Reports and Submissions
Read the latest reports and submissions from FCVic on a range of topics significant to financial counsellors, consumer advocates and the wider community.
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FCRC Annual Report 2017-18
- Published: 18 October 2018
Read the FCRC Annual Report for 2017-18
Rank the Telco 2017
- Published: 27 April 2017
- Topics: Hardship: Industry Practice, Telecommunications
The Rank the Telco report describes the results of a survey of Victorian financial counsellors about the hardship practices of major telecommunications providers. It is FCRC’s fourth report ranking financial hardship practices, and our first to examine the telecommunications sector.
The results of this report evidence the need for improvement and warrant serious consideration by the telecommunications industry, regulators, government and other stakeholders. Providers now have the opportunity to take the lead and work to significantly improve hardship performance, both individually and across the industry.
Dignity & Debt Evaluation Report
- Published: 21 December 2016
- Topics: Elder Abuse
Considerable structural changes in the aged care landscape in recent years have impacted on the financial literacy of the Older Person population to manage their finances. The Dignity and Debt Financial Difficulty and Getting Older initiative was designed to address these issues by assessing the effectiveness of one-on-one financial counselling sessions with Older Persons.
Rank the Energy Retailer 2016
- Published: 23 September 2016
- Topics: Hardship: Industry Practice, Utilities
The ‘Rank the Energy Retailer’ survey provides insight and analysis into the efficacy of Victorian energy retailer practices when dealing with customers experiencing financial hardship. 70% of financial counsellors in Victoria undertook the survey to provide their input.
Car Registration by Instalments
- Published: 31 July 2015
In June 2015, Colac mother and financial counsellor Julie Barrow started a petition on change.org asking the Victorian Government to provide affordable payment options for annual vehicle registration costs.
FCRC formed a working group of financial counsellors to build the case for payment options for motorists. The working group produced the below report which featured financial counselling case studies and comparison to other state registration payment options. The report made a series of recommendations to the State Government on the issue.
The campaign garnered the support of VCOSS and the general public – by July 2017, more than 100,000 people had signed the petition. Media attention was attracted, with 3AW’s Neil Mitchell and ABC Radio both covering the campaign, and discussing the potential benefits of payment by instalments.
By the end of 2017, the Andrews State Government announced a new online system which would allow for instalment options of 3, 6 or 12 monthly payments for all Victorian motorists.
Rank the Energy Retailer 2014
- Published: 15 August 2014
- Topics: Hardship: Industry Practice, Utilities
After the success of our ‘Rank the Bank’ surveys, FCRC introduced the ‘Rank the Energy Retailer’ survey. Over 100 Victorian financial counsellors undertook the survey to provide their input. Our report reveals the efficacy of Victorian energy retailer practices when dealing with customers experiencing financial hardship.