UPDATE: The CRIAA has been shut down by Founder Graham Doessel, due to non-compliance of unlicensed credit repair agencies with their own code of conduct. Mr Doessel realised that if these unlicensed credit repair agencies could not follow their own code of conduct, he as the founder of the CRIAA had no alternative but to shut it down to protect the community.
“I’m deeply disappointed at having to take such decisive action, but as the CEO of Australia’s only true Specialist Credit Repair Law firm, I have no choice but to distance myself from possible rogue operators that refuse to take the CRIAA Code of Conduct, and associated laws seriously.” Mr Doessel said.
The CRIAA was closed in 2014.
It is exciting to see where the credit rating repair industry is heading and I am proud to be a part of the formulation of a new industry body which will improve credit rating repair across the board for Australasia. Australian Broker magazine published an article today on this new industry body the Credit Repair Industry Association of Australasia (CRIAA) of which I am an executive member. We held our first meetings yesterday, chaired by Finance Brokers Association of Australia (FBAA) President Peter White, and it was a great success.
The Australian Broker story was titled The CRIAA to make tough times for dodgy operators by Adam Smith. Here’s the story in its entirety:
CRIAA to make tough times for dodgy operators
Self-regulation of the credit repair industry could involve brokers, and ultimately benefit their clients.
The burgeoning Credit Repair Industry Association of Australasia has held its first meetings, and executive member Graham Doessel, founder of credit repair agency MyCRA, said the formation of the industry body should help put brokers at ease.
Doessel said the CRIAA would look to institute a code of conduct and minimum qualifications for the credit repair industry, and that introducing these standards would give brokers peace of mind about working with credit repair agencies.
“Mortgage brokers referring to a CRIAA member can have more confidence that the work is done correctly, and therefore it protects their reputation and the money of their clients,” Doessel said.
Doessel said the agency had sought help from ASIC and the FBAA in drafting its code of conduct and standards, and had received strong interest from credit reporting agencies. He commented that brokers may even be invited to become members of the association.
“We’re trying to set it up to be the genuine representative body of the industry and all its stakeholders, so we’re not going to be exclusive. We’ll be looking at inviting mortgage brokers who refer clients to credit repair agencies. They’re directly affected and I think their inclusion is a good idea,” he said.
Doessel conceded that the credit repair industry had seen disreputable operators, and said the formation of an industry body could stem the tide of unethical businesses by introducing an industry standard.
“Any good credit repair firm works within the legislation and makes sure the creditor works within the legislation. The CRIAA is hoping we will ensure that all members have minimum qualifications and workflow standards,” he said.
Ultimately, Doessel said he hoped the formation of the CRIAA helped to raise the reputation of credit repair agencies.
“We’re looking to make it harder for less reputable businesses to operate effectively,” he said.
About the Credit Repair Industry Association of Australasia (CRIAA)
The Credit Repair Industry Association of Australasia (CRIAA) has been established as the result of an identified need to increase transparency and professionalism across the credit repair industry as a whole.
The key aim of the CRIAA is to provide a strong and consistent foundation for credit repair clients in an industry that has been largely unregulated and lacking formal standards.
The CRIAA is in the process of establishing a ‘quality service’ framework for consumers, enhanced by best practice operational standards. This ensures members conduct themselves with high standards and ethics, based on the Association’s code of conduct.
The CRIAA aims to deliver some significant benefits to consumers which have not been available before from the credit rating repair industry.
Consumers should be able to confidently select an ethical and reputable credit rating repair company or organisation to look after their personal affairs from the CRIAA member companies.
A code of ethics is vital for the credit rating repair industry. The credit rating repairer is privy to a large volume of personal information from consumers. A code of ethics upheld by CRIAA members will increase the likelihood high standards of privacy are upheld, minimising the instances of fraud and breaches of privacy.
The CRIAA ‘quality service’ blue-print, will mean consumers can expect a higher level of service from those CRIAA members. Input on service standards will be provided by key CRIAA members from both inside and outside the credit rating repair industry.
The CRIAA seeks to have an influence on decisions of credit reporting law moving forward – whether directly or indirectly. The aim is to increase the legislative voice for those who are ultimately responsible for ensuring credit reporting accuracy. This voice belongs to consumers and the credit rating repairers who act on their behalf.
By Graham Doessel, Founder and CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repairs and www.fixmybadcredit.com.au.
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