Tabla de contenidos para September 2023 en CHOICE

Insurance companies are unfairly denying claims based on wear and tear or maintenance exclusions, according to new research. The General Insurance Code Governance Committee found that 55% of denied claims were due to these two exclusions. Veronique Ingram, the independent chair of the Committee, says the quality of the reports used to make these exclusions were “poor”. “We saw too many reports that failed to provide a clear and demonstrable link between the cause of damage and the loss,” she says. Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Stephanie Tonkin says denying claims “causes incredible distress to the people on the wrong end of the insurer’s decisions”. “My advice is if your insurer declines your claim based on an ‘expert’ report, it is worth your while to complain.” The Committee found that…

Parking operator Secure Parking is facing a court battle after the ACCC accused it of making false or misleading claims to consumers about its ‘Secure-a-Spot’ service. The regulator alleges that over five years the company told customers that booking with the service would reserve the parking space they had chosen for a particular date and time, when this was not the case. “We allege Secure Parking was not providing the service it was representing to consumers, and did not reserve a parking space after consumers had pre-booked using the Secure-a-Spot service,” says ACCC commissioner Liza Carver. The ACCC says Secure Parking’s car parks sometimes reached full capacity before people with a ‘Secure-a-Spot’ booking arrived at their pre-booked time, leaving them with nowhere to park their vehicle. “Some of the consumers…

Join the conversation online. We’re on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and our own forum, CHOICE Community. This month: Citrus, slow cookers, wood fires and more. Community choice.community What is your favourite citrus? @passerbye123: Blood orange has a wonderful flavour and colour. @jocepix: I love Mandarins, I am enjoying exploring new varieties at good green grocers. @slb: I drink fresh lemon juice (or, when in season, lime) in soda water from the Sodastream. It’s cheap, very refreshing, and not disgustingly sweet like supermarket juices and other drinks. And, after years of doing this I’m only slightly more bitter and sour;) Facebook @choiceaustralia Slow cookers vs multi-cookers vs pressure cookers: Which one is right for you? Sarah E: Philips all-in-one. Pressure cooker function is my favourite. It sounds repetitive but it truly is…

Night after night of disturbed sleep because of snoring can be extremely trying on your health and your relationship. So, it’s little wonder that there is a plethora of products and treatments on offer that claim to be able to help you stop snoring. But the options can be overwhelming. In this article, we help you understand what causes snoring and outline the different treatments available. What causes snoring? Snoring happens when a collapse, blockage or restriction to the upper airway obstructs the flow of air through the back of the mouth or nose. The sound is created by the vibration of the soft tissues at the back of the throat. CERTAIN DRUGS Drugs such as alcohol, muscle relaxants and sleeping tablets can cause snoring by making the tongue and…

Facial recognition technology is being deployed at major concert venues and sporting events around Australia, often without consumers’ knowledge or consent. Facial recognition is an advanced and controversial technology that involves the use of cameras to collect the biometric information – or the unique ‘faceprint’ – of someone, which is often then matched to a database. Because of the unique nature of the biometric information, it’s considered “sensitive data” under privacy legislation. Biometric information is considered ‘sensitive data’ under privacy legislation Analysing the privacy policy and conditions of entry statements of ten stadiums and stadium operators around Australia, CHOICE found many allowed for facial recognition to be used, but the operators were vague or non-responsive when we contacted them seeking more information. Consumers need to be properly informed CHOICE consumer…

Budgeting apps can be a good way to help you see where your money is going and plan for the future, but it’s hard to pick which one to use. Given a budgeting app’s raison d’être is to save money, you’ll want to ensure your hard-earned cash is going towards a product that will suit your needs. Free vs paid Most budgeting apps have at least one free and one paid version, but a single app can offer multiple plans with different prices. We scored products based on their “premium” option, but also recorded the differences between the free and paid options. Free budgeting app plans usually have fewer features than their paid counterparts. Some common examples of things you can’t do on a free plan include adding photos (such…

The crisper in your fridge is designed to store fruits and vegetables at their best – the closed drawer keeps in some humidity, which helps keep some items fresh for longer. But fruits and vegies don’t all ripen at the same rate. Some require more humidity than others, and some are more sensitive to the cold. Some don’t require refrigeration at all, and some only require refrigeration in the later stages of ripening. It’s no wonder there’s confusion about how to best store fresh produce in the crisper! If you have well-ripened or spoiled produce, don’t store it with your other fruits and veg How crisper works A crisper, sometimes called a crisper drawer or humidity drawer, is a plastic bin in your fridge designed to provide the best possible…

Have you ever fantasised about eating breakfast in bed propped up on a luxury mattress? Do you need to alleviate back pain by sleeping in a different position? Or are you looking to maintain your independence at home? An adjustable bed could be what you need. In this article we help you understand what adjustable beds can do and how to choose which type will best suit your needs. What is an adjustable bed? Adjustable beds can bend, tilt and move up and down. These functions allow you to sleep in different positions and can help you get in and out of bed. These days, most adjustable beds are electric, driven with a remote control. Thanks to their customisable nature, adjustable beds can help with a variety of health conditions:…

With travel on the agenda again after years of restrictions, investing in a decent suitcase could make your journey that little bit more pleasant. After all, who wants to struggle with an unwieldy, unstable suitcase at the passenger or airport terminal? And once your suitcase is checked in, you want to know it can withstand rough baggage handling or being left in the pouring rain. Our experts put 14 check-in suitcases with a recommended retail price (RRP) of $99 to $1199 through our rigorous performance tests. The harshest test involves dropping the suitcase hundreds of times onto solid concrete (see How we test, p70). The worst of the bunch had missing wheels, buckled frames and cracked cases; often before the cycle was completed. The best cases escaped virtually unscathed and…

ECOVACS WINBOT W1 PRO PRICE $799 CONTACT ecovacs.com/au A robot that cleans A your windows for you? Sounds intriguing. We had some hard-to-reach, cobwebby windows that needed a wash, so we bought the Ecovacs Winbot W1 Pro to see how well it worked. The small, square Winbot has driving treads on its base to help it move along windows, a removable mop pad, and a reservoir for the window cleaning solution. Unlike cordless robot vacuums, the Winbot is mains-powered, but has a back-up safety battery in case of power failure. PREPARING THE ROBOT Preparing the robot wasn’t hard. Voice prompts tell you what to do next, such as wet the mopping pad, wring it out, then attach it to the base. You then place the Winbot against the window, where…

The Federal Court has found that lenders Cigno and BHF Solutions engaged in credit activities without a licence, in a case that was brought by the corporate regulator ASIC. A permanent injunction was granted against both of the companies to protect consumers. “ASIC took this case to stop a harmful lending model, one which circumvented Australian credit laws and regulations and charged excessive fees and charges to many vulnerable consumers,” says the Commission deputy chair Karen Chester. In one example presented by ASIC, a borrower with a $200 loan that they repaid in two months ended up paying $177.75 in fees to BHF Solutions and Cigno. The same borrower went on to borrow a further $600, ultimately paying another $703 in fees. The judge ruled these fees and charges were…

Bamboo has become very popular in recent years, taking on cotton as the fabric of choice for things we wear close to our skin, and for sheets and other bed linen. It’s marketed as a more eco-friendly fibre than cotton, with a smooth, silky feel and even anti-microbial qualities. Are claims like this true? It’s complicated. Bamboo textiles are rarely natural bamboo. They’re usually a semi-synthetic such as bamboo viscose, lyocell or rayon (depending on the production method used) – but may not be labelled as such. Although derived from bamboo fibres, the finished fabrics don’t retain all of the properties of natural bamboo fabric, which is similar to linen. And when comparing fabrics, there are other variables that determine how they perform, apart from the properties of the original…

During Sydney’s 2021 COVID-19 lockdowns Jack’s mental health began to deteriorate, so he signed up for the paid mental health app Headspace after it was recommended by a friend. The US-based app, which claims to have over 70 million users worldwide, promises to reduce stress by 14% in ten days through “science-backed meditation and mindfulness tools”. The app costs Australian users $92 a year. Jack says he found the sleepcasts and meditations on the app helpful at first, but over time he stopped using them and he later let his annual subscription lapse. “I never really thought about the data, I didn’t worry about it too much because I wasn’t giving away anything specific,” he says. But Jack wasn’t aware exactly how widely his data was being shared. A range…

The decision by energy regulators to lift benchmark electricity prices in the second half of this year was yet another blow to households struggling with the cost of living. But for those who’ve been considering installing a solar system to offset their power bills, there’s never been a better time to take the plunge. CHOICE has found many Australian households can now expect a solar installation to pay for itself more quickly, with payback periods as short as around four or five years. Why prices have risen In May, the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) announced the cost of residential electricity in NSW, South Australia and South-East Queensland could increase by up to 25% during 2023–24. This is because the AER decided to lift its default market offer (DMO), which is…

Many Australians need a strong coffee fix to get through a busy morning, but for those who are looking to avoid caffeine for a better night’s sleep, decaffeinated coffee is an ideal option. The world’s first commercial decaffeinated coffee was Kaffee Hag, produced in Germany in 1906. A 1914 New York Tribune newspaper ad declared: “If you find that ordinary coffee disturbs your sleep and that coffee substitutes lack that inimitable coffee flavour, why don’t you try Kaffee Hag?” Back then, the caffeine was removed by the chemical benzene, which is now considered a carcinogen. Safer alternatives are now used to remove the caffeine, including chemical-free methods. Experts have found that a quality decaf can taste just as good as regular coffee Decaffeinating coffee removes around 95–97% of its naturally…

Looking into the best cooling options for your bedroom? Ceiling fans are a stylish, cost-effective choice that you may prefer over a bulky air-conditioning unit – and they can also help keep you warm in winter by recirculating warm air trapped in the ceiling area back down to the living area of the room. But a noisy fan whirring above your head while you try to sleep isn’t ideal either, so it’s important to choose a quiet one with a range of speed settings. We measure the decibel (noise) level of each fan we test at the medium speed setting to give you an idea of what to expect. Anything below 35dBA should allow you to sleep soundly. We test over 120 models in our CHOICE labs and give each…

Who doesn’t love the smell of freshly mowed grass? Actually, quite a few people – especially those who are allergic. But allergies or not, if mowing the lawn just isn’t your thing, you might be wondering if it’s worth investing in some tech that can take care of the lawn for you. Though not as prolific here as in the Nordic countries, robot lawnmowers are making slow inroads into Australian backyards. Once you’ve put in the time to set them up properly, they’re a reasonably easy way to keep your lawn manicured. But they’re an expensive investment that not everyone can afford, with the models in our test ranging from $1299 to $3639. What are the downsides? Other than the cost, there are a few important factors to take into…

When an investment firm says it screens out certain holdings as part of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, investors with an ethical agenda should be able to trust the claim. If it turns out to be not quite true, that’s called greenwashing. In December 2022, Vanguard Investments Australia copped a $39,960 fine from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) for such conduct, but it seems the lessons weren’t learnt. In late July this year, Vanguard was taken to the Federal Court by ASIC for the same reason. It turned out that some of the bonds in its Ethically Conscious Global Aggregate Bond Index Fund were funding oil and gas exploration. “We know that investors are increasingly seeking investment options that exclude certain industries, and investors need to…

A business is not allowed to call itself a bank – and present itself as an authorised deposit-taking institution – unless it meets stringent standards in areas such as capital, liquidity, governance and risk management. But that hasn’t stopped non-banks such as Dynamic Capital Bank, Banque de Capital Dynamique and Banca di Como from using the term, despite demands from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) that they stop doing so. Earlier this year APRA sought an injunction against the above-named non-banks, run by one Andrew Morton Garrett, following up its official requests with legal action. “We have limited information about Mr Garrett’s businesses, including how many customers they have, because we don’t regulate them and they don’t report data to us. However, we are taking action to help prevent…

Last year, new laws were implemented requiring super funds to develop a retirement income strategy for their members. This change was long overdue; for too long, the super system has been focused on accumulation (where you build up money during your working life) and hasn’t done enough to help people navigate the vital decumulation stage (where you spend down that money in retirement). Unfortunately, the regulator has found many funds still aren’t doing enough to help people get the most out of their super in retirement. ASIC commissioner Danielle Press said most funds had produced a “pretty document” and called it a day. Super Consumers Australia policy manager Rebekah Sarkoezy says that a free and independent guidance service would help all Australians plan for retirement and avoid the conflict of…

After years of procrastination, I transferred my health insurance from a major for-profit health fund (Medibank Private) to the not-for-profit Mildura Health Fund (MHF), based on CHOICE recommendations. The annual premium saving was more than $600 for similar cover. Much to my astonishment, I was contacted by MHF informing me that their costs for the current year had been lower than expected and they were refunding me $518 of my paid premium. The total savings then became in excess of $1100. The for-profit fund needs to pay shareholders a dividend, which amounts to policyholders subsidising shareholders. I should also mention that I was finally moved to examine my house and contents insurance after reading Alan Kirkland’s comment (CHOICE Jul 23). After exploring the comparison website at choice.com.au, I found an…

Sleep – for something we spend a third of our lives doing, we’re not having an easy time of it. In a survey of 1000 Australians conducted in April, CHOICE found 91% had trouble sleeping at least once in the preceding 12 months. Not content with just trying to count sheep, consumers are investing in getting some shut-eye, with 62% of respondents telling us they had recently bought a product they hoped would improve their sleep. Among the most popular bedroom buys were the usual suspects, including pillows and mattresses, but also air conditioners, heaters and fans. But how do you know which product will fulfil your dream of getting a decent night’s rest? 28% of people surveyed had bought a new pillow to try to get more shut-eye We’ve…

With extreme weather events only getting worse, a research project commissioned by CHOICE, the Climate Council, Financial Counselling Australia, the Financial Rights Legal Centre, and the Tenants’ Union of NSW has found that Australian homes are being left unprotected as insurance becomes unaffordable or unavailable for many. The insurance market is failing homeowners on a number of fronts, the research shows, and the difficulty they face trying to understand complex policy terms and conditions, or simply being able to compare one insurance product to another, is only adding to the problem. The confusion is exacerbated by continually rising premiums across the sector. The new report, ‘Weathering the Storm: Insurance in a Changing Climate’, summarises the research findings and examines why the insurance market is failing to provide cover for many…

The Australian health insurance marketplace is highly concentrated, and despite there being more than 40 insurers, many people are only familiar with the names of a few. And it’s no wonder, considering about 8 in 10 health insurance policies belong to the five biggest health funds – Bupa, HBF, HCF, Medibank and NIB. Medibank and Bupa dominate with more than half of the health insurance market share between them. But are big health funds better than small? It depends. The biggest health funds have some bad value policies, though we do rate highly some of their other policies in our online health insurance comparison. On the other hand, some small funds have a market share of less than 0.5%, but they can still be very competitive and give you great…

Marketing fluff aside, there are really only two types of mattresses – foam and spring. Most of the other types, except perhaps the waterbed, are similar enough to be a sub-category, such as latex. Of course, people will claim that one is better than the other for certain sleep styles, body types, support needs and so on. These claims may make sense on paper, but our tests have found that the spring versus foam debate isn’t quite as clear cut in practice. A lot of it comes down to finding a mattress that feels right for you. That said, understanding the differences between the two will help you make an informed decision. Our tests have found that the spring versus foam debate isn’t quite clear cut Inside a spring mattress…

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 Jennifer Austin (Getting fleeced), Ron Francis (When left is right), Chris Marlow (Off the hook) and Julian Taylor (Shear force). WHEN LEFT IS RIGHT Shouldn’t it be the same foot? SHEAR FORCE No need for an axe or chainsaw with this pruning tool! OFF THE HOOK Well they do claim that it’s “HEAVY duty”. GETTING FLEECED Customers may cotton on to the lack of discount. SEPTEMBER 2023 ISSN 0009 496X. Print post approved 100000729.…