eBulletin | January 2017

Spotlight on Credit, Debt and Consumer Law

WIll Dwyer displays an archival RLC poster designed by Reg Mombassa.

The new year can be a difficult time financially, with many of our clients struggling to meet utility, rental and other payments after the holidays.

Unfortunately, end-of-year redundancies and rental evictions are also common, and January is a competitive time for people seeking new employment and housing opportunities.

RLC's Credit, Debt and Consumer Law Service regularly assists people in financial hardship, who are anxious and stressed about money problems.

Problems commonly occur due to use of finance or credit cards to manage basic living expenses, combined with a change in circumstances, such as loss of employment, accident or illness, which makes it very difficult to meet repayment obligations.

RLC continues to encounter people already in financial hardship who access unsuitable financial products, such as payday loans and consumer leases, which inevitably entrench their financial hardship.

We can help to find a legal solution, such as negotiating hardship payment arrangements, complaining about breaches of the credit or consumer law through the right channels, or convincing creditors to waive unrecoverable debts.

The stories in this bulletin highlight some of our achievements assisting clients with these matters, as well as linking to resources and further information.

For the last three years our successful advice service has been built up by the passionate dedication of our much-loved Credit and Debt Solicitor, Will Dwyer. Will is about to commence a well deserved 12-month break, where he will be off on a grand adventure surfing the world! We wish him safe travels and look forward to his return in 2018.

Meanwhile, we are excited to welcome our new Credit and Debt Solicitor, Laura Bianchi. Laura has most recently worked for George Newhouse's National Justice Project, having moved to Sydney a year ago after three years at the Aboriginal Legal Service in WA.  Laura has a strong interest in policy and law reform issues and we look forward to harnessing her expertise and skill at RLC.

RLC works to make positive change to the laws and the legal system in the area of Credit, Debt and Consumer Complaints.

READ MORE>

Tim Hammond MP
visits RLC

In January, the federal Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs, Tim Hammond MP, visited RLC to learn more about our Credit, Debt and Consumer Law Service.

It was great to meet Tim and discuss policy issues we have been working on, such as the exploitative consumer lease and payday lending industry and the impact of financial abuse on domestic violence victims.

We also discussed RLC’s submissions to the five-year review of the Australian Consumer Law and the review of payday lending laws and how we expect RLC’s ability to provide free legal services will be impacted by the pending funding cuts to CLCs.

Image credit : thethreesisters (CC)

RLC in the media: debt recovery and legal bullying

In December, Will Dwyer spoke to journalist Barry McKay about tactics employed by organisations seeking to recover debt, and strategies that people can use to deal with these types of situations.

This interview was broadcast across Australia via the CBAA's Community Radio Network

READ TRANSCRIPT>

RLC credit and debt factsheets

Anyone can get into trouble with money, whether it be a mortgage, bank loans, credit cards or just juggling bills. 

With support from our pro bono partners, Ashust, RLC has published four new factsheets to assist people in NSW in financial distress to access services, advice and assistance.

READ MORE >

Image credit: Will (CC)

Legal responses to financial abuse: case study

Maria* came to Australia from the Philippines when she was 21 years
old for an arranged marriage to an Australian man 35 years her senior. Soon after her arrival, her husband became physically and psychologically
abusive. He exercised control over all areas of her life.

Maria’s husband took her to interviews at a number of banks and coerced her to apply for credit cards. He coached her on the answers she was to provide at the interviews and told Maria to lie about whether she worked and how much she earned. Maria ended up with a total of
nine credit cards with several different banks.

Referred from our domestic violence service, RLC’s intervention with this matter helped bring genuine relief to a young woman in an acutely vulnerable position.

READ MARIA'S STORY >

* Not her real name

OTHER NEWS...

RLC's 40th Birthday

This year RLC is celebrating 40 years! We’ll be hosting a Birthday Fundraising Dinner on 27 April. As part of the festivities, we will be auctioning off fabulous prizes to support our work.

Phillip Hanly has donated this amazing a signed T-shirt from Unions NSW's 2007 benefit gig, "Rockin' For Rights”. The T-shirt was originally given to Unions NSW as a fundraising item by Peter Garrett. It has been signed by the cream of Aussie rock and hip hop including Peter Garrett, members of the Hoodo Gurus, The Herd, Urthboy, and many more... And it could be yours!

To register your interest in being part of  RLC's birthday event, to donate auction items, or to share a story about your time at RLC, contact Liz Clark on liz@rlc.org.au or phone 02 9698 7277.

Image credit: Walt Jabsco (CC)

RLC Submission: Parliamentary Inquiry into Freedom of Speech

In December, RLC submitted comments to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights Inquiry into Freedom of Speech in Australia. RLC recognises that freedom of speech is a fundamental human right; however, we believe this right must be balanced against other human rights, such as the right to live free from racism and other forms discrimination and harassment.

READ MORE >