Independent & Member Funded, CHOICE® is here to Ensure Australian Consumers Get a Fair Go. Avoid A Costly Mistake With Our Rigorous Lab Testing For Your Next Purchase. Unbiased Reviews. Over 5,000 Products. Unbiased Expert Advice.
The passage of time is truly a terrifying thing. It can’t be summer already, can it? Feels like yesterday I was writing an editorial about summer and how much I loved it – but now spring has sprung and I’m writing a new editorial about another summer, another heatwave. It’s ridiculous. The days fritter past, the seasons turn without mercy, blah blah blah… OK, so maybe I’m feeling a wee bit old. Just the other day I sent my oldest son for his high school trial day. Terrifying. He got to meet his new classmates, get a taste of high school life. How is it high school time already? Not that long ago I was changing nappies and scooping poop out of the bath, now he’s asking for a low…
In October, the government announced plans to make two big changes that will make Australia’s consumer protections even stronger – a new law banning unfair business practices, and penalties for businesses that unfairly refuse to honour consumers’ rights to a refund, repair or replacement. A ban on unfair business practices could cover a range of tricks and traps such as dynamic ticket pricing, costly gym memberships that are almost impossible to cancel, and pre-checked extras at online checkouts. This huge consumer win should bring Australia’s consumer protections in line with many other countries, and make sure the law catches up with what people already expect from businesses. Similarly, introducing strong penalties will create a disincentive for businesses that flout consumer laws by denying people their consumer guarantee rights to a…
In mid-October, the Reserve Bank of Australia released a consultation paper about card surcharges. The government joined the party by announcing it was prepared to ban debit card surcharges. Payment surcharges – those extra fees added at the checkout for paying by card – have been forced onto the national agenda largely because of a clear message from the general public that current practices are not working. CHOICE members and supporters have been vocal about the need to address issues with card surcharging, including excessive fees and a lack of consistency and disclosure. We’ve heard the message and are kicking off a campaign to ensure that the RBA’s consultation leads to good consumer outcomes. The CHOICE campaign is calling for a fair way to pay. To us, this means not…
The federal government is pushing ahead with an overhaul of Australia’s merger laws, saying it wants the ACCC to investigate every takeover in the supermarket sector. The competition regulator has welcomed the introduction of the legislation into parliament, saying the new rules will help it identify and prevent anti-competitive acquisitions in all parts of the economy. The government’s plan is to require businesses to notify the ACCC when they’re planning a merger that exceeds any one of three key thresholds. These are based on the turnover of the businesses or assets involved, and will ensure the regulator is kept abreast of big companies buying smaller ones and serial acquisitions, among other developments. The government will adjust these thresholds to allow the ACCC to investigate all mergers it’s concerned about. In…
When we handed a CHOICE Shonky Award to Harvey Norman in 2020, it was because the retailer had entered into what we considered an unholy alliance with the firm Latitude Financial. Harvey Norman was signing up customers to Latitude cards at point of sale, meaning customers instore were being given the ability on the spot to buy something without a proper check by the card issuer that the purchase was appropriate to their financial situation. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) took an interest in the Harvey Norman/Latitude Finance partnership around the same time, and the recent win by the regulator in the Federal Court against both companies shows just how dubious their interest-free offers can be. The issue for ASIC was that advertisements for the Harvey Norman/Latitude Finance…
Customer loyalty in the financial services sector often goes unrewarded. In fact, existing customers often pay more than new ones. But it’s even worse when an insurance company promises its customers loyalty discounts and then fails to deliver them. Such is the story with QBE Insurance, which was recently taken to court by ASIC. Between July 2017 and September 2022, the insurance giant made statements and sent renewal notices promising discounts on premiums for a range of general insurance products, including home, contents and car insurance. About 500,000 customers were told they were about to save some money, but then QBE apparently walked away from the offer. “The failure by insurers to deliver on pricing promises is a key priority for ASIC and we will continue to take action to…
