Consumer and Business Services (CBS) can help you understand your legal rights and responsibilities and offers free help to sort out problems with things that you've bought or signed up for.

Beware of scams

Scammers are dodgy, greedy and they break the law. See these tips to avoid scams.

Buying a car

Aunty B says 'take a minute with your money cause getting ripped off ain't funny'. Uncle Bob and Aunty B explain how to get the best deal on a car and on your loan.

Transcript: Buying a car - take a minute with your money.

Help for Indigenous car buyers checklist

Renting things for your home

Aunty B explains how costly it can be to rent things for your home and shows you how to get the best deal for you and your family.

Avoid a funeral rip-off

Have you seen those ads on TV telling you how affordable a funeral plan can be? They say you can put money aside now to make it easier your family later. Another way to pay for a funeral is to save for it. Or you could arrange a pre-paid funeral plan, funeral insurance or a funeral bond. The Avoid a funeral rip-off campaign helps Indigenous consumers decide which option to choose.

Transcript: Avoid a funeral RIP-off

  • Saving for a funeral - Set up a separate savings account, then you can add to it as often as you want.
  • Funeral insurance - This isn’t savings. If you stop paying the insurance, you lose your cover. And you might end up paying a lot more than the actual cover pays out.
  • Pre-paid funerals - This lets you pay for your funeral in advance through your funeral director. You can choose the type of funeral, and pay for it at today’s prices.
  • Funeral bonds - Bonds are invested and grow in value. Usually, the money can only be used for your funeral.

Tips to help you avoid a funeral RIP off

  • If someone comes to your door selling funeral cover you don’t have to sign up straight away. Ask for a copy of the brochure and tell them you'll think about it.
  • Check if you already have funeral cover – eg your superannuation or health insurance.
  • Find out how much you need to pay and when, and how much it costs over time.
  • Ask what happens if you stop paying, and the reasons the company can refuse to pay-out.
  • Think carefully before you sign up your children. It could mean you end up paying a lot more than the cost of a funeral over time.
  • Talk to someone you trust before you sign up, like someone in your community or a community worker.

Paying for funerals - a guide from the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC)

Deadly dollars – something for nothing

(Tala Rikina - Kutjupa Kutjupa Wiyakitjangku) A video in Pitjantjatjara for consumers on the APY Lands.

Your shopping rights

Indigenous consumers and community organisations are encouraged to report unfair trading practices via the National Indigenous Hotline 1300 303 143. The hotline operates between 8am and 7.30pm (SA time).

It’s OK to walk away

It's OK to walk away video lyrics

If a person approaches you to sell you something, it’s OK to walk away. If they come up to you in a shopping centre, in a car park, or they knock on your door at home, it's OK to say no.

Out of credit

This film stars Aboriginal people and demonstrates good and bad practices, as well as empowering people to better deal with pressure from salespeople and friends or relatives.

More information

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) have produced a series of short audio segments for Indigenous people called Money Talks. The series is about making good money decisions and is available on ASIC's MoneySmart website.