Consumer Help Group


Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE)

The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation that is committed towards protecting consumers’ interest through information and education, and promoting an environment of fair and ethical trade practices.

One of our key achievements is in lobbying for Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act (CPFTA) which came into effect on March 1, 2004.
 

Our Vision
We aspire to be a dynamic and effective national body championing the cause of the consumer to achieve a caring and consumer-friendly community.

Our Mission
We are committed to protecting and enhancing consumers’ interests through information and education, and to promote an environment of fair and ethical trade practices.
 

Achieving our aims
We adopt a three-pronged approach in working towards an ideal consumer-business environment.

Consumer education:
Over the years, we have actively and diligently provided consumers with research findings, survey results and information in a bid to make every Singaporean a smart consumer.

Working with retailers:
We also understand that consumers and businesses have a mutually dependent relationship and hence worked with businesses and their trade captains to promote ethical and good business practices.

Pushing for legislation:
Last but not least, we have relentlessly lobbied to the government for fairer legislations with regards to consumer issues when consumer interests are at stake.

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Credit Bureau of Singapore (CBS)

Credit Bureau (Singapore) Pte Ltd (CBS) is Singapore's consumer credit bureau. It is a joint venture between The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) and DBIC Holdings Pte Ltd. The setting up of a consumer credit bureau in Singapore is in line with the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s vision to enhance the Republic's risk management capability.

Since 2002, the Banking Act has allowed Credit Bureau (Singapore) members, which include banks, credit card companies and other financial institutions, to disclose credit-related information to and obtain such information from Credit Bureau (Singapore) for the purpose of checking on their existing and prospective customers’ creditworthiness. These member banks and credit card companies must first be recognised by MAS.

Credit Bureau (Singapore)’s goal is to help credit providers make better lending decisions quickly and more objectively. To do this, Credit Bureau (Singapore) aggregates credit-related information amongst participating members and presents a more complete risk profile of a customer to credit providers. This helps credit providers to determine the likelihood of the customer repaying, thus enhancing their risk assessment capabilities.

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Credit Counselling Singapore (CCS)

The idea for CCS began as early as 2001 when judges from the Subordinate Courts expressed their concern over problems caused to individuals and families by the rising consumer credit indebtedness.

A pro-tem committee consisting Subordinate Court district judges, the South West Community Development Council and The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) organised a Consumer Credit Counselling Conference on 21 November 2002. The then Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam challenged banking and community leaders to implement community credit counselling schemes.

Throughout 2003, the Subordinate Courts, South West Community Development Council, Singapore Pools and other concerned individuals combined resources to lay the foundations for CCS. Initial funding came from Singapore Pools and National Council of Social Service. South West Community Development Council pledged financial support for educational programs. The Association of Banks in Singapore, Monetary Authority of Singapore and all the banks gave regular feedback on what they would like to see in CCS. In August 2003, a pilot credit counselling programme commenced at the Subordinate Courts premises.

In November 2003, CCS volunteers and Ngee Ann Polytechnic ran a money education workshop for 300 teenagers from 3 secondary schools.

On 12 March 2004, CCS was officially registered as a society with a small team of full time staff. By this time CCS had managed to assuage the initial skepticism of the banking industry over the merits of credit counseling. Banks appear more supportive of the Debt Management Programme (DMP). As a result, CCS is ready to launch publicly to broadcast its services to the general public.

CCS was officially launched on 14 October 2004. The Guest of Honour was Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education and Deputy Chairman, Monetary Authority of Singapore.

CCS was registered as a Charity and became a National Council of Social Service member in June 2005.

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Workforce Development Agency

The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) enhances the competitiveness and employability of workers and jobseekers by helping them adapt to a changing economy.

To achieve this, WDA works with various industry leaders, labour unions, employers, economic agencies, professional associations and training organisations.
WDA also supports the growth of Singapore industries by building a pipeline of competent workers through the constant upgrading of workers' skills and raising industrial performance standards.