Complaints & Dispute Resolution Guide

What is a complaint?

A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction made to us, related to our products, or the complaints handling process itself, where a response or resolution is expected.

 

What is a dispute?

A dispute arises where a customer does not accept our response to their complaint.

 

How the procedure works

 

Step 1         How to make a complaint

In most cases your complaint can be settled to your satisfaction simply by making us aware of it.  You can raise these complaints with our staff in person or by telephone or in writing by letter, fax, memo, e-mail etc.

If the staff member is unable by reasons of authority or experience to handle the matter they will refer your complaint to a more senior or experienced person.  At this stage, in most cases your complaint will be dealt with promptly and to your satisfaction and you will not need additional assistance.

 

Step 2         Recording your complaint

All complaints and disputes will be recorded in our Complaints Register.  Where a complaint cannot be resolved to your satisfaction immediately, you might have to answer some questions and complete a complaint form so that our management can properly investigate the complaint.  If you need assistance completing the form, our staff can help you.  When receiving a verbal complaint, the staff member will complete the details of the complaint in the register on your behalf.  The staff member will then read the entry in the register to you and ask you to confirm that it is accurate.

 

Step 3          Notification

Where the staff member cannot immediately settle the complaint we will acknowledge receipt of it to you in writing within two working days.  We will also advise you in writing of the procedures for investigating and handling your complaint.

 

Step 4          Investigation

Your dispute will then be fully investigated by our complaints officer and a decision made on the matter.  You can contact our complaints officer as follows:

 

Name :          Wayne Marks

Address :      Suite 4, Level 3, 145 Sinnathamby Boulevard,
                      Springfield Central QLD 4300

Phone :         1300 523 924 

Fax :              (07) 3288 1399

Email :           info@ladybirdhomeloans.com.au

 

Step 5           How you will be informed of the outcome

In most cases we will tell you the outcome in writing within 14 working days.  Should there be exceptional circumstances causing a delay we will advise you.  But, even in the most complex matters, the dispute should be resolved in a maxiumum of 30 working days.

 

Step 6           External dispute resolution

If you are still not satisfied, you can go to our free external dispute resolution scheme.  We are a member of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority Limited (AFCA). AFCA is an external dispute resolution scheme approved by ASIC.

 

Here are the contact details for AFCA:

 

Australian Financial Complaints Authority Limited

Phone :              1800 931 678

Mobile MMS :    info@afca.org.au

Post :                 GPO Box 3, Melbourne VIC 3001

Website :           www.afca.org.au

 

If your dispute involves privacy issues and has not been resolved to your satisfaction, you will be referred to the Privacy Commissioner.

 

Here are the contact details for the Privacy Commissioner :

 

Phone :           1300 363 992

TTY :               1800 620 241(this number is dedicated for the hearing impaired only, no voice calls)

TIS :                Translating and Interpreting Service : 131 450

Post :              GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001

Fax :               +61 2 9284 9666

Email :            privacy@privacy.gov.au

 

Details of how you can access these services will also be given to you when you are advised of the outcome of our investigation.

 

Step 7             After we respond

Our complaints register will be updated showing the result.  Wherever appropriate, our policies, systems and procedures will be adjusted and staff counselled or provided with additional training.

 

Things you should know

 

If your complaint involves EFT transactions or privacy issues, the procedures may vary if the complaint is not immediately resolved.  This is because more specific legislation or codes of practice may apply.

 

You are not obliged to pursue a dispute with us using our internal complaints and dispute resolution procedure.  If you use the procedure, you may commence legal proceedings before, after or at the same time.

Our participation in the procedure is not a waiver of any rights we may have under the law, or under any contract between you and us, and this guide is not a contract between you and us.

 

Charge

 

There is no charge for this guide or for you using our internal or external complaints and dispute resolution procedure.

However, our standard fees and charges may apply for making copies of documents or for retrieval of documents from archives, where requested by you.

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