Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2024 i CHOICE

CHOICE is fiercely independent, proudly nonprofit and non-partisan, and for over 60 years we’ve been campaigning for fair, safe and just markets that meet the needs of Australian consumers.As a small nonprofit team with limited resources, we have to make tough decisions about which consumer issues we tackle. When making these decisions we consider a range of factors – including how much harm an issue is causing people, any specific groups of people that may be most affected, and how consumers feel about the issue. We also consider whether there’s an opportunity to effect meaningful change for consumers (particularly systemic change), and whether there’s a unique role our CHOICE skills and expertise can play in winning that change. We’re always on the lookout for new issues facing consumers, and regularly…

After court action brought on by the ACCC, Australia’s flying kangaroo has admitted it misled thousands of passengers by advertising tickets for tens of thousands of flights it had already decided to cancel. Qantas reached an agreement to pay a whopping $100 million penalty for breaches to Australian Consumer Law, along with providing $20 million in refunds to 86,000 customers who were sold tickets on already cancelled flights. The payments will be $225 to domestic ticketholders and $450 to international ticketholders. This is on top of other remedies already given by Qantas such as alternative flights. “We are pleased to have secured these admissions by Qantas that it misled its customers, and its agreement that a very significant penalty is required as a result of this conduct. The size of…

When the cold really hits in winter, you need to find a middle ground between having a home that’s cosy and a bill that won’t send you broke. This guide will help you heat your home using less power but with maximum results. What’s the best way to heat your home? The main types of heaters include electric heaters, gas heaters and reverse-cycle air conditioners. Which is best for you depends on a few factors, so let’s take a look at each type. ELECTRIC HEATERS Good for small spaces These are usually portable, cheaper to buy, and a good option if you’re not using them in large spaces or for long periods. They’re ideal for heating small spaces, or individual people. See page 56 for our electric heater reviews. GAS…

Financial counsellor and consumer advocate Bettina Cooper speaks in a measured tone. She pauses before answering a question and is considered in her response – but she doesn’t mince words. “I think the best people who can speak for First Nations people are First Nations people. It’s very hard to explain to somebody who is not First Nations what it means to be First Nations – the complexities, the trauma, the demands, the cultural load, the expectations, not just of our people but the world,” the Boandik woman says. “The best people who can speak for First Nations people are First Nations people” Ahead of NAIDOC week (7–14 July), Cooper reflects on a professional journey that took her from a job as bookkeeper at a trucking company, to that of…

When it comes to a truly helpful kitchen appliance that will save you time and money and even help boost the nutrition in your family’s diet, it has to be the slow cooker. They’ve been around forever, but if you don’t yet own one, allow us to share why a slow cooker is a great addition to your kitchen arsenal. 1. It’ll save you money One of the best things about a slow cooker is its ability to turn cheaper cuts of meat into succulent, substantial and sustaining dishes. As an example, at the time of writing, Coles No Added Hormone Beef Scotch Fillet is $47/kg and Coles Beef Chuck Casserole Steak is $17.60/kg. So a slow-cooked steak dinner could save you up to $30 per kilogram on your meat.…

We’ve all felt the frustration of whitegoods that won’t go the distance, and statistically speaking we’re feeling it more frequently, because we’re getting less life out of our washers than our folks’ generation did. We explored the repair versus replace decision in CHOICE Jun 24, and while we’re firmly on team repair, even well-maintained washing machines won’t last forever. A washing machine is a major purchase with long-term implications, which makes the inevitable excursion to your local whitegoods retailer increasingly daunting. Calm your agitation though, as we iron the wrinkles out of your decision with our washer shopping tips. You may not need a big machine – most of us only wash about 3.5kg at a time Front vs top loader Front loaders tumble your washing, picking it up and…

Air conditioners have a reputation for being environmentally unfriendly, and to some extent that’s true. They can use a lot of electricity, and collectively can be a significant drain on the grid on hot days when everyone’s trying to cool their homes at the same time. And they contain refrigerant gases, which can contribute to global warming. The refrigerants used in the past also contributed to destroying the planet’s ozone layer, but fortunately modern refrigerants don’t have that effect. An air conditioner should usually at last least six years However, all that should be weighed against the fact that a good-quality modern air conditioner is actually a highly energy-efficient form of cooling and heating. There are very few other appliances that can deliver as much cooling or heating for the…

Electric bicycles, or e-bikes, work by assisting your pedal movement as you’re riding. For the most part, riding one is the same as riding a regular bike – you’ll still need to steer, brake and pedal. An electric bike offers two ways for a user to adjust the effort required to ride: gears (as with a regular bike) and electronic pedal assist. Pedal assist turns on with the e-bike, either at the very lowest level or at zero, so it’s ready to assist you immediately. You then select the level of assistance as you ride or before you head off. Many e-bikes now also come with a throttle that can start the motor without pedalling. Technically, the throttle is supposed to be a walking aid and is legally limited to…

The results of a CHOICE national survey published in July last year made one thing perfectly clear – Australians are very concerned about rising energy costs. In fact, our quarterly check recorded the highest level of worry about electricity costs in eight years. The federal government is not blind to the issue, as evidenced by its inclusion of a $300 energy rebate for all households in the Federal Budget. So how, exactly, does this rebate work? It’s pretty straightforward, although unfortunately it won’t mean we’ll be rolling in clover. But, with inflation continuing to siphon off our bank accounts, every little bit helps. One key point is that you won’t actually see a cent of the government rebate in your bank account. Here are the four things you need to…

In a bid to prevent injuries and deaths caused by toppling furniture, suppliers will be legally required to display clear safety warnings and advice about securing and anchoring products such as TV units, chests of drawers, wardrobes and bookcases. The move follows the ACCC review into the risks and dangers of toppling furniture, often caused by children climbing onto shelves and drawers. In Australia, 28 people have died from toppling furniture since 2000, including 17 children under five, and each year 900 people suffer injuries requiring medical assistance. The mandatory information standard is a “positive step”, says CHOICE deputy director of campaigns and communications Andy Kelly. “The majority of consumers mistakenly believe it’s already illegal to sell unsafe products in Australia, so prominent warnings and clear instructions to minimise risk…

Unlike its signature stick vacs U and other hard floor cleaners we’ve tested, there’s no suction involved in this new release from Dyson. The WashG1 hard floor cleaner uses only tap water and rotating microfibre rollers to wash away dirt and debris. Clean water from a 1L tank is pumped through the rollers at low, medium, high or boost modes, and the dirty water is extracted into a separate 0.8L water tank. Any solid matter is separated into a debris tray. The machine is heavy, but cord-free and easy to move around once in use. The transparent dirty water tank visually indicates how filthy your floors are, and indicates it’s doing a decent job at maintaining cleanliness. First impressions on tiles and floorboards suggest the WashG1 is good at removing…

The Australian consumer watchdog says the latest DigitalPlatform Services Inquiry report shows Australians are unaware how much of their data is being collected, used and shared with data firms in all aspects of the market. “Data is a critical commodity in today’s economy as it helps businesses create innovative products and tailor new services for consumers. Its importance will only increase with the rise of artificial intelligence,” says ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe. “This report shines a light on a relatively unknown part of the data ecosystem and examines the data products and services supplied by data firms. In many cases, the data firms do not have a direct relationship with the consumers whose data may be used.” Data-driven marketing, advertising and analytics were highlighted as key areas where customer…

In April this year, we surveyed CHOICE audience members to uncover concerns about the cost of home heating for the coming winter. Not surprisingly, the results revealed that many of us are worried about how we’ll pay our heating bills this year. We also found out what changes people would make if they could, what’s holding them back (if anything) and what they’ll be doing differently compared to previous years. Concerns about heating costs Just over 70% of those who responded to our heating survey told us that they were concerned about how much it would cost to heat their home during the coming winter. Unsurprisingly, considering rising electricity prices, 86% said the cost of energy was the reason for their worries. “We have an older home that’s poorly insulated…

From ‘down, down’ to ‘low price’, and from ‘super savers’ to ‘prices dropped’ – the language used to describe what appears to be a sale can make it tough to work out if a discount is actually on offer. New survey data by CHOICE shows that shoppers around Australia are confused about sale prices. Experts say it’s either sloppy marketing or a case of deliberately confusing consumers. The consensus is that there needs to be more clarity, but the major supermarkets deny there is an issue. Many respondents thought that certain items were discounted when they weren’t What our survey found In February 2024, we conducted a nationally representative survey of over 1000 people to gather insights into their understanding of the supermarket labels, tags and terminology used by Woolworths,…

The increasing cost of private health insurance is yet another household expense putting pressure on Australians. The annual average industry-wide price increase of 3.03% was announced earlier this year by the Minister for Health and Aged Care, which means that since 1 April, Australians are now paying even more for their health insurance. And in many cases, policyholders are paying substantially more than the advertised average increase. Gold policies had the highest premium increases, with average increases above 10% by HBF, HCF, Australian Unity and HIF. In fact, of the policies with hospital cover in our database, only 29 (0.11%) had an increase of exactly 3.03%, which means that many Australians are now paying substantially higher monthly costs for their health insurance. The policy with the largest increase went up…

Australians love coffee. In fact, a quarter of us say we can’t survive the day without it, three-quarters drink at least one cup a day, and 28% of those have three or more cups a day! Some of us spend our money on barista-made coffee, but many prefer the savings and convenience that come with a home espresso machine. Of all the types of machines available, pod (or capsule) espresso machines are the most popular. But for the best flavour and barista-style coffee, nothing beats making it from ground beans on your very own manual espresso machine. If you own a pod machine and you’re thinking about upgrading to a manual espresso machine, we look at some of the benefits. Pod vs manual espresso machines Manual espresso machines aren’t as…

When it comes to buying a hair dryer, most people just want a good-quality product that dries their hair. But many manufacturers throw around all sorts of futuristic-sounding claims and marketing terms, such as “harnesses the Coanda effect”, “mineral-infused heating elements”, and “Aeroprecis technology”. And while some hair dryers cost less than a gourmet burger, others have the same recommended retail price as an entry-level smartphone. But do you need to spend hundreds of dollars on a dryer to get the best style at home? Our latest batch of hair dryers covers a very broad price range, starting at $19 and going all the way up to $649. Granted, the most expensive – a top of the line model from Dyson – is a bit of an outlier, but there…

The federal government recently released the 2024–25 Federal Budget, and the buzz around the country has focused on big-ticket items like cost-of-living relief. What you may have missed, though, is the commitment of close to $40 million dollars over five years to safe and responsible artificial intelligence (AI). Of that money, $21.6 million will be used to bolster the National AI Centre while integrating it into the Department of Industry, Science and Resources and establishing an AI Advisory Body. $15.7 million will be used over two years towards policy development, strengthening existing regulations, and industry analytical capabilities. The remainder will be used to respond to and mitigate national security risks caused by AI. These are small steps, and Australia still trails similar countries in the development of AI regulation. But…

Have you experienced bad customer service from your fund, or problems claiming on the disability insurance you pay for through your super? Or do you have any other feedback on how your fund is doing? If so, we’d like to hear your story.Since our launch in 2019, we’ve been working in partnership with CHOICE to ensure the super system works for everyone, not just for super funds. A vital part of our work is drawing on the experiences of the most important people in our super system – the millions of Australians with super accounts. These stories help us advocate for consumers and work towards a fairer super system. We’ve told stories about people who have had their funds reject their insurance claims due to unfair fineprint terms, and shared…

Not responding to complaints from your customers in a timely manner can come back to bite you, as the telco Southern Phone discovered earlier this year. An Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) investigation found the company breached telecommunications complaint handling rules 77 times between April and June, 2023. One of the violations was the failure to notify customers of an expected delay in fixing a problem, which happened on 38 occasions during that period. Southern Phone, which is owned by AGL Energy, paid a $244,140 penalty as a result of these failures. The Consumer Complaints Handling Standard compels telcos to meet certain requirements when managing complaints, as ACMA consumer lead Samantha Yorke explains. “Experiencing issues with your phone and internet can be frustrating, but to then have a complaint…

Dirty scheme I have been a dedicated user of White King Mould & Soap Scum Remover for many years. It is very efficient at cleaning the bathroom tiles and shower screens. It comes in a bottle with a trigger action spray nozzle. In the past I’ve always been able to use the entire contents of the bottle, sometimes unscrewing the lid to tip out the last few drops when it’s nearly empty. However, recently, when the contents are down to roughly three to four centimetres from the bottom, it’s impossible to use the spray action or to unscrew the lid. Obviously, the spray arm does not now reach to the bottom of the bottle and I can only think that this, together with the inability to unscrew the lid, is…

Chris (name has been changed) was already juggling his share of challenges before he got a phone call from a guy pretending to be from the Western Australia Government’s Cyber Security Unit. Chris is a 78-year-old pensioner living in Denmark, WA and caring for a partner with dementia. It’s a labour of love that he admits is also “a constantly stressful exercise”. But Chris has had some luck as well, winning $137,000 on his share of a Lotto ticket in early 2023. He bought his first new car – which is about all he has left to show for that lucky draw these days. He put his winnings in five separate bank accounts, two at Bankwest, two at Westpac and one at UniBank. “I was contacted by a man who…

If you’re looking for private health insurance because you’re pregnant or wish to have a baby, these are the cheapest policies in each state that cover pregnancy, birth and assisted reproduction: ● HCI Silver Plus Advantage 750 in the ACT, NSW, Tas and WA.● Mildura Five Star Gold $750 Excess in Qld, SA and Vic.● Queensland Country Better Hospital (Silver+) $500 excess in the NT. KEEP IN MIND: ● You should take out private health insurance well ahead of getting pregnant. There is a 12-month waiting period that applies to the date you’re admitted to hospital for the birth.● You won’t be covered if you have a premature birth within the waiting period or even if you give birth only a few days before the end of the waiting period.●…

Winter is here and many of us will be rolling out the portable electric heater, unpacking the electric blanket, and plugging in the dehumidifier as the temperature drops. Here are some things to consider if you’re looking for one of these three types of appliances. Electric heaters The first thing to consider with a portable electric heater is the space you need to heat. For large rooms, you can’t beat reverse-cycle air con, for both cost and efficiency, but that’s not always possible, especially for people who rent. When it comes to more portable options, our lab tests have found that the type of heater – oil column, fan or panel – isn’t as important as the overall design of the appliance. What will make a difference to a heater’s…

The Australian TV market is dominated by Samsung, LG, Sony and Hisense. The smaller players you see in major retailers generally try to position themselves at the cheaper end of the market, and their TVs don’t make it into our lab as often as we’d like. This is because we’re limited in the numbers we can test each year, and in the case of Aldi TVs, they’re usually gone from the store before we can buy, test and report on them. But even the big brands are now making cheap models to compete at the low end of town, and some exhibit the same faults and poor performance of some of the smaller brands. Inferior TVs can struggle to display darker scenes Here are our tips for comparing TVs on…

A brightly lit TV in a big retail showroom will naturally stand out compared to a TV with a more subdued, but likely more realistic, picture. However, make sure you can see all the detail in both the bright and dark areas of a scene before laying down your hard-earned cash for a big, bright TV. After testing the first batch of 2024 models, it’s become clear to us that increased brightness is a priority for most TV makers, at least in the standard or ‘out of the box’ picture setting. Of the top three performers in our latest TV update, our viewing panel found the Sony XR65A80L, a 2023 OLED, to be the most balanced overall, whereas the latest and greatest LG models – OLED55B4PSA and OLED65C4PSA – were…