Tabla de contenidos para August 2024 en CHOICE

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) products are designed to take advantage of a loophole in the current legal definition of credit, which means that providers are not obliged to provide users with key consumer protections. In early June, the government introduced legislation to Parliament that would regulate BNPL as credit. CHOICE, in partnership with other consumer advocates and financial counsellors, has been calling for the government to make this change for years, as part of our Close Lending Loopholes campaign. The legislation isn’t perfect, but if it passes it will ensure most of the regular safeguards typically in place for credit products will apply to BNPL – assistance in the case of hardship, protections from irresponsible lending and the right to take disputes to the ombudsman (the Australian Financial Complaints…

Increasingly, retired Australians are renting. In 2021, more than one in five Australians over 55 were renters, and this number has risen steadily since the 1990s. Super Consumers Australia research shows retiree renters need to spend much more on housing than homeowners. For example, a single renter aged 65–69 will need to save more than twice as much as a homeowner to maintain a similar standard of living in retirement. For many renters, this is an impossible goal. Commonwealth Rent Assistance is a key support measure for many retirees; around 12% of Age Pensioners receive this payment. But although the 2024 Budget increased this payment, it’s still not keeping pace with the sharp rise in rental prices. Super Consumers Australia is calling on the government to help the growing number…

Should Australia’s biggest banks be the ones teaching children how to manage their money? And can you trust them with your children’s data? Despite the demise of Dollarmites, banks are still pursuing impressionable children through sophisticated ‘pocket money’ apps that they say teach financial capability. Kit and Spriggy Spriggy and the Commonwealth Bank’s Kit app market themselves as innovative financial education platforms for children, but experts are concerned that the apps are designed to facilitate loyalty to big banks, and say there are privacy concerns about children’s data. The apps offer parents and carers a way to send pocket money to children and incentivise chores. The platforms give children a Visa card, trackable by parents, that can be used in stores and online, and restricts retailers like tobacconists and pubs.…

Visit any family-friendly cafe or restaurant on a weekend and you’ll probably encounter adults and children enjoying a meal together. What you also might see is a child engrossed in an iPad, smartphone or other digital device. While some diners will tut-tut at the failure of children to interact with their families, others will applaud the fact that the kids are quietly absorbed in the screen rather than loudly disrupting the other patrons. Whatever your opinion, the combination of kids and screens is here to stay. While tech can be a great way to both entertain and educate, it’s also often a cause of conflict and concern for parents and carers. We spoke to experts and parents to find out how to manage this much-discussed issue. “Tech is a big…

There’s nothing more enjoyable than browsing the aisles for a new toy that you know will bring a smile to the face of a child you love. But when you’re shopping for gifts for young children, safety is also an important consideration. While most toys are safe, sadly there are still lots of toy-related injuries every year – and even some deaths. Fortunately, with a bit of knowledge and common sense, it’s not too hard to avoid dodgy toys. 10 tips for choosing safe toys 1. READ THE LABELS Labels or instructions on the packaging should include age recommendations, any assembly instructions required, and information about proper use and supervision (if appropriate). A warning such as ‘Not suitable for children under three’ is a safety warning, not an indication of…

Before you can choose the right nappy for your baby, you first need to decide what type you’re going to use. There are two main categories of nappies – disposable and modern reusable cloth nappies. They’re very different products, each with their own pros and cons. For environmental and financial reasons, you can’t go past modern cloth nappies. Despite the environmental costs of fabric production and nappy laundering, cloth nappies that are dry-pailed and mostly line-dried still come out ahead of disposable nappies. But for convenience and ease of use, disposables are the way to go. Or you could use a combination of cloth and disposable nappies. You may find cloth nappies work when you’re at home, and disposables when out and about, overnight, at daycare, and during bad weather…

Choosing the right pram or stroller is important when it comes to getting from A to B with your little one. The best stroller will be one that has a seat that fits your child comfortably and safely, is the right height and weight for you to push and lift, and has all the right safety features. The terms ‘pram’ and ‘stroller’ tend to be used fairly loosely and can be used for the same product. Stroller often refers to a model with an upright seat, while pram refers to one with a bassinet or flat sleeping surface, but these days most models allow both positions. Which type of stroller is safest? The experts at CHOICE find safety issues in all sorts of strollers, regardless of design, but there are…

Deciding when your child is ready to have their own phone is a challenge. And if you think your child might be ready, which type of phone or device is suitable? Whether you’re after a basic phone they can use to call, text and take photos with, and that limits web and app access, or a more sophisticated smartphone, start with this handy guide. First phones for younger kids SMART VS NON-SMART For basic handsets for calls and texts, there are a range of options at relatively low price points. Sometimes called ‘dumb phones’ or ‘simple phones’, these are often flip phones with limited features that aren’t connected to the internet, but will allow your child to call and text. The recent shutdown of the 3G network means many older…

Scams are a big problem on social media and cause direct and measurable financial harm to consumers. In 2023, social media scam losses reached $95 million, a 249% increase since 2020. Social media sites are key in the scams ecosystem and can play a critical role in detecting, preventing and responding to scams. Many scams either begin on, or are facilitated through, a social media site enabling the targeting of false information to the victim. A new Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society has called for submissions. Our submission focuses on how consumers currently bear the financial and emotional burden of scams. There are no minimum standards of protection or support afforded to users of digital platforms, including social media sites. This means consumers are constantly exposed…

If you need extras cover for glasses or other items, take a look at our health insurance recommendations (CHOICE Jul 24). If you only have a couple of dentist visits a year and some physio or chiro, budget extras cover could be for you. The best extras policies we found for under $20 a month (excluding the health insurance rebate) in each state are: • AHM Black 50 Saver and Frank Basic Extras, all states • Bupa Freedom 50, Tasmania only • HBF Basic Extras and HCF Starter Extras (with optical), NT and Tasmania • HCF Starter Extras (without optical), NSW, ACT, NT, Tasmania and WA. These policies are relatively cheap, but the same principle applies as for all extras – if you don’t visit the dentist and physio throughout…

Despite the compelling argument made by a bouncing Hamish Blake (dressed as a giant set-top box) that ‘everyone is Hubblin’, does this device make streaming easier – and do you need one? The Hubbl 4K is a small set top box that plugs into a TV via HDMI. It’s similar to the Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick and Google Chromecast in that it can deliver streaming services such as Netflix, Prime, Stan, and Disney+, but unlike those products, Hubble 4K also has a built-in TV tuner. This makes it similar to the Fetch TV 4K Mini. Once connected to a TV and turned on, the set-up process requires an internet connection via Wi-Fi or ethernet, and sign-in details for your Hubbl account. If a TV antenna is connected, you…

For almost 30 years, the Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund (ACBF), later trading as Youpla, aggressively sold poor-value funeral plans to First Nations people across Australia. When the fund collapsed in 2022, tens of thousands of people were unable to access funeral plans they had paid for. In response to the collapse, First Nations financial counsellors, advocates, policyholders and consumer groups, including CHOICE, formed the Save Sorry Business Coalition. After fierce and tireless advocacy, the government announced the Youpla Support Program for those affected by the collapse of ACBF/Youpla. The program, which commenced in July and will run for two years, is open to those who paid for a Youpla funeral fund on or after 1 August 2015. Those who are eligible will receive a resolution payment of 60% of the…

A new national safety standard for button batteries came into effect in June 2022, with the aim of putting an end to children ingesting these small units and suffering serious medical consequences. The new law came on the back of multiple CHOICE investigations into the issue. It means, among other things, that manufacturers must make sure the batteries are safely secured. But compliance is another matter. In June, the ACCC took action against manufacturer MDI International, which supplies battery-driven novelties to popular arcade venues Timezone, Kingpin and Zone Bowling. The toymaker and the owner of the venues, TEEG Australia, were fined $49,500 each for failing to adequately test the novelties before they became accessible to kids. “Button batteries are incredibly dangerous for young children and, tragically, in some cases have…

1. USE TECH TOOLS Use tech tools to limit screen time but be flexible and communicate openly about what you’re doing. “Explain what you’re doing and why,” says kids and technology expert Dr Joanne Orlando. She stresses the importance of using parental controls in conjunction with education because without those discussions your kids won’t learn how to manage their use. 2. BE FLEXIBLE The internet and technology are changing all the time so we can’t set rules that never alter. As tech changes, as our kids get older and as other circumstances change, we need to review and adapt the way our children use their devices. “The rules we set for our kids can’t be set in stone,” says Orlando. “They are a work in progress, all the time.” 3.…

Button batteries are everywhere these days, powering everything from medical devices to musical birthday cards. But they are also a potentially lethal threat to young children if they ingest them. In December 2020, after years of campaigning by CHOICE and other organisations, the Australian Government introduced mandatory safety standards for button and coin batteries. Manufacturers, suppliers and retailers were given 18 months to comply with the new standards, which finally took effect in June 2022. But are companies adhering to these laws? We took a range of products to our labs to find out. There have been three button battery-related deaths in Australia since 2013 The problem with button batteries According to statistics (which date back several years before the regulations were introduced), around 20 children present to hospital emergency…

An average baby goes through about 6000 nappies, and when you’re changing your baby several times a day for a few years, you want the experience to be efficient, safe and comfortable for both you and your little one. A change table isn’t an essential buy for your nursery. You may find changing your baby on a bed or on the floor with a change mat perfectly adequate. (Just be sure to supervise bub at all times, as they can be very wriggly!) And you might not use a change table beyond the first year or so, as your baby could outgrow it by toddler stage. But if you still feel like a change table is a good option for you, here’s how to choose the right one. Types of…

Being a parent or caring for a child means you’re basically on meal-prep and snack duty for the rest of your life (well, around 18 years at least). That’s literally thousands of breakfasts, lunches, dinners and in-betweens you have to plan, shop for, cook, prepare and pack. Is it any wonder you’re constantly looking for inspiration and ideas for how to keep kids fed and happy? Then there’s the pressure to keep meals tasty and nutritionally balanced; stick to a budget; and perhaps cater to an allergy, intolerance or special food requirement or two. Not to mention kids’ often wildly illogical and inconsistent approach to what they will or will not currently eat. It’s a recipe for exhaustion, stress and overwhelm. We’ve rounded up some of the go-to appliances CHOICE…

The federal government has announced that CHOICE will be among three organisations empowered to make designated complaints to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The new function, similar to the ‘super complaints’ system in the UK, will mean that complaints submitted by CHOICE must be considered and publicly responded to within 90 days. Ordinarily, complaints to the ACCC do not require a public response and are not subject to any timeframe requirements. “CHOICE is delighted to be one of the first advocates to be given this special status. Our rigorous and independent product and service testing, consumer research and tip-offs from our 400,000-strong supporter and member base across Australia make CHOICE uniquely positioned to identify the biggest issues facing consumers and bring them to the ACCC’s attention,” says CHOICE…

Telstra and Optus say they won’t make Google the default search engine on devices they supply to consumers, after the ACCC became concerned that deals between the telcos and the search giant were bad for competition. Previous agreements to make Google the default on Android devices provided by Telstra and Optus were uncovered during an ACCC investigation. “We are grateful for the cooperation of Telstra and Optus in responding to the ACCC’s competition concerns,” says ACCC commissioner Liza Carver. “The undertakings will allow alternative search engines to be able to compete to be a default search engine on the Android devices these companies supply.” The consumer regulator is currently looking into Google’s services in Australia after competition and consumer issues arose during the regulator’s inquiry into digital platforms. The investigation…

The media regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), has ordered streaming provider Hubbl to arrange an external audit of its technical systems and processes after one of its services broke gambling advertising rules. ACMA issued the direction after finding sports service Kayo, provided by Hubbl, had shown the promotions at banned times. The regulator says the scale of the breach and Hubbl’s failure to identify the system bug causing it were “very concerning”. “Online streaming services have a responsibility to put robust systems in place so that they adhere to these long-standing gambling advertising rules,” says ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood. Gambling advertisements can’t be shown by online content providers during live sport events between 5am and 8.30pm, including in the five minutes before and after the event. ACMA’s…

The Banking Code Compliance Committee (BCCC) has sanctioned ANZ for charging fees to deceased estates and not responding to representatives of estates within the necessary timeframe. Between July 2019 and September 2023, the bank breached obligations by charging fees and failing to offer refunds after customers’ deaths. “The decision to name ANZ for its non-compliance reflects the seriousness of its Code breaches,” BCCC chair Ian Govey says. “Naming a bank is a sanction that we reserve for the most serious and systemic breaches. The significance of the deficiencies in ANZ’s compliance frameworks was deeply concerning.” After identifying issues in early 2022, the BCCC says ANZ took over a year to implement solutions and nearly two years to start customer remediation, which is still ongoing. “The remediation did not meet expectations.…

When your child needs a laptop or tablet for the classroom, it can be tricky deciding what to buy. They may be pressuring you for the latest on-trend tech, while you may be tempted by whatever’s on sale. But the school will also have requirements to factor in. There may be software that is required so check the school’s guidance Schools often take different approaches to technology, and the specific policies – often called BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) or BYOT (Bring Your Own Tech) – may depend on the age of the student. The school may make recommendations as to the model of device students are permitted to bring, or you may be able to choose your own. There may also be some software that is required on the…

If you had to pick the one meal that was most likely to be accepted by kids nationwide, it might very well be chicken nuggets and chips. And while it’s not the most nutritious option, the crunchy, satisfying combo is beloved by plenty of adults too. So it’s no wonder that many of us like to keep a couple of bags of these handy foods in our freezer for those days where whipping up something from scratch just doesn’t appeal. But which products should be taking up our valuable freezer space? We enlisted an expert panel of taste testers to determine which supermarket nuggets and chips outshine the rest on flavour. We also took a look at the ingredients and gave each product a nutrition score, to help you weigh…

Your regular contents insurance covers your valuables inside your home, but add-on portable contents cover can protect your valuables from loss, theft or damage when they are outside your home. As well as electronics and jewellery, it can cover musical instruments, sporting equipment, medical aids like hearing aids, and more. This type of cover can give you peace of mind about the valuables you take with you during everyday activities, and can even cover you when you’re on holiday in Australia or overseas. But you need to check the fine print in your product disclosure statement (PDS), as the cover limit under portable contents insurance may be less than the limit offered inside your home for the same item. WHAT’S COVERED ● Electronic equipment like mobile phones, e-readers, laptops or…

If you’ve reached the fun stage where baby is ready to try their first foods, you’ll need a high chair that’s safe, practical, easy to clean and has all the right features to make feeding time easy. But there’s an eye watering range of options to choose from, and do you need to spend hundreds of dollars on something that’s going to be regularly smeared with apple puree and spaghetti bolognaise? Safety first The most common form of injury involving high chairs is when a child falls after trying to stand up, climb into, or get out of the chair. Other serious injuries can result from having their fingers, toes or limbs pinched or crushed by moving parts or gaps, or choking on easily detachable small parts. It’s a fairly…

Poor dental hygiene can cause a world of pain, both physically and financially, so you want to make sure that your daily brushing is getting the job done properly. Electric toothbrushes are fairly mainstream nowadays, but just because a technology is commonly used, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better than the old fashioned alternative. However, it seems that electric toothbrushes probably do live up to their hype. A 2014 review of 51 trials of manual vs powered (electric) toothbrushes by the nonprofit Cochrane Collaboration showed electric toothbrushes “reduce plaque and gingivitis more than manual tooth brushing”. Electric toothbrushes reduce plaque and gingivitis more than manual tooth brushing You don’t have to pay a lot We test electric toothbrushes for how they feel to use, how easy they are to use and…

If you’re buying a new bed, the eye-watering prices of some mattresses can be enough to keep you awake at night. For a high-end mattress, you could pay up to $10,000. Some people think that shopping on a shoestring means settling for a mattress that’s wafer thin, rock-hard or saggy, but our most recent mattress test well and truly de-bunks that myth. “The results from our latest review are great news if you’re shopping for beds on a budget,” says CHOICE mattress expert Peter Zaluzny. “Three mattresses that cost less than $500 for a queen size came equal-second overall, ranking higher than mattresses costing four times as much.” Retailers usually have lots of room to move on price We’ll talk you through how to get a good deal, and we…