CHOICEMarch 2023的目錄

While the cost of energy and fuel is a constant concern for many people, nobody anticipated the dramatic increases since the start of the war in Ukraine. The horror of that conflict has highlighted a number of weaknesses in our system that need to be addressed if we’re to protect Australians from an increasingly unstable global environment. Many people have found themselves exposed to rising gas prices due to their reliance on gas for cooking, heating or hot water. In some cases, they installed gas appliances under government programs that, until recently, encouraged people to shift to gas. Governments now need to help people to replace inefficient gas appliances with more efficient electric alternatives. Besides the environmental and economic benefits, there’s also a health benefit, given growing evidence about the…

It’s no secret that, next to palaeontologists, no one loves dinosaurs more than kids. Dodgy operators out to make a buck are obviously well aware, as recent events in Queensland bear out. In mid-January, Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon Fentiman warned consumers not to buy tickets from Dinosaur Festival Australia (DFA), which claims to present exhibitions of life-size animatronic dinosaurs. The problem is that the exhibitions often don’t actually take place, leaving the kids all excited about nothing. Between August and December 2022, the Queensland Office of Fair Trading (QFT) received complaints from 30 ticketholders who had dealt with the business. “These complaints relate to continued postponement or cancellation of events and the refusal by DFA to provide a refund,” Fentiman says, adding that consumers should remain vigilant. “DFA…

Using your credit card when travelling overseas can be convenient, but it can also be costly, especially if you have one with the major banks. You can expect high transaction or foreign exchange fees of around 3% for credit card purchases when travelling or online shopping in a foreign currency. Travel credit cards with no overseas online purchase or foreign exchange fees and a $0 annual fee (even for additional cardholders) can be a good alternative. THE TOP 3: Bankwest Zero Platinum Basic travel insurance; 14.99% purchase interest rate (21.99% cash advance interest rate); Higher of $4 or 2% cash advance fee; $6000 minimum credit limit. 28 Degrees Global Platinum No travel insurance, but some benefits in case of flight delay; 22.99% interest rate on purchases and cash advances; Higher…

Q Are there any humidifiers that are guaranteed not to cause mould? A CHOICE humidifier expert Denis Gallagher: A guarantee on removing mould or not causing mould would be a foolhardy claim for any company to make as there are so many different environmental challenges in the home. However, if you’re concerned about too much humidity being introduced, your best option would be a humidifier with a humidistat control. That way you can set the humidifier to stop adding water to the atmosphere once a certain humidity level is met. This feature also happens to be present on two of the three models we recommend in our latest test: the Breville LAH508 (CHOICE Expert Rating 85%; RRP $299) and the Breville LAH400WHT (CHOICE Expert Rating 80%; RRP $279). Q I have unfortunately…

CHOICE research has found that just 6% of people changed their electricity provider in the previous six months, and a huge 67% of people don’t plan to. But you can save around $350 a year by switching, according to Bill Hero, an energy comparison and switching service. And energy companies offer great discounts to lure new customers – so why shouldn’t you cash in on that? We asked around the CHOICE office about why people haven’t switched, and answers varied from “laziness” to “it’s so hard to understand” and “it’s overwhelming and confusing”, which precisely echoes my feelings about engaging with my electricity provider. Energy companies offer great discounts to lure new customers – why shouldn’t you cash in on that? Just reading my electricity bill makes my head swim: there…

We’re pleased to bring you test results for solar panels once again. After our test program with the CSIRO wound up in 2020, when their business units changed focus away from that type of service, we spent some time looking for alternatives. We’ve landed on a new test program with PV Lab, an expert photovoltaic laboratory in Canberra, for what we expect will be an ongoing series of reviews. We’ve tested 15 solar panels from major brands. Three samples of each panel are put through a series of lab-based industry-standard tests: tests to detect any flaws such as microcracks in the solar cells, how well the panel resists water ingress (such as from rain), and most importantly, whether the panel actually delivers its claimed level of power output. They are also subjected…

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 Kevin Clark (Bake believe), Karen Cochrane (Roll call), Margot Kiesskalt (Bamboo-zled) and Hazel Toomey (Bright spark(s)). ROLL CALL Feeling like a savoury roll? Take your time. BAMBOO-ZLED The composition of these socks is immaterial. BRIGHT SPARK(S) Hopefully, the grammar in the books will be betterer. BAKE BELIEVE So… just herbs and spices then?…

Black Mountain Energy (BME) has paid almost $40,000 after being accused of making false or misleading sustainability statements. BME received three infringement notices from ASIC over statements it made to the ASX between 2021 and 2022. BME claimed it was creating a natural gas development project with “net-zero carbon emissions” and that greenhouse gas emissions associated with another project would also be net zero. ASIC says it’s concerned the company either did not have a reasonable basis to make the representations, or that the representations were factually incorrect. ASIC issued eight infringement notices for alleged greenwashing last year, with deputy chair Sarah Court promising the watchdog will “continue to closely monitor sustainability claims and take action where we consider representations cannot be substantiated or are factually incorrect.…

Facial recognition technology is shaping up to be a big issue in the NSW state election, with both major parties supporting the introduction of the technology in all clubs in NSW to combat problem gambling. ClubsNSW is currently undertaking a trial of the technology in more than 100 clubs, with plans to roll it out to all venues this year. In South Australia, a mandatory facial recognition scheme has been in place for several years. Yet experts are raising concerns about introducing the technology without appropriate regulation in place. Ed Santow, former Human Rights Commissioner and co-director of the Human Technology Institute (HTI), says we need a law that ensures “genuine, free, prior and informed consent”. HTI has proposed a model law that would implement a risk-based human rights framework…

Western Australia authorities are warning second-hand car buyers to beware of lemon vehicles, saying high demand for used cars in the state is attracting vendors looking to off-load disaster-damaged models. Complaints about second-hand cars to WA’s Consumer Protection agency have surged by over 730% in the last five years, as COVID-induced delays to the delivery of new vehicles drive consumers towards the second-hand market. “The strong demand has enticed some sellers to off-load vehicles that may be defective, but unsuspecting buyers may not find out until it’s too late,” says Commissioner for Consumer Protection Trish Blake. Blake says it’s important buyers aren’t too hasty when purchasing a used vehicle. “Take the time to get the vehicle inspected to make sure it’s mechanically sound,” she says. “These checks are essential, especially considering…

We bought an Ionmax ION610 dehumidifier in May 2021 and were very pleased with it (CHOICE recommended it in August 2021). However, in October 2022, it stopped collecting water and I emailed the distributor, Andatech, who sent a label to return the unit by Australia Post. The printed warranty that came with the machine was for one year, but Andatech had extended the warranty to two years in January 2021. The problem was with the heating element, and the repaired unit arrived back a week later. It was working well, but after a few weeks we noticed tiny flakes being blown from it. I emailed Andatech again to ask if this was a problem. They encouraged me to return the unit for inspection and sent another postage label. Apparently the problem…

Having a technician come to your home to read your electricity meter may soon be a thing of the past, thanks to the rollout of smart (or advanced) meters that measure your electricity use at intervals across a day, sending the data directly to your provider. This means your retailer can bill you for your exact use (no more estimates), and can pass that data back to you, equipping you with the knowledge to find the best energy deal. And smart meters are set to become more common – uptake is already around 30% outside of Victoria (where smart meters are mandatory), and the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has set a target of having 100% smart meter uptake in NSW, Queensland, the ACT, Victoria, SA and Tasmania by 2030.…

Chief Executive Office Alan Kirkland (CEO), Alana O’Sullivan, Gabriel Jones Commercial & Finance Tristan Ye (Director), Edward Mao, Daniel Sun, Kelly Yang, Phyo Zin Campaigns & Communications Jessica Kirby (Director), Rafi Alam, Erin Barton, Kate Bower, Shaina Cabusi, Katelyn Cameron, Jordan Cornelius, Antoinette Dyce, Daniel Herborn, Jim Hook, Andrew Kelly, Brendan Mays, Franco Morelli, Yelena Nam, Xavier O’Halloran, Julian Peters, Rebekah Sarkoezy, Bea Sherwood, Alexandra Söderlund, Cameron Stewart-Baker, Rosie Thomas, Patrick Veyret Data & Technology Ashwin Sridhar (Chief Data and Technology Officer), Waqas Bajwa, Matthew Barry, Aurelien Calixte, Graham Cox, Bohdan Dubik, Vincent Feng, Camilo Forero, Ian Fraser, James Green, Andrea James, Farrukh Khan, Kurni Kwok, Audrey Lenain, Rong Liu, Hooran Mahmoudinasab, Simon Miller, Ehsan Razavi Nejad, Wahida Nusrat, Steven Peralta, Deepa Kartik Coimbatore Prakash, Samir Sadikhov, Corrine Shipway, Mitch…

Some financial operators don’t seem to respect rulings from the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). Two recent examples are the affiliated home finance companies General Commercial and Eden Capital, run by a father and his son, respectively. When General Commercial was directed to compensate complainants $11,492, the company pushed back. “Despite being members of AFCA, actions were taken to break the law by threatening to sue complainants, as well as taking legal proceedings against complainants and against an AFCA staff member personally,” says ASIC Commissioner Danielle Press. Both companies were subsequently hit with a $50,000 fine by the Federal Court. The directors were also fined $30,000 and $20,000, respectively, for their roles in the financial misconduct.…

CHOICE has written to the federal government calling for consumer protection to be a priority for the upcoming 2023–24 Federal Budget. A strong consumer protection framework is important for improving the economic wellbeing of Australian households and the community. We’ve called on the federal government to pass landmark reforms to the Australian Consumer Law, including legislating a new provision banning unfair trading. This provision would prohibit businesses from engaging in unfair trading practices and is a missing link in consumer protection in Australia. Unfair trading practice prohibitions exist in comparable jurisdictions, including the United States, European Union, Canada and Singapore. We also called for sustainable and long-term funding for Super Consumers Australia. Since its official launch in 2019, Super Consumers has played a crucial role in championing the interests of…

Energy retailer Alinta has paid more than $380,000 in fines after allegedly failing to provide adequate help to customers experiencing financial hardship. Victoria’s Essential Services Commission served Alinta with penalty notices in December last year after an investigation indicated the company had failed to provide appropriate support to 13 residential customers in the state who were struggling to pay their bills. Commission chairperson Kate Symons says the action is part of an effort to ensure essential services are delivered correctly. “There is no excuse for failing to provide the help consumers are legally entitled to, especially those who may be experiencing vulnerability,” she says. The commission says Alinta required four of the customers to speak to a financial counsellor before they could get support from the company, while the other…

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman’s (TIO) report for the first quarter of the 2023 financial year (July–September 2022) says mobile phones continue to be the most complained about service type, making up 47% of all complaints. The report also sounded the alarm on the fallout from the Optus data breach that the telco announced publicly on 22 September 2022. “Mobile complaints about the unauthorised disclosure of personal information were five times higher than the preceding quarter, which had low complaint numbers for this issue,” the TIO reported. “It’s really scary to have your personal information exposed. We’ve established a dedicated team to look at these complaints specifically, and we’re working closely with Optus and the relevant parties so that we can resolve complaints as efficiently and effectively as possible, during an…

If you’ve ever dipped your toe into trying to understand Australia’s retail energy market, I feel sorry for you. Perhaps you’ve been looking for a better electricity or gas deal, curiosity’s gotten the better of you and you’ve decided to delve a bit further to see what determines how much you’re paying. If you’ve recoiled at the subsequent complexity you’ve encountered, vowing never to bother again, I can sympathise – albeit with some jealousy, as a requirement to trawl through different energy regulations is, for me, a professional hazard my work keeps presenting. Perhaps we can take some comfort from the fact that we aren’t alone and are, in reality, in some pretty high-profile company. In October last year, Claire Savage, chair of the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), conceded that…

Australians are keen to embrace electric vehicles (EVs), but concerns about cost and charging infrastructure are holding them back, new data shows. CHOICE is pushing for changes to allay these anxieties and has made a series of recommendations to the federal government for its upcoming EV strategy. In an October 2022 survey of more than 13,500 members and supporters, we found many believed using an EV would help the environment and the health of their community, but a variety of factors were preventing them from doing so. Of the survey respondents, 69% said they would consider an EV for the next car they bought or leased, but only 5.59% had actually bought an EV in the past five years. The main barriers were the cost of buying the vehicle, concern…

With energy prices going through their latest upswing, households are seeing power costs mount alongside water bills to eat up more of their household budget. If you’d like to pay your bill, but can’t find the money within the time your provider’s given you, you meet the definition of someone in financial hardship – and you’re not alone. Fortunately, there’s an extensive range of protections and support schemes available and enforced no matter where in Australia you live. But with these differing by state and territory, navigating the web of consumer protections can be difficult. What help is available? The level of help you may be eligible for varies for energy and water and depends on your state or territory. But for anyone struggling to pay for one or both…

Feeling the pinch of rising energy prices? Your fridge accounts for up to 8% of your household’s total energy consumption, so if you’re looking for ways to save on your energy bill, it pays (quite literally) to take a closer look at how you’re using it. You can’t just turn your fridge off, but you can ensure it’s running as efficiently and cheaply as possible. A newer fridge should also do a better job of keeping your food fresher for longer Seal the deal A fridge door that doesn’t seal is bad news; your fridge has to work harder and use more energy to maintain its temperature. Faulty seals can also create temperature fluctuations, causing your food to spoil faster. Wipe your door seals down with a soft, damp cloth as…

Honestly, who has time to wait around for a phone to charge? The electronic feed always seems to drip so slowly when you need to head out and the battery is almost dead. Any reasonable person wants devices to charge as quickly as possible, and there’s nothing wrong with that. You need a power bank that supports fast charge. But like so many things in tech, a simple concept like zippy charging speeds can be needlessly complicated. Performance varies depending on the USB type in use and whether any additional fast-charge protocols are present. It’s a bit of a mess that requires some technical understanding, otherwise you could wind up paying for power bank features that you can’t use. Understanding fast charge Fast charge is a catch-all term to define,…

Accuracy: Our journalists use sources from trusted institutions with a reputation for careful and unbiased research. Our verifiers check articles and reviews before publication, to make sure facts and quotes are accurate and data has been interpreted correctly. Corrections: If we’ve made an error in CHOICE magazine, we include the correction in the next available issue (usually in the Checkout section of the magazine). If you think we’ve got something wrong, please visit choice.com.au/contactus. Reviews and testing: Our testers put products through their paces in our own NATA-accredited laboratories. We use test methods based on Australian standards and develop our own to match the way consumers use a product in their homes. We buy most products we test, maintaining our independence from manufacturers and so we know what you’re faced with in…