Credit Provider or a Finance Company

Since 1 November 1996, the Consumer Credit Code has governed all credit transactions taking place in Australia. This means you have the same standard coverage wherever you live and however you use credit.

A credit provider is defined as any business that provides finance to purchase goods, services or land, or to lease goods. If you buy a good, a service or land now and pay a charge for it later then you are being provided with credit. If you pay a business for credit and use it mainly for personal, household or domestic purposes, you are covered by the Consumer Credit Code. Amongst other things, this means that banks, building societies, credit unions, finance companies and businesses must tell you what your rights and obligations are in any credit arrangement.

They are required by law to truthfully disclose all relevant information about your credit arrangement in a written contract. This includes interest rates, fees, commissions and other information which in the past was hidden.

Go to the National Consumer Credit Code web site to download the Code (see index at left of that page for a printer friendly version).

The National Consumer Credit Code web site also has information on how the code operates in your state or territory. Go to it.

To make a privacy-related complaint about a credit provider, contact the Privacy Commissioner ( further information about the Privacy Commissioner on our site).

To make a general complaint about a credit provider, contact your state or territory Consumer Affairs / Fair Trading / Consumer Protection department.

Queensland

(1) Office of Fair Trading

50 Ann St Brisbane 4000
GPO Box 3111 Brisbane 4001
Phone: (07) 3246 1561
Fax: (07) 3239 0146
TTY: (07) 3246 1588 (hearing impaired)

How to complain

You can ring to discuss your issue, but before the Office can investigate it, you will need to send the details in writing. You can lodge your complaint online . If the transaction occurred outside Brisbane metro area, you should lodge your written complaint with the regional office closest to you. For information on regional offices, click here.
Go straight to Fair Trading's home page

(2) Small Claims Tribunal

The limit on small claims is $5,000. You will need to lodge a claim form and filing fees vary from $11.90 to $63.
Address: 170 North Quay Brisbane 4000
Phone: (07) 3247 4578
C lick to go to more info on the Small Claims Tribunal.