Legal Aid NSW has published an updated version of its 'Fined Out' booklet, produced in collaboration with Inner City Legal Centre and Redfern Legal Centre.
Money problems, fines and consumer complaints
Legal information and services that can help you with credit and debt issues.
Common credit and debt issues
Anyone can experience problems with money, whether it be a mortgage, bank loans, credit cards or just juggling all your bills. Often, the circumstances that lead to financial difficulties are beyond your control. Many financial issues can have a legal solution.
Redfern Legal Centre provides free and confidential legal advice about money problems and consumer complaints, including fines, bills or debts that you cannot afford to pay.
We can help you with issues including:
- Owing money
- Being owed money
- Bankruptcy
- Credit cards and loans
- Problems with bills
- Difficulty paying a fine
- Faulty goods or failure to provide services
- Problems with insurance and superannuation
- Damage to motor vehicles
We can only advise individuals and not businesses.
Our services that can help
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Free and confidential legal advice about money problems, fines, and consumer complaints.
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Free, confidential legal advice for people across NSW experiencing financial abuse by an intimate partner or ex-partner.
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Free and confidential legal advice for international students enrolled to study anywhere in NSW.
Other services that can help
- Law Access NSW. A free government telephone service that provides legal information, advice and referrals for people who have a legal problem. Phone 1300 888 529.
- Financial Rights Legal Centre. Free advocacy, support and self-help resources for people experiencing financial stress. Operates the free National Debt Helpline (see below).
- National Debt Helpline. This service can connect you with a free financial counsellor to assist you with financial problems. Phone 1800 007 007.
- NSW Fair Trading. Provides assistance with lodging consumer complaints. Phone: 133 220, or visit the self-help page.
- Welfare Rights Centre. Provides free legal advice about Centrelink and social security matters to people in NSW. Phone: 02 9211 5300 or Toll Free: 1800 226 028.
- Seniors Rights Service. A free service for over 55-year-old residents of retirement villages, nursing homes and hostels. Phone: 1800 424 079
How to contact us
To request free legal advice about money problems or consumer complaints:
- Complete our online enquiry form, or
- Call us on (02) 9698 7277
complete our online form call 02 9698 7277
If we are able to advise you, we will arrange for a solicitor to call you back. If we are not able to assist you we may refer you to other services and resources, including those listed below. Learn more about accessing our services.
How we can help: Kim's story
Kim*, a young single mother who had four children and was receiving a Disability Support Pension, was made homeless after escaping a relationship of domestic violence.
After reading online advertising promoting car finance to pensioners, she visited a car dealership to enquire about a cheap secondhand car. Although Kim was not planning on purchasing a car on that day, the salesperson took advantage of her vulnerable situation, organising a car loan for over $20,000.
It was only after Kim came to RLC for help that she was made aware that her loan included a number of add-on insurance products she had not requested, and additional charges equivalent to 75% of the purchase price of the vehicle.
RLC submitted a complaint to the lender on Kim’s behalf and negotiated a significant waiver of the remaining balance of the loan, while also enabling Kim to retain full ownership of the vehicle.
* Name has been changed
Thank you very much for the help and time you have spent on my case. If you have not helped me for [bank] matter I will be paying my loan til 20 years. You guys are very kind.
