Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2025 i CHOICE

The federal government’s long-awaited bill regulating the buy now, pay later (BNPL) sector has finally passed Parliament and will come into effect in June, but not before some last-minute changes, which may lead to higher fees for some customers. Consumer advocates, who long championed the reforms, say changes to regulations supporting the laws may lead to unfair fee hikes. “By more than doubling the late fees that BNPL lenders, like Afterpay, can charge annually, the government is allowing the costs of providing BNPL to wealthier people to be covered by people on low incomes,” says CHOICE head of policy Tom Abourizk. Drew MacRae from the Financial Rights Legal Centre echoed the sentiment: “While we very much support finalising these regulations to bring buy now, pay later in line with all…

The Victorian Essential Services Commission has banned Carers Club Australia Pty Ltd (trading as Care for Environment) from the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program for breaching the rules governing the program’s certificates. The Commission says the company claimed to undertake weather-proofing upgrades on homes and claimed government rebates for them, but these upgrades never occurred. It’s estimated the amount claimed by the company through the VEU energy efficiency scheme was around $10 million. Care for Environment has had its accreditation cancelled and been banned from participation in the scheme for five years. “Our investigation has uncovered what we allege is serious fraudulent conduct, so we have taken quick and decisive steps to protect the integrity of the scheme,” says Essential Services Commission Chairperson Gerard Brody. “We no longer consider Care…

This federal election year, most people want to see the next government make life fairer and more affordable for everyone. But it’s not just the cost of living today that should be on the table: what do you want when it comes to your super and retirement goals? Super Consumers Australia is urging the next government to take fast action on behalf of the millions of Australians with hard-earned retirement savings in super. We rely on our super to support us through retirement, but too often super funds fail to meet expectations. Super Consumers’ 2025 Election Priorities target improvements in three critical areas: 1. Deliver excellent customer service with mandatory customer service standards, a customer service comparison tool to make funds accountable, and a pilot free superannuation law service to…

If you’re feeling the squeeze, you’re probably looking for as many ways to save money as you can. And there are plenty of strategies that’ll reduce your bills and help you stay in the black. But some of these strategies are actually a false economy. They might appear to save you money at the time, but will end up costing you in the long run. Spending wisely rather than just buying the cheapest product available also has environmental benefits. Buy a cheap but poor-performing detergent (laundry, dishwasher or dishwashing) and you’ll have to re-wash everything, using more water and electricity – not to mention all the environmental impacts of the packaging and transport. Cheap appliances that don’t last the distance will often end up in landfill, or blow out your…

Around 800,000 Australians who couldn’t afford to hire a lawyer received free or low-cost support from legal assistance organisations in 2022–23. Without this, the outcome of their dealings with the legal system would almost certainly have been much worse. But a report released in May last year confirmed what legal assistance centres across Australia had known for a long time – there would have been many more who needed legal help but couldn’t get it. Despite years of campaigning by legal assistance advocates, the level of government funding has been chronically insufficient. The government-subsidised legal assistance system in Australia is made up of a loose network of organisations including Legal Aid commissions, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services, Community Legal Centres, Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services, and Women’s…

If you’re after a cooktop with super-fast heating and instant response to changes in temperature settings, all while staying cool to touch, then induction cooking is for you. An induction cooktop looks like your typical electric cooktop, but it differs in the way it provides heat. Rather than heating up a burner and then transferring that heat to a pot like an electric or gas cooktop, induction works by producing an electro-magnetic field that creates energy that heats cookware directly. The magnetism between the stove and cookware means your food is cooked super quickly via the heat of the cookware, not from the cooktop itself, so your stove stays mostly cool to the touch during cooking. Ideally, choose an induction cooktop with an extra large, flexi, and small cooking zone…

How much would you pay for the fridge of your dreams? What if we told you that you could pay less for a similar product that’ll perform just as well – or even better? Our fridge experts test around 50 fridges every year, putting each product through rigorous testing in our labs, so we see past the marketing hype and judge each model on its merits. Our testers find plenty of models that disappoint, but there are good and bad models at every price point. When you can get the same performance for hundreds (or thousands) of dollars less, it adds insult to injury for those who choose the more expensive product, thinking it’s the better option. There’s the small matter of the extra $2000 you’ll have in your bank…

Consumer advocates have welcomed the passage of laws setting new requirements for big businesses to protect Australians from scams, with failure to comply risking fines of up to $50 million. The federal government says banks, telcos and social media platforms will be the first to have to follow the new rules, which are being introduced as part of its Scams Prevention Framework (SPF). Legislation establishing the SPF passed Parliament in February, empowering the government to compel certain sectors to take “reasonable steps” to prevent, detect, disrupt and report scams. CHOICE CEO Ashley de Silva says the requirements will help “shift the burden” of dealing with scams from consumers to well-resourced companies. The framework also requires designated businesses to establish dispute resolution schemes where customers can raise concerns about their scam…

Big Tech is getting bigger, with few signs of slowing down. Over the past year, you’ve probably seen countless stories about the rise, fall, and rise again of AI, social media bans, and political scandals engulfing tech CEOs. The good news is that regulators have started taking a closer look at the world’s biggest tech companies. Among them is the UK consumer watchdog, which has recently begun a new investigation into Apple and Google. The UK’s digital markets competition regime came into effect at the start of this year, giving the Competition and Markets Authority responsibilities to protect “consumers and businesses from unfair or harmful practices by the very largest technology firms”. First on the Authority’s list of priorities is scrutiny of Google and Apple’s mobile ecosystems and Google Search.…

Bonus bidet After almost a year loving our DIB bidet from Acqua Bathrooms, we noticed a small crack in the plastic casing and jumped onto a warranty claim. Acqua passed us onto the supplier, BidetsOnline, who worked with us to send the unit back for repair. Dealing with CouriersPlease was a nightmare – they wouldn’t pick up the package and ghosted us. BidetsOnline organised a pickup with AusPost and soon sent the repaired unit back with CouriersPlease, who seemed to have lost it before it eventually arrived damaged. Noting that we had been without the unit for almost two months, BidetsOnline sent us a new unit via AusPost. Not wanting to waste the old unit, I tinkered around and eventually got it working. BidetsOnline was happy to sell us an…

Early in 2024 Sarah* started using the generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool ChatGPT for small administrative tasks. “I would just experiment with it, for the start of a business correspondence or instead of using Google for something I would use ChatGPT,” she says. After a while she began using it as a tool to supplement her mental health therapy, using the AI like a “sounding board” between her psychologist sessions. “I would tell the AI my attachment styles and ask it how best to respond to certain situations. I would ask it to keep an eye out for any red flags in the early stages of dating,” says Sarah. “You want to feel like you have been heard and articulating that to someone, or something, else can be really helpful,…

Two ply or three? Double length or triple? Patterned or embossed? Recycled or bamboo? Since when did toilet paper become so complicated? If you choose toilet paper that’s rough, tears at the worst moment, or clogs up your pipes, you’re basically flushing money down the toilet. Stats show that each Aussie rolls through about 10kg of toilet paper per year, so this is a purchase you want to get right. Our experts selected 30 of the most popular brands and tested them to see which is the tip-top toilet paper. Each product is scored on: ● Softness (Is it gentle?) ● Separation (Does it tear off easily?) ● Strength (Will it rip when you wipe?) ● Sewer-friendliness (Will it clog your bog?) We use these scores to give each product…

While they may be slower to heat up than induction cooktops, ceramic cooktops still perform well and their sleek cooking surface is both stylish and easy to clean. We’re starting to see more models available with features similar to those on induction cooktops. Auto switch-off, boost, auto heat-up and stop and go are all becoming more popular on ceramic cooktops, but there are a few other things you’ll need to consider too. How they work Ceramic cooktops use coiled metal elements that sit underneath the glass surface. When you turn the dial on the cooktop, electricity runs to a wire inside the coils, which begins to heat them up. You’ll know it’s working when you see the bright red colour appear under the surface. This is your visual clue that…

If you’re in the market for a high chair, you’ve probably noticed that prices vary dramatically from one product to the next. Although simple models such as the Ikea Antilop (or one of its clones) can cost $25 or less, designer high chairs from brands including Stokke, iCandy and Bloom can set you back anywhere from $300 to almost $800. But do you really need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a good high chair? It’s easy to be swayed by fancy features and eye-catching designs, but most seasoned parents will tell you that safety, convenience and ease of cleaning are what matter most. Our experts have tested more than 30 high chairs, looking specifically at these factors. And it turns out the more expensive product isn’t always the…

Banking services will remain open in rural parts of Australia until mid-2027, after the federal government secured commitments from major banks that they would not close any more regional branches. In Australia, 36% of regional bank branches have closed since 2017, with the Albanese government saying it’s now taking action to stop the decline. “People are increasingly using digital banking and payment methods, but face-to-face services remain essential, particularly for people and small businesses in regional areas, where digital alternatives may not always be accessible or meet their needs,” says Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland. A moratorium on branch closures for two-and-a-half years and new Bank@Post agreements make up the package of commitments from the big four banks. Westpac, NAB, ANZ and the Commonwealth Bank have all committed to not…

According to the ACCC, more than 80% of households in Australia’s National Electricity Network (NEM) could move to a cheaper electricity plan if they shopped around or contacted their electricity provider. The longer you’ve been on your plan, the more likely it is that you’re overpaying. So why aren’t people switching to a better deal? From examination of over 300 examples of energy bills CHOICE supporters have shared with us, one reason might be that the retail energy market is confusing, complex and full of jargon. Even with the help of tools like Energy Made Easy or Victorian Energy Compare, comparing the potentially hundreds of offers available at any one time can be overwhelming. Inconsistent definitions of ‘peak’ and ‘off-peak’ periods make it hard to compare across different time-of-use plans,…

Health insurance premiums will increase by an average of 3.73% in 2025. This follows an increase of 3.03% in 2024 and an increase of 2.9% in 2023, but some funds will have bigger price hikes than others. The lowest increase this year is from HIF (Health Insurance Fund of Australia), which is increasing premiums by 1.91%. Police Health has the largest average increase with a 9.56% price hike across its policies, followed by NIB with a 5.79% increase. Of the big funds, all but HBF have above-average increases. This is an excellent time to do a health insurance audit and review your current cover to make sure you’re not paying for things you don’t need. See our report on page 30 on why it may be worth downgrading from top…

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) issued a warning in February about fake sustainability investment bonds issued by an unlikely provider – Bunnings Warehouse. Potential victims were offered investment options ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 with the promise of an impressive 9% return. The scammers have employed the standard tactics to lure people in, sending out scam emails and setting up web pages that look genuine and have links to the real Bunnings website as well as genuine financial documents. Corporate bond investment offers to the general public are generally a scam, since the minimum investment for genuine corporate bonds is usually around $500,000, and they’re rarely offered to retail investors. If a bond offer is legitimate, a prospectus will be lodged on ASIC’s notice board (regulatoryportal.asic.gov.au/offer-notice-board). If there’s…

Every year, the health insurers must seek government approval to increase their premiums on 1 April. This year, the government announced a 3.73% average annual increase to health insurance premiums across all existing hospital and extras policies. But the insurers only need approval to raise premiums for existing policies, not new policies. Last year, CHOICE found that health insurers use this loophole to avoid the premium approval process. The insurers quietly close an existing policy, and open a new policy with the same or similar cover, but with a jacked up price – a practice we refer to as “phoenixing”. Phoenixing has contributed to an increase in the price of Gold hospital insurance of about 45% in the past four years. The ‘approved’ premium increase over the same period was…

Whether you’re the proud new owner of a shiny stick vacuum or you’ve been a stick devotee for years, there are lots of tips and tricks that’ll help you get the most out of this nifty appliance. As well as things you should do, there are a few things that you absolutely shouldn’t do if you want to make sure your stick vac continues sucking (in a good way) for many happy, dust-free years to come. Because, although there are budget stick vacuums available (more on whether these cheap buys are worth it later), stick vacs often come with a hefty price tag – up to a thousand dollars or more. So it pays to be mindful of a few simple dos and dont’s to ensure you’re not blowing your…

All clothes dryers work by blowing heated air through your clothes to remove moisture, but there are several different types of dryers available which employ different technologies, features and levels of sophistication. Here are some things to consider when you’re choosing which dryer to buy. Types of dryer VENTED Vented dryers are generally cheap to buy but expensive to run. This sounds like a bad thing, but if you only use your dryer occasionally, it means it’s probably the cheapest option for you when you consider the total cost of ownership (purchase price plus running costs), and the best option if you generally line dry and only want a dryer in case of emergencies. Of course, if you’re using 100% solar electricity, then the higher energy consumption isn’t an issue.…

If you’ve been paying attention to the roads while driving (and you absolutely should), you’ve probably noticed more EVs on the road. According to data from the Electric Vehicle Council, the national body representing the industry in Australia, EVs (both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid combined) accounted for 9.5% of all Australian new car sales in 2024. That’s an incredible 150% increase compared to 2022. And these numbers are expected to grow significantly over the next five years. But we’re a long way behind Europe. In the UK, EV sales represented a bit over 20% of all new car sales last year. And in Norway, EVs make up an astonishing 89% of new car sales. So, is it time for Australians to make the switch? And – more crucially – if…

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 Rob Kooymans (Scary spice), Alison Sloper (Open, no sesame), Bryce Templeton (Thick skinned) and Aldwyn Wise (Clam down). THICK SKINNED A possible reprieve for endangered buffaloes. SCARY SPICE If you’d like more than a peck of pickled peppers. CLAM DOWN 17yo Aldwyn spotted this misspelt pearl of wisdom. OPEN, NO SESAME! They only had to put in one ingredient.…