Fair dispute resolution schemes should be readily available to ensure people, whānau and communities working with Financial Mentors do not have hardship compounded or caused by financial providers’ misconduct. Based on financial mentors’ insights, FinCap recommends more work is done to increase accessibility to the...
FinCap welcomes the opportunity to submit in response to the MyMahi petition to make it easier for young people to open a bank account. We make this submission to highlight the harm caused by barriers to opening a bank account. We also submit to share...
Whānau accessing a range of essential services should be able to access fair pricing arrangements without barriers. Essential telecommunication service businesses should ensure whānau do not become trapped in unaffordable or otherwise unsuitable arrangements and that whānau are not signed up to unaffordable or unsuitable...
Whānau should never have to face a decision between keeping essential energy services connected to have the heater on or putting kai on their table. Aotearoa urgently needs a stronger, mandatory framework to ensure electricity retailers consistently and appropriately support the wellbeing of whānau. This...
Financial mentors work with whānau to look at what money is coming in and what money is going out. The Voices report uses data collected by financial mentors to explore three key indicators of financial wellbeing: Income, expenditure, and debt. It also provides an overview...
All whānau should have fair access to the market provided services which are essential to their health, wellbeing and social participation. A market study focused on competition should explore whether competition is delivering choice and low prices to all. Our highest priority in providing feedback is...
This Put on hold? report is the result of research completed by FinCap (the National Building Financial Capability Charitable Trust) between April and June 2023. The research considers the effectiveness of the Consumer Care Guidelines – consumer protections put in place to ensure energy retailers...
Changes in technology should not mean that records of whānau behaviour become a tradable commodity for the advantage of businesses. A robust consumer data right framework can ensure whānau own, and can utilise, their data towards their wellbeing. We welcome the opportunity to comment on the...
FinCap recommends that all in Aotearoa have guaranteed access to the essential services they need for health, wellbeing and social participation. Bank accounts, electricity retail contracts and access to telecommunications are a few examples of products and services whānau should never be denied. In 2022 we...
The recent Cyclone Gabrielle and Auckland Anniversary Weekend Floods highlighted several key challenges for financial mentors and their client’s ability to access the monetary system. The barriers to access created flow-on effects for the ability of whānau to access essentials during weather emergencies. FinCap welcomes the...