The value of a penalty unit is $197.59 for financial year 2024-25. Find more information at Indexation of fees and penalties - Department of Treasury and Finance website.
Maximum penalty for breach
Section of the ACL (Vic)
You must not include prohibited terms in a contract for the supply of goods or services.
Such terms include those that limit, change or exclude a person’s rights to a remedy if you breach a warranty you have given, or a representation you have made during negotiations, before they enter into the contract.
60 penalty units (person),
120 (body corporate)
You must not engage in prohibited debt collection practices. These include*:
* for a complete list see section 45(1) of the Act
240 penalty units (person),
1,200 (body corporate)
You must not engage in debt collection if you are a ‘prohibited person’. This includes* where you have:
* for a complete list see section 47(2) of the Act
240 penalty units or two years imprisonment (person),
1,200 (body corporate)
You must comply with any conditions imposed by the Business Licensing Authority on any permission granted to engage in debt collection.
240 penalty units or two years imprisonment (person),
1,200 (body corporate)
You must not charge a debtor for your costs connected with collecting payment of their debt.
120 penalty units
If you are prohibited from engaging in debt collection, you must not knowingly purchase or accept a consumer debt from a creditor for the purpose of collecting that debt.
240 penalty units or two years imprisonment (person),
1,200 (body corporate)
You must not dispose of a high value motor vehicle ($1,000 and over) unless you have obtained a written search result of the Commonwealth Personal Property Securities Register.
60 penalty units (person),
120 (body corporate)
Within seven days of disposing of uncollected goods without a court order, you must prepare a record of the disposal containing specific information, including* the date and manner of disposal.
* for a complete list see section 74 of the Act
10 penalty units (person),
50 (body corporate)
If you sell an uncollected vehicle without a court order, you must provide the purchaser with a receipt containing specific information, including* your name and address, the vehicle's last registration number (if available) and vehicle identification number.
* for a complete list see section 76 of the Act
10 penalty units (person),
50 (body corporate)
A credit reporting agent must comply with a court order.
60 penalty units or six months imprisonment
You must not act as an introduction agent on any premises occupied by a sex work service provider and on (or from) which the sex work service provider is operating a brothel or escort agency.
240 penalty units
You must not act as an introduction agent if you meet certain criteria, including if you*:
* for a complete list see section 92(1) of the Act
120 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months
If you are a company, you must not act as an introduction agent if you meet certain criteria, including* if:
* for a complete list see section 92(2) of the Act
600 penalty units
You must comply with any conditions imposed by the Business Licensing Authority on any permission granted to act as an introduction agent.
120 penalty units or 12 months imprisonment (person)
600 (body corporate)
You must ensure that an introduction agreement contains certain prescribed information, including*:
* for a complete list see section 97 of the Act
240 penalty units
Before any part of an introduction service is provided, you must not demand or receive, an amount more than 30 per cent of the price at which you agree to provide the service.
240 penalty units
If required to refund money to a person (because they wish to withdraw from an introduction agreement) during the cooling off period, you must do so within 7 days after receiving the notice of withdrawal.
240 penalty units
You must cease supplying the goods or services if you have not responded to a related show cause notice by the end of the time period stipulated, which has been served on you by the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria.
600 penalty units (person),
1,200 (body corporate)
In responding to a show cause notice, you must not make a false or misleading statement to the Director of Consumer Affairs.
600 penalty units (person),
1,200 (body corporate)
When you receive a statutory request to provide information or produce documents to assist the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria in monitoring your compliance with the Act or Regulations, you must not:
(a) refuse or fail to comply to the extent that you are capable of complying with it
(b) knowingly provide false or misleading information or evidence
(c) obstruct or hinder the Director in exercising a power under this section.
20 penalty units
When you receive a statutory request to provide information, give evidence or produce documents relating to a breach (or potential breach) of the Act or Regulations, you must not:
(a) refuse or fail to comply, to the extent that you are capable of complying with it
(b) knowingly provide false or misleading information or evidence
(c) obstruct or hinder the Director in exercising a power under this section.
60 penalty units
You must comply with a code of practice prescribed under this Act.
20 penalty units
You must not remove goods embargoed during an emergency search of premises.
60 penalty units
You must not sell, lease, move, transfer or otherwise deal with embargoed goods.
60 penalty units
You must not, without reasonable excuse, refuse or fail to comply with a requirement of the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria, or an inspector, during the execution of any authorised inspection powers under the Act.
60 penalty units
You must not give information to an inspector that you believe to be false or misleading, or produce a document you know to be false or misleading without indicating how it is false or misleading and, if practicable, providing correct information.
60 penalty units
You must not, without reasonable excuse, hinder or obstruct an inspector exercising their powers.
60 penalty units
If you are not an inspector appointed under the ACL, you must not hold yourself out to be one.
60 penalty units
You must comply with any court order prohibiting the payment of money or transfer of other property.
240 penalty units (person),
600 (body corporate)