Qantas Staff Credit Union Group Action
Maurice Blackburn acted for individual debtors who had
contracts affected by an application brought by Qantas Staff Credit
Union Limited under the Consumer Credit Code.
The national application, filed in the NSW Consumer Trader and
Tenancy Tribunal on 25 July 2002, was made because QSCU had not
disclosed all credit fees and charges payable in connection with
loan contracts that were entered into after 1 November 1996.
QSCU estimated that there were 34,798 contracts affected by the
application.
Debtors responded to the application to seek compensation
for any loss or damage suffered as a result of QSCU's potential
Code breaches. The debtors participated in the
application to assist the Tribunal to make a determination on
penalty.
Maurice Blackburn analysed its clients' contracts and made
various submissions to QSCU such as claiming that QSCU may have
made further breaches of the Code including:
- a failure to properly describe the persons to whom loan
proceeds are to be paid; and
- a failure to disclose the interest rate applicable to
overdrafts and lines of credit.
Maurice Blackburn raised issues with QSCU to seek
information on behalf of its debtor clients to enable them to
properly respond to the application.
Maurice Blackburn's clients' claims were resolved on 6 October
2005 on confidential terms.