Voice

The Consumer Legal Action Fund is a trust fund set up to enhance consumers' access to legal remedies by providing financial support and legal assistance. The Consumer Council is the trustee of the Fund.

You can apply for legal assistance under the Fund if you satisfy two basic requirements. First, you have exhausted all other means of dispute resolution and you do not qualify for any form of legal aid. Secondly, the consumer issue involves significant public interest or injustice e.g. it may be about some unfair and unconscionable contract terms or misrepresentation of goods, services or real property. However, the Trustee has a discretion in granting or refusing assistance in appropriate cases.

The factors considered in granting assistance include:

• whether a large group of consumers has been adversely affected;
• whether court action is the most effective means of resolution;
• the cost effectiveness of the action;
• the chance of success of the matter;
• whether, if successful, the matter has publicity value and can promote the consumer cause and has deterrent effect on unscrupulous business practices;
• ?the practicality of the Fund offering timely assistance in the matter.

You may first lodge your case in writing to the Consumer Council, call the Council's hotline or visit any of the Council's Advice Centres. If your case is within the purview of the Council, the Council will try to resolve it by mediation. If mediation fails, you may apply for legal assistance from the Fund. There is a NON-REFUNDABLE application fee payable at the time of application.

If the assisted matter is successful, you are required to pay a contribution to the Fund. This contribution represents certain portions of the benefit you obtained from the judgment, which will not exceed 25% of the Benefit Value for Small Claims Tribunal cases and 50% for cases of other courts.

Please note that submitting the application and paying the application fee give no guarantee that assistance under the Fund will be granted.

Date of amendment: 22nd February 2013