Table of contents for December - January 2024 in CHOICE

A national survey conducted by CHOICE earlier A this year found nine in 10 people in Australia (88%) support closing legal loopholes to ensure buy now, pay later (BNPL) loans are regulated like credit cards. While the Australian government is considering how to regulate BNPL providers, consumer organisations and financial counsellors are calling on them to ensure any new legislation requires BNPL providers to verify people’s income and list basic liability information. Verifying a person’s income before issuing them a loan is essential, as this information is required to assess whether repayments will be affordable. It is also essential that BNPL providers list basic credit liability information, which means they, and other lenders, will be able to see the full amount of all loans that a consumer has signed up…

Following consultations with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the federal government has announced new safety standards for toys marketed at children under the age of three. Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones says an estimated 2500 children in this bracket present to hospital emergency departments every year because of injuries from unsuitable or dangerous toys. The new standards seek to minimise choking and suffocation risks from toys, including rattles and teethers, which are among the items most often recalled by the ACCC. The mandatory safety standard will ensure all toys adhere to strict design and testing requirements and do not contain small parts.…

The company distributing Jeep vehicles in Australia has promised to improve how it deals with customers experiencing problems with their cars and provide bettertraining to staff, following an ACCC investigation. Stellantis Australia says it will work to make sure deserving customers receive replacements, repairs or other remedies they’re entitled to under Australian Consumer Law, and that people buying vehicles and the staff selling them are better educated about these consumer guarantees. The company made the promise in a court-enforceable undertaking to the ACCC, which had investigated Stellantis after receiving numerous complaints from Jeep owners about failing vehicles and their struggles to get remedies for them. “Consumers have rights [and] businesses should have appropriate systems in place to ensure they do not mislead consumers about these rights,” says ACCC deputy chair…

Q I’m planning a trip to the UK next year and I’m seriously questioning whether it’s worth buying travel insurance. I know it’s generally considered essential but I’m willing to foot the bill for an unplanned overnight stay somewhere or replacing a lost bag and the clothing inside. None of this would cost anywhere near as much as the premium anyway. I know I’m covered for any medical needs I might have while I’m there because of our reciprocal health care agreement. What do you think? Could it be OK to skip insurance in this case? A CHOICE insurance expert Jodi Bird:In theory, travel insurance for the UK should be less expensive due to the existence of reciprocal health care agreements with Australia, but it is worth shopping around for…

Gift cards make a convenient present, especially when you can buy them online or pick one up at the supermarket, Australia Post shop or any of the many retail chain stores that offer them. In fact, it was predicted that Australians would spend more than $10 billion dollars on gift cards in 2023, an increase of nearly 8% on 2022. And there’s sure to be plenty of gift cards bought before 25 December for a quick and easy Christmas present. While research from Pureprofile suggests that 65% of Australians are looking to spend less on Christmas this year, gift cards are still a popular option: 47% of those surveyed by Pureprofile said they planned to give them as gifts and 44% want to receive them. Although they might be a…

Whether you’re looking to drought-proof your backyard, transform an area where grass refuses to grow, or you simply can’t stand mowing the lawn, you may be considering installing artificial grass. Having a perfect lawn without any mowing, watering or fertilising may sound appealing, but there are also some downsides to faking it. We look at the pros and cons, the different types, how much it costs, and the environmental considerations of installing an artificial lawn. Plus, we find out whether fake grass can be pet-friendly and explore the heat risks associated with a plastic lawn. The pros YEAR-ROUND PERFECTION Artificial grass looks immaculate every day of the year, even during drought or when you’ve been away on holiday. It never grows too long and it never looks dead, discoloured or…

If your garden produces a lot of sticks and cuttings, and you’re tired of dragging a full green-waste bin to the kerb, maybe you need a garden shredder (aka mulcher or chipper). A good shredder will quickly turn branches and leafy material into woodchips suitable for mulching garden beds or adding to compost. That’s good for your garden, good for the environment and – if you usually buy your mulching materials – could even save you money in the long run. Blades vs rollers There are two main cutting systems used in garden shredders. Some use blades to cut the material into small chips, and others use a ridged roller that crushes and cuts the material. Neither type is necessarily better than the other. Blades are generally considered to be…

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics is leading an inquiry investigating insurers’ responses to the major floods that hit the east coast of Australia in 2022. The floods in South East Queensland and NSW had insurance costs of around $5.87 billion, making them the costliest natural disaster event for insurance in Australian history. CHOICE and the Financial Rights Legal Centre (FRLC) have written a joint submission to the government’s inquiry, sharing the experiences of people affected by the floods and calling on the committee to consider a number of recommendations to improve the availability and accessibility of insurance going forward. Our submission recommends that insurers be required to proactively warn consumers when they suspect they are underinsured and that insurance policies should include temporary accommodation for people who…

With about nine out of 10 policyholders experiencing an increase in their home insurance premium (See Weathering the storm, CHOICE Sep 23), finding savings is more important than ever. And shopping around can be the key to significant savings. Before renewing your home insurance, get quotes from at least three insurers, including an online quote from your current insurer. Some insurance companies will match a competitor’s premium and many give a discount to new customers. We analysed quotes and found large differences between the cheapest and most expensive in each state. In NSW, for instance, you could find yourself paying up to $4665 more if you chose the most expensive, rather than the cheapest, policy – for the exact same cover. We used a sample of 2000 online quotes collected…

Hearing trouble Having been caught in the Latitude data breach I have become very wary of who has my information. I recently went to an audiology service that I hadn’t used before to discuss replacing my current hearing aids. After receiving a quote I decided not to go ahead. At no time did I sign anything that gave permission for my details to be passed on to any other party. A couple of weeks later, a Visa gift card arrived in the mail, sent from the audiology service, Audika. Part of the heading on the letter says that the card was issued by Heritage Bank. When I contacted Audika, they were not able to explain why this had happened, but said someone from their marketing branch would contact me. The…

The post-Christmas sales season is eagerly awaited by many savvy shoppers hoping to snag some great deals. But beneath the flashy discount signs lurk potential traps that could cost you more than you bargained for. CHOICE experts and buyers have more knowledge than most about what constitutes a good buy and what doesn’t. Here’s their advice to help you avoid being swept up by FOMO (fear of missing out), plus we take a look at store tactics and other pitfalls that can lead to a lighter wallet and unsatisfying purchases. “Retailers are hoping the promise of big discounts gets people in and caught up in a frenzy” Sales tips CLOTHES AND SHOES CHOICE buyer Narelle Cornelius advises looking beyond the appealing price reductions and being realistic about what’s on sale…

Kitting out a small kitchen can be challenging. Whether you’re building a granny flat or tiny house, renovating an existing kitchen, or decking out a caravan or camper for your big round-the-country trip, you’ll want to make the most of your space. Every centimetre counts! Fortunately, there are plenty of products out there that’ll earn the space they take up, from diminutive appliances through to multi-functional machines that provide flexibility with a small footprint. Here’s our kitchen expert’s advice on how to maximise space when choosing appliances for a small kitchen. Compact cooktops If you’re short on benchtop space, there are plenty of styles of slimline cooktops available – gas, ceramic and induction. A standard cooktop measures 60cm wide, which might be small enough for your space, but you could…

Every year, our resident grill masters Chantelle Dart and Fiona Mair put a range of the latest barbecues through a series of tests in the CHOICE kitchen labs. They spend hours searing steaks, cooking sausages and roasting whole chickens, which means they’re pros when it comes to grilling. We asked them to share their top tips for sure-fire success at your next summer barbecue. Before you get started 1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT FUEL The type of fuel and the type of barbecue make a huge difference to what you’re cooking, says Mair. “Gas barbecues heat up faster and are generally easy to control and use, but charcoal or pellet barbecues give you a smoky, charred flavour,” she says. “You can also get that smoky flavour on a gas barbecue by…

Our long-serving rogues’ gallery of dodgy ads, toe-curling typos and misadventures in marketing, as sent in by you – our tickled, angered and bewildered readers. And thanks to the timeless shonkiness of so much advertising, you’re always spoilt for choice – so keep ’em coming. Email high quality unedited photos to hardword@choice.com.au. This month, thanks go to Sam Collyer (Shady business), Stuarte Kerdel (Plenty big), Adrian Spring (Not enough?) and Yolanda van Vaardeg (Cheap as chips). PLENTY BIG These pumpkins would certainly make for an interesting Halloween. SHADY BUSINESS A warning for those roving trike tykes out after sundown. NOT ENOUGH? So much for the compliment. CHEAP AS CHIPS In case you wish to buy a truckload.…

The federal government has extended the temporary scheme to support members of the collapsed Youpla funeral fund. The scheme, which provides funeral funding support for former members of the funeral fund which went into administration last year, was due to expire in November, but will now be extended until 30 June 2024. First Nations consumer advocates welcomed the announcement as a way of relieving pressure on the looming deadline, but reiterated calls for an enduring permanent resolution that includes all victims of the financial collapse of Youplaand a culturally appropriate and fair resolution for those with claims against the company. “We have cautious optimism about yesterday’s announcement from Ministers Linda Burney and Stephen Jones, with hopes that this will be the final extension before the federal government’s enduring resolution is…

In 2019, the ACMA issued a formal warning to Ticketek to cease and desist breaching the Spam Act. But it seems the market-dominating ticketing business didn’t take the warning to heart. In October this year, Ticketek paid a $515,040 fine to the ACMA after the regulator found it had sent around 41,000 marketing texts and emails without the consent of recipients, and around 57,000 texts and emails to people who had previously unsubscribed. Ticketek claimed that some of the emails were exempt from the Spam Act because they contained event information for ticket holders, but the ACMA’s investigation found they also contained advertising and promotional material for upcoming events, meaning the Spam Act applied. “Australians are fed up with these types of intrusions on their privacy and Ticketek has no…

The energy regulator has taken a developer supplying electricity to a NSW retirement village to Federal Court, alleging the company took too long to become a member of the state’s energy ombudsman. The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) launched proceedings against CAM Engineering and Construction Pty Ltd after repeatedly telling the developer it had to join NSW’s Energy and Water Ombudsman because it was supplying power to the Cooranbong Gardens retirement village. The company is allowed to sell and supply electricity to residents through an embedded network at the village, but must also become a member of the ombudsman, which resolves consumers’ energy complaints. The AER alleges CAM Engineering took 16 months to join the scheme and says this meant residents were deprived of their rights. “The AER’s Retail Exempt Selling…

The holiday season is a joyous time of year, but it can also be an expensive one. What with decorating the house and buying gifts for everyone from Great Aunt Mildred to the kids next door, not to mention laying the table with a festive feast, the costs can really add up. This year there’s also the added financial stress of increasing interest rates and rising household bills, which may all be throwing a dampener on your plans for festive celebrations. To restore your holiday cheer, we’ve put together a Grinch-proof list of ways to save on festive food to help you enjoy your celebrations with a little less financial strain. Try a non-traditional meal Although you may love to feast on seafood or a leg of ham at this…

If you’re relying on reading the online product reviews before finalising your wishlist this sales season, make sure you know how to spot fake feedback when you see it. Since the dawn of the internet, when we took our first tentative steps into the early forums and chat rooms, lies and falsehoods have flourished. The realm of online reviews is no exception. The impact of fake reviews is real and costly. A 2021 report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) estimated that the direct influence of fake online reviews translates to global spending of $152 billion, $900 million of which is spent by Australians. The direct influence of fake online reviews translates to global spending of $152bn In November 2022, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recommended a range…

In Australia, you’re protected under the ACL, whether you’ve bought a product in a bricks-and-mortar store or online. Companies that sell to Australia need to adhere to the ACL as well, but while that’s the case in theory, in practice you might find it difficult to get a satisfactory resolution if you have problems with a faulty product. Retailers need to provide a remedy for a faulty product (refund, replacement or repair, depending on the nature of the fault), but they’re not obliged to give you a refund or exchange if you just change your mind or find that something doesn’t fit. Learn more about your consumer guarantees at choice.com.au/consumerrights.…

With the restrictions on cruising finally lifted post-pandemic, the industry has bounced back in a big way this year and is more popular than ever. But some people lost thousands of dollars on cancelled cruises during the travel bans and some cruise lines might not even let you on board without travel insurance. So if you’re planning a cruise, read on to discover how to choose the travel insurance policy that is best for you. Some insurers offer cover for cruises only as an optional extra What are the options? Most insurers cover international cruises that start and end in Australia, usually as an optional extra (we haven’t looked at cover for cruises that start and/or end overseas). Some providers also offer tailored cruise travel insurance, which can give you…

Are you a ‘shove everything in and hope for the best’ fridge stacker? Or do you turn your nose up at such carelessness? Maybe you’ve got your own system, with separate containers doing double duty to keep your food fresh. A well-organised fridge is a happy, healthy and easy-to-navigate fridge. Fridge organising skills should be high on the list of attributes to look for in a potential housemate, as well as an attribute you aspire to yourself. If you’re already a fan of organisation then the modern fridge is here to help, with separate compartments to keep different foods in the best possible conditions. Use them wisely and you’ll get the absolute best out of both fridge and contents. But because each of them will have different characteristics, they’re not…

If you love your lawns and want a really neat, crisp edge between the grass and the paths or garden beds, you should consider a lawn edger. It will leave a cleaner, more professional separation than a line trimmer or lawnmower, giving your lawn a polished, manicured look. Types of edgers MANUAL Manual edgers are simply a sharp blade or bladed wheel on the end of a long handle. They’re cheap and simple, but they can take some effort to use, and the blade must be maintained. They are best suited to small jobs. ELECTRIC Corded electric models are relatively inexpensive, easier to start than petrol models and also quieter to use, but you may need a long extension cord to reach all the corners of your garden. Use an…