Consumers and Contracts

Contacts, Links, Resources and References

There are many agencies operated by both the Commonwealth and ACT governments responsible for the receipt and resolution of complaints, as well as private, independent industry-based dispute resolution schemes.

Most of these are referred to in the relevant subject chapters of the Law Handbook. Readers are referred to the chapter dealing with their specific area of complaint as well as to the list given here.

The following list deals mainly with areas that are not dealt with in any detail elsewhere in the Law Handbook. Where appropriate, addresses to useful Internet sites have been provided.

General Complaints

ACT Office of Fair Trading (part of the Office of Regulatory Services) www.ors.act.gov.au/community/fair_trading

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission www.accc.gov.au. See in particular:

• "Making a Complaint" at www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/tag/ConsumersMakingAComplaint/; and
• ACCC's Consumer and Business Directory at www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/8627.

Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) www.apra.gov.au

Australian Securities and Investments Commission

• Search for registered business names: www.asic.gov.au
• Search for ACNs and ABNs of Australian organisations: www.search.asic.gov.au/gns001.html
• Fido Consumer Website: http://fido.asic.gov.au

Canberra Connect www.canberraconnect.act.gov.au

International E-Consumer Project www.econsumer.gov

Complaintline www.complaintline.com.au

Complaints and Alternative Dispute Resolution Schemes

Financial Ombudsman Service 1300 78 08 08 www.fos.org.au. This service incorporates the former Banking and Financial Services Ombudsman, Credit Union Dispute Resolution Centre, Financial Industry Complaints Service, Insurance Brokers Disputes Limited, and Insurance Ombudsman Service (itself formerly Insurance Enquiries and Complaints Limited).

Credit Ombudsman Service www.creditombudsman.com.au

Superannuation Complaints Tribunal www.sct.gov.au

Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) www.tio.com.au Complaint line 1800 062 058

Fair Trading Offices in other States and Territories

Australian Consumer Law homepage www.consumerlaw.gov.au

Consumer Affairs Tasmania www.consumer.tas.gov.au

Consumer Affairs Victoria www.consumer.vic.gov.au

NSW Office of Fair Trading www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

New Zealand Ministry of Consumer Affairs www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz

NT Office of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading www.nt.gov.au/justice/consaffairs

QLD Office of Fair Trading www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au

SA Office of Consumer and Business Affairs www.ocba.sa.gov.au

WA Department of Consumer and Employment Protection www.docep.wa.gov.au/ConsumerProtection

Useful Documents

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Code of Conduct www.asic.gov.au/fido/fido.nsf/byheadline/Electronic+Funds+Transfer+(EFT)+Code+of+Conduct?opendocument

Other Contacts

AUSIndustry www.ausindustry.gov.au

CITEC Confirm www.confirm.citec.com.au

Licence Recognition www.licencerecognition.gov.au

References

Seddon NC and Ellinghaus MP, Cheshire & Fifoot's Law of Contract (9^th Aus ed 2008)

Seddon, N, Government Contracts: Federal, State and Local (4^th ed 2009)