Dispute Resolution
Commonwealth Ombudsman and State/Territory Ombudsmen
The office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman investigates the administrative actions of Commonwealth agencies. The "related sites" section of their website contains links to each of the Australian State and Territory Ombudsman offices, which investigate complaints made by the general public about government departments, agencies and statutory bodies located in that State/Territory.
Credit Ombudsman Service Limited (COSL)
COSL is a free and independent dispute resolution scheme that deals with disputes that consumers have with mortgage brokers who are members of the scheme.
Credit Union Dispute Resolution Centre (CUDRC)
CUDRC is a free and independent dispute resolution scheme that deals with disputes that consumers have with credit unions who are members of the scheme.
Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria (EWOV)
EWOV is a free and independent dispute resolution scheme that deals with disputes that Victorian domestic and small business customers have with their energy and water retailers and distributors.
Financial Co-operative Dispute Resolution Scheme (FCDRS)
FCDRS is a free and independent dispute resolution scheme that deals with disputes that consumers have with building societies and credit unions who are members of the scheme.
Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)
FOS is a free and independent dispute resolution scheme that deals with disputes between consumers and member financial service providers, including banks, credit providers, insurance companies, financial planners, stock brokers, and providers of managed funds. FOS is a merger of the Banking and Financial Services Ombudsman, the Insurance Ombudsman Service and the Financial Industry Complaints Service.
Legal Services Commissioner
The Legal Services Commissioner is a free and independent dispute resolution scheme that deals with disputes that consumers have with members of the Victorian legal profession.
Office of the Health Services Commissioner (HSC) - Victoria
The HSC operates a free and confidential service that conciliates formally or informally between consumers and providers of health services and assists in the resolution of complaints about health service providers, for example doctors, hospitals or optometrists.
Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner (FPC)
The FPC gives general assistance to individuals about their rights under the Federal Privacy Act and related legislation and investigates complaints from individuals about interferences with privacy by federal and ACT government agencies and private sector organisations, including health service providers, credit providers and credit reporting agencies.
Office of the Victorian Privacy Commissioner (VPC)
The VPC receives complaints relating to alleged breaches of privacy by Victorian public sector agencies and attempts to settle these through conciliation. The VPC promotes privacy protection through awareness programs and public statements, by listening to the concerns of the public and by co-operating with other privacy watchdogs.
Public Transport Ombudsman Victoria (PTO)
The PTO is a free and independent dispute resolution scheme that is able to hear complaints in relation to Victorian public transport services, including ticketing and related issues.
Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (SCT)
The SCT is an independent Tribunal set up by the Commonwealth Government to deal with complaints about superannuation funds, annuities and deferred annuities and Retirement Savings Accounts.
Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO)
The TIO is a free and independent dispute resolution scheme that deals with disputes that consumers have with telephone and internet service providers.