Tabla de contenidos para June 2024 en CHOICE

The federal government is warning Australians to beware of malicious copies of its myGov website as many prepare to file their tax returns in the new financial year. The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has received a large number of reports of scammers sending SMS messages and emails containing links to pages impersonating the site. “With the number of scam websites increasing dramatically, everyone needs to be vigilant,” warns government services minister Bill Shorten. Scammers will often send messages claiming that recipients are in line to receive a tax refund or that they have unread messages, in attempts to lure them to scam sites designed to capture a person’s login information. Once they have these credentials, criminals can commit tax and refund fraud in that person’s name. Authorities are reminding Australians…

The new system set up by the federal government to provide compensation to victims of financial services misconduct has begun processing its first payments. Promised in 2022, the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR) provides up to $150,000 to victims if they’ve been found deserving of compensation, but the offending financial service provider can’t provide it, potentially because it’s insolvent. “This scheme will give victims an avenue for redress when things go wrong… [and] will strengthen consumer trust and confidence in Australia’s financial system,” says Stephen Jones, Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services. Consumers are eligible to receive money under the scheme if they have an unpaid determination from the Australian Financial Complaints Authority relating to the provision of personal financial advice, credit intermediation, securities dealing or credit provision.…

Top cat for customer service For several years we have purchased cat supplies from Pet Circle. Their product range, price and service has always been very good. Recently our cat died, so we contacted Pet Circle to close our account. The person we spoke to was very sympathetic, asked our cat’s name and how old he was. To our surprise, we received a hand-written condolence card from Pet Circle. Such thoughtfulness is unusual these days. Peter, Yarralumla, ACT PETCIRCLE.COM.AU I purchased a Rogz Control Harness from Petstock for my new pup. She happened to find the strap attachment I had dropped on the floor and, as puppies do, proceeded to demolish the plastic catch. Petstock suggested I contact the distributor, Time Pet. Time Pet said they would replace the harness…

THIS BOFY ISSUE The EOFY sales are a great opportunity to pick up tech items for your home office that you can claim as a deduction on your tax return. Unfortunately, tax deductions aren’t exactly free money, and they don’t equate to a dollar-for-dollar reimbursement in your tax refund. Instead, they help reduce your taxable income, which is the figure the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) uses to determine how much tax you owe for the year. For a cost to be deductible, it must meet the ATO’s three “golden rules”: ● You must have spent your own money on something that directly relates to you earning an income. ● You can’t have been reimbursed by someone else. ● You must have a record of your spending, such as a receipt.…

THIS BOFY ISSUE As we approach the end of the financial year, it’s impossible to escape the bombardment of ads, feverishly spruiking deals and encouraging us to spend in the lead-up to 30 June. Retailers are keen to offload excess and outdated stock to make way for new models, so inducements to part with your cash are everywhere you turn, making it easy to get caught up in the hype. And it isn’t just traditional advertising encouraging us to fork over our cash. As technology becomes more sophisticated, retailers are employing a range of strategies to entice us into parting with our dosh, both online and instore. Inducements to part with your cash are everywhere you turn So how do you resist the ever more sophisticated tactics being used to…

We calculated the typical price for both an expensive premium version of a given appliance, as well as a cheap and cheery budget one, by taking the first and third quartiles of the prices of currently available models in our tests. This gives us a statistically robust estimate, but please remember that’s what it is – an estimate. Next, assuming linear depreciation, we calculated the value per year of life by taking the purchase price and dividing it by our estimated life expectancy for that appliance. If the estimated life expectancy is 10 years, the annual depreciation for a premium appliance purchased for $1500 is $1500/10, or $150 a year. For a budget model purchased for $500, it’s $500/10, or $50 a year. We then looked at the typical repair…

THIS BOFY ISSUE We get asked a lot of questions about the rights of consumers when it comes to the pricing of goods and services. Here, we answer some of your most common queries ahead of the EOFY sales season, but this information is handy to know year round. Multiple pricing If a business displays more than one price for the same item, it’s called multiple pricing. When this happens, the business must sell the item for the lowest “displayed price” or withdraw the item for sale until the price discrepancy is fixed. The definition of a “displayed price” is a price shown: ● on the item ● on anything connected with or used with the item ● on anything used to display the item ● in a current catalogue…

A $19 Kmart Anko stainless-steel non-stick 24cm frying pan and a $20 Kmart Anko 20cm stainless steel saucepan were our low-cost standouts in our latest tests, scoring higher on performance, ease of use and durability than brands such as Scanpan, Le Creuset, Jamie Oliver, Tefal, Chasseur and Swiss Diamond. But, if you’re hot-footing it to Kmart, be wary. You need to be sure you’re picking up the right pan, because several other Kmart buys were panned (sorry) by our expert critics, including the Kmart Anko 24cm aluminium 3-layer non-stick frypan ($15) and the Kmart Anko 24cm aluminium 4-layer non-stick frypan ($14), which both failed to impress in our tests with a CHOICE Expert Rating of just 54%. And there’s another Kmart frypan in our review that also costs $19 –…

If you’ve nabbed a great bargain mattress in the sales and brought it home only to discover that it’s not quite right, returning it isn’t your only option (although you might want to consider this if a return is permitted for a change of mind, especially if the return is free). If it’s a good quality mattress but the firmness is just a little off, it’s a bit too warm, or it moves a little too much, the right mattress topper could solve your problem. WHAT CAN MATTRESS TOPPERS DO? 1. Make your mattress more comfortable Adding a topper can make your mattress feel softer or firmer. The right topper can also help prolong the life of your new mattress, as it can fill the sagging in the springs and…

THIS BOFY ISSUE It’s a given that laptops will be on sale towards the end of the financial year (EOFY). And while there are plenty of great deals to be found instore, most vendors also offer decent discounts on their websites. EOFY (or other sale events such as Black Friday or Boxing Day) is usually the best time to score a good deal. Lenovo, Dell and HP typically have some sort of EOFY event. However, you may also find better prices at pop-up sales throughout the year. Laptops are one of those products that have a fair bit of wiggle room in the price. If you’re happy to haggle instore it’s usually possible to talk the price down, though this is less likely during a sale event. You can save…

The Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network (ICAN) in Far North Queensland has called out the unacceptably high price of groceries in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. In its submission to the Queensland supermarket pricing inquiry, ICAN says the high food and grocery prices recently being felt across Australia have been present in remote communities for decades. ICAN director and Kubirriwarra Yalanji Traditional Owner Daphne Naden says, “Take a moment and try to imagine that food insecurity was your everyday life, or if fresh produce and everyday essentials were outside the realm of your family’s budget, or you simply can’t find them on the shelves. Now ponder that remote Indigenous communities have lived in these conditions for decades. The alarming gaps in health outcomes and life expectancy of Aboriginal and…

The Federal Court has found small loan provider Sunshine Loans illegally charged fees to more than 670,000 borrowers between 2016 and 2020. The company earned hundreds of thousands of dollars from the charges, which weren’t allowed under the National Credit Code. The case was brought to court by the corporate regulator, ASIC, which has previously taken action against Sunshine Loans and related companies. The loans involved small amount credit contracts (SACC), mostly around $2000–2500. “Consumers of SACC loans are some of Australia’s most vulnerable. They often take out these small loans for just a few hundred dollars to cover emergency or essential expenses. SACC loans are extremely costly and ASIC is committed to ensuring consumers aren’t charged additional prohibited fees,” says ASIC chair Joe Longo.…

The government has passed a new reform enabling both consumer and small business groups to make a ‘designated complaint’ to the consumer and competition regulator, the ACCC, about a significant or systemic market issue. After receiving a designated complaint, the regulator will be given 90 days to respond, confirming whether it will take action on the issue or not. In making its decision, the regulator will take into account whether the complaint meets certain prescribed criteria. This new power is similar to the UK’s ‘super complaint’ function, which has enabled the UK’s consumer group, Which?, to make high-profile complaints on misleading pricing practices and scams. The new function promises to give focus to a range of key issues that deserve broader investigation.…

Can you be most often found glued to your expensive phone? Do you have a designer handbag, smartwatch or valuable jewellery that you wear everywhere? If so, portable contents insurance could be useful for you. While your normal contents insurance covers valuables inside your home, add-on portable contents cover can protect your valuables from loss, theft or damage away from home – for an extra charge. It can even cover you when you’re on holiday in Australia or overseas. And you can get cover for a large range of valuables. As well as electronics and jewellery, you can insure things like musical instruments, sporting equipment and medical devices such as hearing aids. There are two options to cover your valuables away from home, and for both you normally have to…

Q I’m looking to buy a robot vacuum and mop, but I have a long-haired cat and I’ve heard stories of pets (or their fur) getting caught in the vacuum. What sort of features should I be looking for in a robot vacuum to avoid this issue? A CHOICE small appliances expert Adrian Lini: We would never test robot vacuums on actual pets, but we do test if they get caught on tasselled rugs (which are similar to a furry tail). During our most recent test, every model we tested got stuck on the tassels, and while some were easily untangled, they still pulled on the tassels, which might be painful and upsetting for your pet, especially if you weren’t home at the time. Many models turn off when they become…

While tossing out that temperamental toaster that cost less than $20 is probably a no-brainer, major repairs to a large appliance that might be nearing or at the end of its expected life take a bit more thought. Here are some things to consider. ● How long will the repair last? If it’s only a year or two, you may be throwing good money after bad. ● What else could go wrong? You may replace one part only to have another one fail soon after. ● How long will spare parts be available? How long will operating systems be supported? ● What are the logistical challenges? Can repairs be carried out in your home? Will retailers charge delivery fees? How long will you have to wait for parts? ● There’s…

THE BOFY ISSUE The end of the financial year is a good time to consider taking out health insurance if you don’t already have it. Depending on your income, you have to pay extra tax if you don’t have private health insurance. The Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) is an additional 1–1.5% tax paid by singles earning over $97,000 and couples/families earning over $194,000 who don’t have private hospital cover. It begins at $900 a year for singles, and increases the more you earn. If you only want health insurance to avoid having to pay this tax, you can take out the cheapest hospital policy in your state or territory, which can cost less than paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge. What does Basic hospital insurance cover? Basic hospital insurance policies offer…

The rising cost of living continues to put pressure on Australians, and many are finding themselves unable to make ends meet. Calls to the National Debt Helpline have jumped dramatically over the past 12 months, with energy bills proving a major stress point. But some people are looking for help in what might be the wrong places, especially when it comes to paying for essential services. Spurred on by energy providers, some cash-strapped Aussies are turning to crowdfunding to help pay their bills, using a service called HelpPay. Some cash-strapped Aussies are turning to crowdfunding to help pay their bills How it works HelpPay users upload their bills to the platform and generate a link where other people can contribute payments. The service can be used for bill splitting (e.g.…

No one likes doing the washing up, but a good detergent can make the job less painful, cutting through grease and dried food to leave your dishes sparkling. Our expert testers slogged through piles of dirty dishes to find the best performing dishwashing detergents, and tell you which ones to leave off your shopping list. We found that some of the best dishwashing liquids are also the cheapest, and some of the most expensive are the most disappointing. “We tested a range of popular dishwashing liquids using plates that were consistently dirtied up with different foods, including bolognaise and egg yolk,” explains CHOICE expert Matthew Steen. Aldi wiped the floor with its competitors, taking out the top three spots “We soak them in each detergent, scrub them a set number…

Want to keep your energy bills lower this winter but don’t know where to start? Maybe you should look to the laundry, particularly if you use a clothes dryer regularly. The traditional vented dryer is a simple but very energy-intensive appliance, so when it comes time to replace your old one you might want to consider a heat pump model. What is a heat pump dryer? Heat pump dryers use heat exchanger technology and they’re significantly more energy-efficient than vented or condenser dryers – we’re now seeing 9- and even 10-star energy ratings from several manufacturers (as opposed to two stars, which is typical for a vented dryer). The biggest argument in favour of heat pump dryers is energy efficiency While all clothes dryers work by blowing hot air through…

It’s not the most exciting holiday purchase, but when you’re planning a trip, you need to know that your luggage is up to the job. If your suitcase is on its last legs, you’re probably dreading having to spend money on a replacement rather than on more margaritas by the beach. And with prices ranging from as low as $39 up to many hundreds of dollars, how do you know if you can get away with buying one at the cheaper end of the spectrum? It’s safe to say that any of the products in our table are a good buy “You could buy the $39 Kmart carry-on plus return flights from Sydney to Melbourne, and you still wouldn’t have spent as much as the most expensive suitcases in our…

In a case brought by ASIC, Macquarie Bank was ordered to pay a $10 million penalty by the Federal Court in April for failing to prevent an outside financial adviser from withdrawing funds from customers’ cash management accounts. Between October 2016 and October 2019, the adviser made 167 unauthorised transactions on 13 of his client’s accounts, totalling $2.9 million. The bank is not supposed to let things like this happen, says ASIC chair Joe Longo. “ASIC expects financial institutions to prioritise and invest in systems that protect their customers. Macquarie fell short of its obligation to do all things necessary to provide its financial services efficiently, honestly and fairly, and as a result it has become liable for a substantial penalty,” Longo says. Macquarie also enabled its customers to give…

Right now, in Australia, businesses aren’t generally required to ensure the products they sell are safe. Instead, Australia relies on post-market mechanisms to protect people from unsafe goods, meaning injuries and deaths can occur before products are recalled or new product-specific standards are implemented. In 2019, the ACCC estimated that unsafe consumer products cause around 780 deaths and 52,000 injuries each year. Recalls are also largely ineffective – as of 2019, the ACCC was notified of about 650 consumer product recalls each year, but only half of affected products were returned to sellers – that’s 1.7 million recalled products remaining in homes. That’s no surprise to us. After all, CHOICE testing reveals a multitude of product safety failures every year, including issues with strollers, cots, portacots, bassinets, products containing button…

Subject to approval by parliament, new laws are expected to come into effect in 2026 that will put proposed company mergers under greater scrutiny. It’s a move meant to protect both consumers and businesses from monopolistic behaviour, of which Australia already has more than its fair share. The ACCC has welcomed the proposed changes, which are aimed at facilitating genuine competition in the Australian marketplace. “Higher prices, less choice and less innovation can result from weakened competition. Stronger merger laws are critical to ensure anti-competitive mergers do not proceed,” says ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb. Australia’s current merger regime doesn’t require merger parties to notify the ACCC of proposed acquisitions or to wait for ACCC clearance before going ahead. The reforms would introduce a mandatory notification requirement for merger deals above…

Remote assistance Member Nancy was able to resolve an issue she was having with a non-functioning Hisense TV remote control by using the information provided about consumer guarantees in the Ask the Experts section of a previous issue of CHOICE magazine. Nancy had purchased a Hisense TV in July 2022. Recently, she had noticed that some of the buttons on the remote were not working well. She changed the batteries numerous times, but the issue continued to get worse until finally the remote stopped working altogether. At this point, she emailed Hisense asking for the remote to be replaced. She noted that the TV was still covered by its three-year warranty. Hisense responded saying they would not cover accessories for units outside of the first 12 months of the unit’s…

THIS BOFY ISSUE Here at CHOICE, we’re the last people to endorse frenzied sale shopping. But it is true that the end of the financial year (EOFY) can be a good opportunity to grab a bargain. Helpfully timed to break up the months between the Boxing Day sales and the Black Friday discount block in November, this run of specials in the middle of the calendar year can serve up big deals on a broad range of items. This guide breaks down what these sales are, when they start and end, how you can get a bargain, and what you should avoid. What are the EOFY sales? The EOFY sales are a recurring round of discounts coinciding with the end of Australia’s financial year on 30 June. They regularly attract…

THIS BOFY ISSUE Isn’t it always the way that when you’re trying to save a bit of money or struggling to stick to your monthly budget, one of your essential appliances gives up the ghost? If your fridge has decided to call it a day or your washing machine has spun its last cycle, you may be reluctantly shopping around for a replacement (if it’s not practical or worthwhile to get it repaired, of course – see p28 for more on this). The one consolation is that June is a peak sales period. But be warned: there are plenty of dud products discounted at this time of year that may not go the distance or perform as well as you need them to. Follow our expert tips to make sure…

We know what you’re thinking – products don’t seem to last as long as they used to. You may have fond memories of tuning in to The Simpsons on the same television for 15 years or more, but statistically speaking, we’re buying a new TV every four years or so. So how long should your fridge, microwave or dryer last? And if it breaks down, should you repair or replace it? How long should your appliance last? In this article, we estimate how long an appliance should last, given reasonable use and some maintenance and minor repairs. We’ve based these figures on the more than 3500 responses we received to our 2023 product lifespan survey, a 2018 manufacturer survey conducted by our sister organisation Consumer NZ, and the type of…

Nowadays it’s common knowledge that businesses are tracking everything we do, from shopping behaviour to search histories and even how we drive our cars. But you might not be aware of how often this data is bought and sold. It’s commonly referred to as “data broking” and it’s big business. One industry insider tells CHOICE that some companies are skirting the law to monetise your data well beyond what you consent to. Some companies are skirting the law to monetise your data Australians for sale In December 2023, Reset Australia released a report titled Australians for Sale: Targeted Advertising, Data Brokering and Consumer Manipulation. It detailed the ways that profiles of Australian consumers are broken down into micro-categories based on socio-economic status and spending habits and then sold to advertisers. Experts…

THE BOFY ISSUE Has the motley collection of pots and pans in your cupboards seen better days? Now could be the perfect time to pick up some new cookware in the sales. Brand names synonymous with quality cookware, such as Le Creuset, Scanpan, KitchenAid and Chasseur, usually come with premium prices that can be heavily discounted come winter sale time. But even quality brands make some duds, and with the pots and pans in our test ranging from a too-good-tobe-true $14 to an eye-watering $459, it’s important to check our reviews before you buy. As is often the case, at least one cheap-as-chips saucepan was a surprising sizzler in our lab tests, while some big-name brands were lukewarm. “Good-quality saucepans and frypans can last you many years or even a…

THIS BOFY ISSUE If you’re in the market for a mattress, you’ll no doubt be noticing plenty of discounts popping up at this time of year as retailers try to shift some stock. Our experts say you should never pay full price for a mattress, so the EOFY sales are a good time to bag a bargain. In fact, mattresses are one of the most popular items to buy during this sales period. But buying the right mattress can be a minefield. You can search high and low online, or hop from mattress store to mattress store, navigating quite a few enthusiastic salespeople along the way, and become quickly overwhelmed with the vast options, prices and discounts on offer. Our experts say you should never pay full price for a…

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 Catherine Crittenden (Keep the peas), John Ellis (Friend or foe?), Giuseppe Gigliotti (Mind your language) and Ken Vosper (Yes? No?). KEEP THE PEAS We’ll come back when the prices have dropped. FRIEND OR FOE? It would be cheaper not to be friendly. MIND YOUR LANGUAGE Seems like Anko is also trying to preserve Latin. YES? NO? If you’re gluten intolerant, best to err on the side of caution.…