Useful consumer rights contacts

A list of who to contact for help with consumer problems.

CHOICE staff

Last updated: 15 March 2021

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

Phone: Phone: 1300 795 995

Website: scamwatch.gov.au

IDCare

Phone: Phone: 1800 595 160

Website: idcare.org

New South Wales Fair Trading

Phone: 13 32 20

Website: fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

Victoria Consumer Affairs

Phone: 1300 55 81 81

Website: consumer.vic.gov.au

Queensland Office of Fair Trading

Phone: 13 74 68

Website: qld.gov.au

South Australia Consumer and Business Services

Phone: 13 18 82

Website: cbs.sa.gov.au

Western Australia Consumer Protection – Department Of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety

Phone: 1300 304 054

Website: commerce.wa.gov.au/consumer-protection

Access Canberra

Phone: 02 6207 3000

Website: accesscanberra.act.gov.au

Tasmania Consumer, Building and Occupational Services

Phone: 1300 654 499

Website: cbos.tas.gov.au

Northern Territory Consumer Affairs

Phone: 1800 019 319

Website: consumeraffairs.nt.gov.au

Industry ombudsmen are intermediaries who can help if you have a problem with a business in certain industries.

They're funded by the industries they oversee and their services are free for consumers.

AFCA – Australian Financial Complaints Authority

Phone: 1800 931 678

Website: afca.org.au

Commonwealth Ombudsman (Private Health Insurance)

Phone: 1300 362 072

Website: ombudsman.gov.au

Postal Industry Ombudsman

Phone: 1300 362 072

Website: ombudsman.gov.au

TIO – Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman

Phone: 1800 062 058

Website: tio.com.au

Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW

Phone: 1800 246 545

Website: ewon.com.au

Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria

Phone: 1800 500 509

Website: ewov.com.au

Energy and Water Ombudsman Queensland

Phone:1800 662 837

Website: ewoq.com.au

Energy and Water Ombudsman SA

Phone: 1800 665 565

Website: ewosa.com.au

Energy Ombudsman Tasmania

Phone: 1800 001 170

Website: energyombudsman.tas.gov.au

Energy and Water Ombudsman WA

Phone: 1800 754 004

Website: energyandwater.ombudsman.wa.gov.au

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: 03 9613 6222

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 6276 3773

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: 1800 232 500 (service provided by Hobart Community Legal Service)

Website: hobartlegal.org.au

Care Inc. Financial Counselling Service (ACT)

Phone: 1800 007 007

Website: carefcs.org

National Association of Community Legal Centres

Phone: 02 9264 9595

Website: clcs.org.au

Law Access (NSW)

Phone: 1300 888 529

Website: lawaccess.nsw.gov.au

Find Legal Answers (NSW)

Phone: 02 9273 1558 or 1300 888 529

Website: legalanswers.sl.nsw.gov.au

Consumer Action Law Centre (Victoria)

Phone: 03 9629 6300 or 1800 466 477

Website: consumeraction.org.au

Community Legal Centres Queensland

Phone: 07 3392 0092

Website: communitylegalqld.org.au

Legal Services Commission of South Australia

Phone: 1300 366 424

Website: lsc.sa.gov.au

Department of Justice Tasmania

Phone: 1300 135 513

Website: justice.tas.gov.au

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.