Dr Brandson's Bank Reform Now Campaign On Track

Bank Reform Now Campaign Gathers Support

A EUROBODALLA doctor’s campaign against “fraudulent and predatory lending practices” by Australian banks is gathering momentum.

The Bay Post/Moruya Examiner reported last year that Batehaven doctor Peter Brandson was leading a people-powered campaign to force change on the government and banks.

He announced last August he was offering his luxury Long Beach home as a prize for people to join his campaign.

It stems from his own personal story where a bank approved a member of his family a sizeable loan in 2004, which could not be repaid by the borrower.

Three years later the bank began legal proceedings to take possession of Dr Brandson’s family home, despite him not being a signatory or guarantor on the loan, nor it being in his name.

While Dr Brandson eventually stopped the repossession by refinancing the loan in his name with another financial institution he wants retribution for “predatory lending practices” and “negligent conduct”.

Speaking to the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner this week, Dr Brandson said his campaign was “still in pre-launch” but gathering support.

The Bank Reform Now Facebook page has almost 3000 followers and several of its posts have been shared more than 100 times, distributing the message to tens of thousands of people.

Dr Brandson said the response had been “absolutely fantastic.”

“Apart from the great response online - people who know me are all very supportive telling me not to give up and that it’s about time someone really taught the banks a lesson,” he said.

“I’ve also had some good interactions with several highly-respected journalists and news organisations.”

Dr Brandson said “many other victims” had also got in contact and the rip-offs were “horrific.”

“It is not just predatory lending and unconscionable conduct whereby bankers knowingly manipulate the loan application to give an unjustifiable loan,” Dr Brandson said.

“I’m seeing cases where people, with significant assets built up over a lifetime of work, are deliberately set up so as to enable the bank to strip them of their property and sometimes lives.

“I have come to discover that the banking system is organised crime on a grand scale.

“The jig is up and I’m hoping to put extra pressure on the banks and the government once the campaign launches.”

Dr Brandson said the banks had not responded to his campaign.

“Having weak regulatory agencies like the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and Financial Ombudsman Service is also part of the game plan," he said.

“More importantly, while governments protect the criminals in the industry, the banks feel they can get away with anything.”
State pulls pin on giveaway

DOCTOR Peter Brandson is investigating options for the giveaway of his Long Beach home after he was unable to offer it via a lottery.

Dr Brandson announced last August he would offer the luxury home as a prize for people to join his Bank Reform Now campaign.

He planned to seek $2.60 donations from the community and in return would have given one of the campaign supporters the Long Beach home which a bank tried to repossess in 2007.

Dr Brandson said this week no donations had yet been collected.

“I have to get all issues sorted,” he said.

“We were slowed down because the state authorities didn’t want to have the house offered to a winner via a lottery.

“That was my preferred option but I will still give the house to one of the campaign supporters - we will not use a lottery.

“We will have all the government approvals required to raise money for the campaign.”

Dr Brandson said donations would be collected once the campaign officially launched.

He said it took time to build public awareness and momentum.

“Once we have enough people power on board we can harness it to force change,” he said.

“This is not a flash-in-the-pan operation, we have long-term program planned with specific goals.

“We need to build a solid platform to provide a strong voice to people who are sick of the corruption that is far more widespread than most of us realise.”

Join the campaign by following the Facebook page - www.facebook.com/bankreformnow

“By reading, liking, commenting and sharing the material people help the movement grow,” Dr Brandson said.

“Right now we are providing a valuable source of information that helps people join the dots and understand why reform is critical.”

Update - October 2017 - Unfortunately the home giveaway component of the campaign had to be removed. Funding was nowhere near adequate to enable the home to be unencumbered in a reasonable time frame. All funds raised have been used to fund the campaign. We still appreciate everyone's help. We particularly would like extra support to fund our website. Donations link below.