Membership with AFCA
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) is an external dispute resolution scheme that considers and resolves complaints from consumers and small businesses about financial products or services.
Eligibility for AFCA membership is subject to certain requirements outlined in AFCA’s Constitution. Before applying for AFCA membership please read the Constitution carefully.
Membership types
Authorised Credit Representative Membership (Company or Individual)
The Authorised Credit Representative (ACR) membership is for representatives (Company or Individual) that have been appointed by a credit licensee or aggregator to engage in specified credit activities.
Authorised Credit Representatives can apply for AFCA membership as an:
- Individual and/or
- Company
If you require both an individual and company membership, you will need to submit two separate applications.
If you are unsure which membership you require, please confirm with your licensee/aggregator before applying.
If you are unsure whether you currently hold an AFCA membership as an ACR, you can search your details here. If you can locate your membership and you are looking to update your licensee/aggregator, please click here and select the option ‘Yes’ for the question ‘Are you an existing AFCA member?’ and then enter your membership details and follow the steps accordingly.
Important
Please ensure you select the correct membership type (individual or company) when applying for membership with AFCA. AFCA is generally unable to change membership type once the application has been approved. If you are an existing member and your membership type has changed, please contact membership@afca.org.au to discuss your options.
Licensee Membership
The Licensee membership is for relevant Australian financial firms that have an obligation to be a member of AFCA as part of their licensing conditions.
Being a member of AFCA ensures you meet your licensing requirement to be a member of an external dispute resolution scheme when you are operating your business and providing a financial product or service to consumers and/or small businesses.
This includes if you hold, or you are applying for an:
- Australian Financial Services Licence
- Australian Credit Licence
- Australian Limited Financial Services Licence
AFCA membership is also open to other industry participants in the financial services and superannuation industries (and related industries), who are legally required or wish to become an AFCA member, for the purpose of providing their customers with access to AFCA’s independent external dispute resolution services.
These can include:
- Voluntary members that operate in the financial services industry
- Regulated superannuation funds (excluding self-managed superfunds)
- Consumer Data Right participants
- Sandbox participants
- Approved deposit funds
- Retirement savings account providers
- Unlicensed product issuers
- Annuity providers
- Life insurer
- Life policy funds
Application fees
All members will pay a single application fee when they apply for AFCA membership. This fee is charged at the time of application and covers AFCA membership until 31 July.
Payment for membership for 2024-25 is not yet due. Details about how to pay will be sent out in June 2024.
AFCA’s fees and charges are changing for FY25. To find out more click here.
All members pay a single annual application fee. Payments are processed through Westpac's PayWay secure server using 128-bit SSL encryption.
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Application date |
Total payable (including GST) Image
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Licensees Includes application fee and base levy |
1/06/2023 - 30/9/23 |
$375.55 |
$382.12 |
|
1/10/23 - 31/12/23 |
$281.64 |
$286.57 |
|
|
1/1/24 - 31/3/24 |
$187.77 |
$191.06 |
|
|
1/4/24 - 01/06/24 |
$93.88 |
$95.52 |
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Credit representatives |
1/06/23 - 31/5/24 |
$65.98 |
$67.13 |
Application and renewal fees are non-refundable. If you are unsure which membership type to select, please email our membership team on membership@afca.org.au or phone 1300 56 55 62.
Processing timeframes
After your membership application has been received and payment is successfully processed (please allow 5–7 business days), we will provide the nominated principal contact (for example, CEO or Managing Director) a confirmation email of approved membership. This email will contain details on how to manage your membership with AFCA, as well as information regarding our dispute resolution process and complaint fees, which will apply for complaints we receive in accordance with our Rules.
Benefits of AFCA membership
There are benefits to being a member with AFCA for financial firms.
More information
For more information about membership with AFCA, please email our membership team on membership@afca.org.au or phone 1300 56 55 62.
