There are several regulatory bodies that have been developed to assist and advise with the dealing of customer complaints - the principal one being the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the New South Wales Department of Fair Trading. These bodies help by educating and "providing consumers with information to.
promote more informed and rational decision-making (bruns aus consumer protection)" In short, these bodies notify individuals of their rights as a consumer and means in which they can seek redress if these rights have been violated. Through such awareness, a consumer can then protect themselves and find their own solutions to problems arising. For example, the Department of Fair Trading can outline to a consumer how to write a formal letter of complaint and who to address it to, which in turn can lead to This is one of the most effective (and possibly cheapest) means of consumers attaining remedies.
, promoting rational decision making and these bodies allow individuals to protect their own rights and find solutions. There is an increasing emphasis on providing consumers with information to.
promote more informed and rational decision-making. Regulations are.
increasingly focussed on providing consumers with basic information rather than.
setting standards about products and services.
There are many alternate dispute resolutions within consumer law aimed at providing non-court remedies. These are effective in different ways.
Mediation or conciliation can be used to obtain a solution for smaller or more minor consumer matters, with a neutral mediator helping the two disputing parties work out a legally non-binding solution. This form of remedy, found under the Community Justice Centres Act 1983 (NSW) provides a cheaper, more accessible way for consumers to express their dissatisfaction without resorting to the court system. However, being non-legally binding, its effectiveness is limited as it relies on the cooperation of the parties for the agreed solution to be put into action.
