlight was that Gemma Mitchell attended the inaugural meeting of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority Consumer Advisory Panel in #Melbourne. 
In this month’s newsletter, the focus is on our law reform project that began in October 2018.  The 12-month law reform project focuses on 4 areas that affect our WA community: the motor vehicle industry, retirement village industry, enforcement of consumer law rights, and debt vultures.
 
WA is one of only 3 jurisdictions in Australia where car buyers do not have a cooling off right. If you buy a car or a caravan, then change your mind, you will have to pay the dealer a financial penalty. CCLSWA is pushing for WA buyers to have a cooling off right.

What happens when you buy goods that turn out to be defective? The ACL is neither clear nor certain. If you and the seller cannot agree on the outcome, you may have to sue the seller in court. But going to court can be expensive or scary for people, so that’s not always an option
We’ve been told that the dispute resolution process for retirement village residents is not easy or cheap. Our project will examine and recommend ways to make the process easier and clearer for residents. With our number of seniors rising rapidly, it is essential we make processes accessible for their accommodation and other needs.
Predatory debt management businesses prey on consumers’ desperation. They promise to help people pay their bills on time and get rid of their debts. In reality, however, these businesses charge exorbitant service fees for limited or no assistance in return. People are usually left with more debt and more stress. What's more, WA financial counsellors can provide the same services for free.
Over the last 6 months, Senior Solicitor Faith Cheok and paralegals Storm Viall, Nicholas Todd, and Julia Henry have worked on 4 areas affecting WA consumers. They consulted a range of stakeholders, including other community legal centres, Consumer Protection, WARVRA, financial counsellors, and community support workers.
Regional Road Trip 
 The law reform team recently took a trip with Regional Alliance West and Street Law Centre. We met with Yullela and Mission Australia representatives of Mullewa, Meekatharra, Mount Magnet, and Yalgoo.

This trip enabled us to investigate the major recurrent regional consumer issues that plague our Indigenous communities.  We identified the main ones to be: consumer leases, rent-to-buy schemes, debt collection, debt vultures, payday loans, and unsolicited consumer agreements.  You can also see pictures from the trip on our social media pages

 
The law reform team is looking for opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders. Pleases contact Faith Cheok to discuss your interest.  Tel: (08) 6336 7023
Email: Faith.Cheok@cclswa.org.au

 Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA) Inc. is a statewide service providing free legal advice and/or representation in the areas of banking, finance, credit; and consumer goods and services. The organisation provides free assistance through the telephone advice line (08 9221 7066),  casework and community legal education.

Copyright © 2019 Consumer Credit Legal Service WA Inc All rights reserved.

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Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA) Inc.
Level 1, 231 Adelaide Terrace
Perth, WA 6000
Australia

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Consumer Credit Legal Service WA · Level 1, 445 Hay St · Perth, Western Australia 6000 · Australia

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