Here are some lists of contacts you will find useful if you can't get your problem fixed by your retailer or service provider.
Before you contact these agencies, make sure you have tried your best to get the problem fixed.
ACCC – Australian Consumer and Competition Commission
Phone: 1300 302 502
Website: accc.gov.au
ASIC – Australian Securities and Investments Commission
Phone: 1300 300 630
Website: asic.gov.au
ACMA – Australian Communications and Media Authority
Phone: 1300 850 115
Website: acma.gov.au
ACCAN – Australian Communications Consumer Action Network
Phone: Phone: 02 9288 4000
Website: accan.org.au
Product Safety Australia
Phone: Phone: 1300 302 502 (ACCC Infocentre)
Website: productsafety.gov.au
Scamwatch
Website: scamwatch.gov.au
IDCare
Phone: Phone: 1800 595 160
Website: idcare.org
State government ombudsman services can help you with complaints about state government and statutory bodies, local councils, police, state owned corporations, community service providers and other state agencies.
The Commonwealth ombudsman can help with complaints about Australian government departments and agencies.
Commonwealth Ombudsman
Phone: 1300 362 072
Website: ombudsman.gov.au
NSW Ombudsman
Phone: 1800 451 524 or 02 9286 1000
Website: ombo.nsw.gov.au
Victorian Ombudsman
Phone: 1800 806 314
Website: ombudsman.vic.gov.au
Queensland Ombudsman
Phone: 07 3005 7000 or 1800 068 908 (Toll free outside Brisbane only)
Website: ombudsman.qld.gov.au
Ombudsman SA
Phone: 08 8226 8699 or 1800 182 150 (outside metro SA only)
Website: ombudsman.sa.gov.au
Ombudsman WA
Phone: 1800 117 000 or 08 9220 7555
Website: ombudsman.wa.gov.au
ACT Ombudsman
Phone: 02 5117 3650
Website: ombudsman.act.gov.au
Ombudsman Tasmania
Phone: 1800 001 170
Website: ombudsman.tas.gov.au
Ombudsman NT
Phone: 1800 806 380
Website: ombudsman.nt.gov.au
National Debt Helpline
Phone: 1800 007 007
Website: ndh.org.au
Financial Rights Legal Centre (NSW)
Phone: 1800 007 007
Website: financialrights.org.au
Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA)
Phone: 08 9221 7066
Website: cclswa.org.au
Consumer Credit Hotline (Tasmania)
Phone:03 6223 2500 (service provided by Hobart Community Legal Service)
Website: hobartlegal.org.au
Care Inc. Financial Counselling Service (ACT)
Phone: 1800 007 007
Website: carefcs.org
If you still can't get your problem fixed, you might need to go further and take some legal action.
If your problem is not too big and there's not too much money at stake, you can do this through a tribunal. Be careful though as it can be a tricky road to navigate and you don't want to end up spending good money chasing bad. It's always a good idea to get some legal and financial advice.
If your problem is complicated or it has the potential to involve more money than you can afford to lose, then you should seek legal advice on whether to take further action. You might think this is expensive, but it could save you a lot of money in the long run.
Here are the contact details for tribunals where you'll be able to take your matter further.
NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Phone: 1300 006 228
Website: ncat.nsw.gov.au
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Phone: 1300 01 8228
Website: vcat.vic.gov.au
Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Phone: 1300 753 228
Website: qcat.qld.gov.au
Courts Administration Authority of South Australia
Phone: 08 8204 2444
Website: courts.sa.gov.au
WA Magistrates Court of Western Australia
Phone: 08 9425 2222
Website: magistratescourt.wa.gov.au
ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Phone: 02 6207 1740
Website: acat.act.gov.au
Magistrates Court of Tasmania
Phone: 03 6165 7136 (Hobart) & (03) 6777 2945 (Launceston)
Website: magistratescourt.tas.gov.au
Northern Territory Local Court
Phone: (08) 8999 7280 (Darwin Civil Registry general enquiries)
Website: localcourt.nt.gov.au
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