Form · Competition & Consumer Law

Goods and services dispute application (VCAT Civil Claims List, myVCAT): preparation guide

Link to VCAT's goods and services disputes page and myVCAT, with a guide to preparing a consumer or trader claim in the Civil Claims List, the evidence to gather, and responding to or joining a case.

Kind
Form. A form to complete, or a guide to completing an official one.
Where it applies
Victoria
AI use
Yellow AI can help in set ways. A lawyer checks specific points before use.
Law stated as at
18 October 2026
Status
Maintained. Checked on 18 October 2026 against the official form at vcat.vic.gov.au and the 3 authorities it cites, for Victoria.
Version
1
Source
Link to the official form. Licence: © State of Victoria (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal). Link only: use the current VCAT application each time; do not copy or adapt it.

Where this comes from

The official form is published by vcat.vic.gov.au; this page is a completion guide. Last checked on 2026-10-18.

When to use it

Use when a consumer or business in Victoria wants VCAT to hear a dispute about goods or services bought or sold. Goods and services applications lodged on or after 6 December 2023 can be managed in myVCAT.

Used for these tasks

Each task page says how far AI may help with the task and what the lawyer must review.

How AI may be used

AI may check the application against the tribunal's form and the documents on file and draft the orders sought for the lawyer to settle; the lawyer checks every statement and order in each application before it is signed and lodged.

AI may

  • Check every part of the draft application is complete and the respondent's name and address for service match the documents
  • Draft the orders sought, citing the section numbers the lawyer has identified, for the lawyer to settle
  • Index the supporting documents (agreements, notices, receipts, photos, correspondence) with dates and sources
  • Build a dated timeline of the agreement, payments, defects and complaints from the receipts and correspondence

AI must not

  • Must not decide which orders to seek or which section of the Act applies
  • Must not write a party's statement of what happened in their own words, or any evidence that will be signed or sworn
  • Must not sign or lodge the application

The lawyer checks

  • The dispute is one VCAT's Civil Claims List can hear, within its time frames (see VCAT's Before you apply page)
  • Respondent named by its correct legal name and address
  • Amount claimed calculated and supported by documents
  • Orders sought and the reasons settled by the lawyer

Method: how the Green, Yellow and Red levels are decided. This is guidance for planning, not legal advice.

Authorities

Official form

Open the official form. Always use the current version from the issuer. Licence: © State of Victoria (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal). Link only: use the current VCAT application each time; do not copy or adapt it..

Read the full text

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