How long do you have to lodge a claim?
Time limits for Australian consumer disputes vary by state, dispute type, and forum. Pick the situation that fits — we'll show your deadline, the relevant body, and what to do today if you're running out of time.
Fill in all three fields above to see your time-limit verdict.
Time limits at a glance
| Forum / claim type | Time limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ACCC / ACL — general damages claims | 6 years from when loss occurred | s236 of the ACL |
| ACL — consumer guarantees (refund/replace/repair) | No fixed deadline — but reasonable lifespan of the goods sets the practical window | s54-s60, s259, s260 |
| NCAT (NSW) | 3 years from when dispute arose | Consumer and Commercial Division rules |
| VCAT (Victoria) | 6 years for goods/services contracts; 1 year for retail tenancies | Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012 (Vic) |
| QCAT (Queensland) | 6 years for general consumer disputes | Limitation of Actions Act 1974 (Qld) |
| SAT (Western Australia) | 3 years for most consumer claims | State Administrative Tribunal Act 2004 (WA) |
| SACAT (South Australia) | 6 years from when dispute arose | Limitation of Actions Act 1936 (SA) |
| ACAT (ACT) | 6 years from when dispute arose | Limitation Act 1985 (ACT) |
| NTCAT (NT) | 3 years from when dispute arose | Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Act 1990 (NT) |
| AFCA (financial services) | 6 years from when issue first arose; 2 years from internal dispute resolution response | AFCA Rules |
These are general time limits. Specific facts (when the failure was discovered, whether you tried to resolve it informally, etc.) can extend or shorten the window. The checker above gives more situation-specific guidance.
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This tool gives general information about Australian Consumer Law time limits, not legal advice. If you're close to a deadline, contact your state's Fair Trading body or a community legal centre immediately. Full agency contact list at /agencies.