As a specialist legal centre, Consumer Credit Legal Centre seeks to assist other caseworkers to help their clients more effectively with issues related to credit, banking & debt. We also encourage input from other caseworkers about financial services policy issues affecting our clients.

The following is a guide to the services and resources we offer and the procedures we use to pursue these goals.

• Dedicated Financial Counsellor Hotline
• Co-operative legal assistance
• Workshops and Forums

Dedicated Financial Counsellor Hotline

Financial counsellors can contact the Dedicated Financial Counsellor Hotline weekdays on 1800 650 084 to access advice, assistance and support from our experienced staff financial counsellors, or where necessary a solicitor, in relation to credit, debt and banking matters.

The Hotline operates between 09.30am and 4.30pm weekdays.

Co-operative Legal Assistance

In some cases Consumer Credit Legal Centre will accept the referral of a client and handle their case exclusively. Often it will be appropriate for a worker to remain involved. The extent of this involvement may vary from a solicitor in a regional community legal centre who represents a client and obtains some guidance from our centre solicitors, to the situation where we handle the matter but ask the worker to obtain documents and statements from the client according to our instructions.

Most commonly, a financial counsellor or community worker may assist a client to self-represent by drafting letters, explaining legal processes and other essential tasks with assistance from Consumer Credit Legal Centre. This assistance may take the form of obtaining telephone advice at appropriate points in the process, and/or using the information and sample forms and letters provided by Consumer Credit Legal Centre.

Workshop and Forums

Consumer Credit Legal Centre presents workshops and forums on a range of consumer issues to financial counsellors, community workers, legal aid and community lawyers and other relevant government employees.

These events are held in Sydney and some regional NSW locations. Topics include:

• The Consumer Credit Code
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (in relation to loans and banking)
• Finance Brokers and Mortgage Originators
• Debt Recovery through the Courts (Debtor's Perspective)
• Family Breakdown and Debt
• Banking Issues (such as direct debits, complaints resolution and disputed credit cards transactions)
• The Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal

We Can Come to You

We may be able to tailor a workshop to the needs of your staff, network or clients on issues related to consumer loans, banking and debt. Some suggested topics are listed below. Contact us by phone: 02 9212 4216 and give the details of your organisation, the topic(s) you want addressed and the intended audience.

Granting of requests depends on staff availability and minimum numbers apply. Travel to country areas will be considered where there are sufficient numbers of participants.