The aim of the Consumer Advisory Service is to provide member businesses with sound advice in solving consumer enquiries/disputes enabling them to to maintain good relations with their customers and uphold the industry's reputation held by the VACC.
This service can help you to avoid settling complaints in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), formerly the Small Claims Tribunal, or at a court hearing.
The service will also:
- advise you how to approach and prepare for a hearing
- in some circumstances appear with you at the hearing, giving an opinion if requested by the referee and giving qualified evidence where appropriate.
- explain and clarify various parts of the Motor Car Traders Act and Regulations and advise the best probable action. We also advise where other acts or regulations may over ride or predominate.
- advise you to seek assistance from legal professionals if a matter is beyond our knowledge.
Whilst our assistance cannot guarantee the outcome of any hearing, it will often minimise your costs. In situation where it is our belief that you are better served by offering to settle the matter before a hearing, then you will be advised and given reasons why. This service has a charge to members of $330.00 including GST.
The service also assists members of the public who may be dealing or considering dealing with a VACC member business with enquiries/complaints.
The Consumer Advisor can be contacted on (03) 9829 1171 or email
If you have a general question about purchase or repairs why not try our on-line scenarios (which will open in a new browser window), these deal with questions about;
Cooling-off Period
Statutory Warranty
Vehicle Repairs
Pre-purchase Advice