Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2023 i CHOICE

It is astonishing how rapidly our attitudes to waste have shifted in the past few years. Reusable coffee cups have gone from being a rarity to commonplace; there has been an explosion of alternatives to cling wrap; and websites that allow people to sell or give away unwanted items have boomed in popularity. Within Australia, much of the credit for this shift in awareness about the waste we create in everyday life is due to Craig Reucassel’s War on Waste TV series. Many consumers have embraced a commitment to doing what they can to reduce what they put into landfill. However, there are limits to how much we can do on an individual level to reduce waste. The biggest reductions need to come from businesses changing their practices. When we…

During the banking royal commission, witnesses were shocked to hear horror tales of unscrupulous operators cold calling Australians and selling them unwanted financial products. In one harrowing case, an insurer sold a young man with Down’s syndrome insurance he clearly didn’t need or understand. The royal commission recommended a prohibition on ‘hawking’ (or cold calling to sell) financial products (for example, life insurance and superannuation), and the government followed through and implemented this ban. Increasingly, though, we’re hearing stories of sketchy companies getting around this ban by calling people and offering financial ‘services’ (for example, financial advice) instead of ‘products.’ These services can include painfully expensive advice around accessing your super early or rolling over your super into a different fund. Other cold callers are outright scammers, looking to get…

Aussie gamers are typically enjoying fast connections to servers with little lag, according to the ACCC’s first audit of the local online video game experience. The report has found that latency – the time it takes to send data from a user’s device to a server and back while they’re playing – for a selection of popular games including Fortnite and League of Legends averaged 15 to 30 milliseconds. Latency increases the further the player is away from the game’s server, leading to lags and disrupted gameplay. Unsurprisingly, then, the survey found that local gamers encountered less latency when they were playing games that had a server in Australia, while people playing titles without a local server were more likely to have a poor gaming experience. This meant players in…

With rising prices, shrinking household budgets and increasing concern for the environment, it’s no surprise more of us are buying second-hand. According to online marketplace Gumtree, Australia’s used product market grew by 44% to $62 billion in the three years to 2022, as more people opted to buy used items, ranging from clothes to furniture. Appliances, including whitegoods (fridges, dryers and washers), electronics (TVs and computers) and smaller household devices (vacuums and other cleaning and kitchen items) have also provided rich pickings, with a 2022 Statista survey finding 15% of Australians had bought second-hand electronics and 11% had bought a second-hand household appliance in the previous year. 15% of Australians have bought second-hand electronics and 11% a household appliance To help you find a bargain and reduce waste, we’ve spoken…

Old-school TVs had just a few main tasks: pick up signals for free-to-air TV and connect to DVD players or game consoles. You could buy one knowing it would likely last you 10–15 years. But modern TVs have modern problems. While they may still function for the same length of time as their predecessors as far as video quality is concerned, you’re likely to encounter different issues such as apps becoming obsolete and platforms cutting off support for your operating system. Sometimes this is because streaming services won’t update apps designed for older TVs, and sometimes new apps can’t be accessed by your TV. Here are some real examples of support for apps either changing or being removed altogether that you may have experienced: • In 2019, Netflix stopped working…

There’s still plenty of value in this iconic bit of retro tech. In a world of smartphones and constant internet connectivity, an offline media player seems a little redundant. But with an overseas holiday on the horizon, and a phone whose battery isn’t what it used to be, I wanted to see if my humble iPod Classic was still up to the task. It turns out an iPod still has its place in 2023, as a device that can partly remove your dependency on a smartphone for entertainment. Even today, an iPod is still a perfect travel companion. THE PROS Despite being close to 15 years old, the iPod still has almost 30 hours of battery life. Not only is this enough for all but the longest international hauls, it…

Oats are rich in beta-glucan, a soluble fibre that helps keep your blood cholesterol down. They’re also low GI, which means their carbohydrate is slowly absorbed into your system, providing you with energy for hours after you’ve eaten. And they’re packed with B vitamins, vitamin E, protein and minerals. Eating oats is associated with protective effects against heart disease in adults. Whether they’re steamed and rolled like traditional or quick oats, or chopped up like steel-cut oats, all oats are complete whole grains. They all have the bran (the outer layer which is a good source of fibre, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals) and the germ (the smallest part of the grain rich in vitamin E and other vitamins and minerals) intact – meaning that they all have similar…

Do you have a whole day for laundry or, like the rest of us, are you so time poor you can barely snatch a minute to sneak a load in between work, school runs, doing your taxes or heaven forbid, getting a few minutes’ rest? Beating your laundry clean in the river is so 1850s, because your washing machine is here to help – just throw everything in, push a button and the machine does the rest. You can kick back and wait … and wait … and wait some more, because while washing machines are using less water and energy to get your clothes cleaner, some are also taking longer and longer to do so. What’s with the longer cycle times? In a word, water efficiency. OK that’s two…

Consumer advocates and ombudsmen have welcomed new initiatives from banks to prevent transfer fraud and are calling on more lenders to adopt similar measures. Westpac has joined Commonwealth Bank in applying a name check system to its account transfer function that provides an alert if the account name a customer has entered doesn’t match the details associated with that account and BSB number. Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Stephanie Tonkin says the initiative will help prevent people falling victim to fraudsters. “We’re all being targeted by increasingly sophisticated scams and some will be stopped by the introduction of more robust customer identification systems like the one announced by Westpac.” Chief ombudsman at the Australian Financial Complaints Authority David Locke says these measures could also reduce false billing fraud targeting businesses.…

The NSW energy ombudsman is calling on energy retailers to improve the two-day switching process, saying poor handling of the procedure is leaving customers confused, struggling to get answers, or spending more. In 2021, a change in market rules allowed energy customers to switch providers within as little as two days. But in a new report, the Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON) reveals that the intervention intended to help customers has left some worse off. The study, which examines “unexpected consequences” emerging from the process, has found that some customers were being billed by two different retailers at the same time, or ending up on more expensive power plans. EWON ombudsman Janine Young says this is down to some retailers not being transparent enough with consumers about when and…

Disability insurance is like a fire extinguisher; you hope you never have to use it, but you want to have confidence that it will work if you ever have a crisis and need it. Millions of Australians pay for disability insurance through their super. This cover can be a lifesaver if you become ill or injured and can’t work again. But good luck trying to get to the bottom of whether this insurance suits your needs or is likely to pay out if you become disabled – the insurance documents are often extremely long and convoluted and make shopping around for a good disability insurance policy virtually impossible for the average person. Often the insurance guides refer to other documents, are very legalistic, and contain complex medical jargon (“impaired ventricular…

The beat goes on In 1968 I was given a Sunbeam electric hand mixer as an engagement present. I cook and bake a lot at home and so this mixer has received a lot of use, at least twice a week, and is still working as efficiently as the day I received it – it has just had its 55th birthday! It obviously looks well worn, but has worn well, and I am not looking forward to the day when it eventually stops working. So full marks to Sunbeam on producing such a simple and fantastic product. In recent years small appliances have had a very short life. Susan Dadswell, St Leonards, NSW I read your article on supermarkets (‘Tricky business’, CHOICE Feb 23). It seems to me supermarkets only…

Making a more sustainable choice when shopping for new products is easier for some categories than others. While choosing ethically-sourced coffee beans or recycled toilet paper may be a no-brainer, knowing which appliances are energy efficient, long lasting and made using environmentally friendly components can be a lot trickier. But, with some research and close attention, you can confidently buy whitegoods, electronics and cooking and cleaning devices that not only take less of a toll on the environment, but will also support sustainable business practices and save you money. Why choose a sustainable appliance? Buying an appliance that uses less power will mean your household will spend and pollute less in the long run, thanks to a drop in your energy consumption. If the appliance also performs more reliably, for…

A slow laptop doesn’t always have to go straight to landfill or the recycling plant. Stretching out the life of what you have can be better for the wallet, as well as the planet. You might be able to revitalise it without breaking the bank. With the right information, tools and a little preparation, you could have your old laptop performing even better than new. Or, at least, good enough for the near future. Can you upgrade your laptop? The three areas of a laptop you can generally upgrade are the RAM, storage and battery. Most newer laptops have at least some components glued or soldered in place, requiring special tools or professional expertise to repair or upgrade them. With many laptops, the casing is made from one piece of…

As food costs continue to rise, making the weekly grocery budget go the distance is becoming increasingly challenging for many of us. So how can you get on top of your weekly food shopping spend? You can save money and minimise food waste by using your kitchen appliances to turn your lacklustre leftovers and almost-expired produce into delicious second-chance suppers. Here are a few ideas. Air fryers Because of their ability to reheat food quickly (they’re essentially mini ovens), air fryers are great for crisping up and giving new life to many leftover foods, from chicken drumsticks or schnitzels to pies, pizza and leftover vegetables. If you have nuts that have gone a bit soft, pop them in the air fryer and cook until crunchy for a delicious snack or…

The 3G mobile network is being progressively shut down so mobile users are forced to move over to 4G and 5G. Most smartphones produced in the past few years already offer support for the various 4G frequencies available in Australia. However, the situation for simple mobiles (flip phones and bar phones) is not as clear and you should check to see if your current mobile or the model you’re looking to buy not only supports the 4G network but also multiple frequencies to ensure you get good reception over a wide area. Multiple frequencies ensure you get good reception over a wide area Check your frequency All three carriers (Telstra, Optus and Vodafone) use the 1800MHz frequency, with additional support for 2100MHz, 2600MHz and 900MHz frequencies being rolled out. Other…

While electrical engineering is outside most people’s DIY capabilities, there are some simple cleaning and repair jobs that can keep your headphones running for years to come. After all, it's pretty disappointing having to throw out a great pair of headphones because of minor damage or dead batteries. Quick cleaning Headphones, especially earbuds, are gross if you think about it. They get exposed to all our bodily gunk followed by the grit and grime floating around in public, and then we shove them into our ears again and again. Ignorance is bliss, but so is an occasional clean. Earbuds are susceptible to earwax (go figure) which is a magnet for dust and dirt, even when they’re stored in their case. You probably don’t want to push that stuff into your…

Rotary/turbo nozzle: For heavily soiled areas like footpaths and driveways. Fan: A wide spray of water for large and lightly soiled areas, such as windows. Pencil: A tight beam of water for stubborn spots, but be aware of potential damage to surfaces. X-in-1: Combines various spray settings into a single head unit, so you can switch between different modes. Rotary/patio brush: A gentle but effective clean for paths and patios. Most models we reviewed don’t come with one, but it may be an optional extra.…

Last month, consumer groups and financial counsellors warned consumers about the harm being caused by buy now, pay later (BNPL) loans ahead of ‘Afterpay Day’ – a national marketing blitz by the major BNPL provider. CHOICE has found that one in five buy now, pay later customers use the service because they saw an advertised discount. Discounts and special offers, like those promoted during Afterpay Day, encourage people to take out loans that can leave them trapped in a cycle of debt, as repayments and late fees mount. Because of loopholes in financial laws, BNPL providers are evading important consumer protections. Until these loopholes are closed, consumers should know that discounts and special offers can lure them into debt and should take extra care when using these loans. If you’d…

The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (Austrac) has accepted an enforceable undertaking from PayPal Australia, saying the company needs to do more to comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws. Austrac says the undertaking comes after issues were discovered with PayPal’s systems, controls and governance in relation to international funds transfers. Austrac CEO Nicole Rose says the enforceable undertaking aims to ensure PayPal’s ongoing compliance with their legal obligations. “Every business with obligations under the anti-money laundering/counter-terrorism financing Act must have robust systems in place to ensure they meet their requirements and play their part in protecting Australia’s financial system from criminal exploitation,” she says. “PayPal has cooperated with Austrac throughout the course of our regulatory enquiries, demonstrating its commitment to maturing its compliance arrangements,” she adds.…

Five individuals who were allegedly trying to resell tickets to an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event at massively inflated prices have become the first to be stung by Western Australia’s anti-ticket scalping legislation. The Western Australian Government says the tickets to the recent UFC event in Perth were being sold at a mark-up of up to 430% – well above the 10% legal threshold for resold tickets. The five individuals each face a fine of $2,000. Commerce Minister Sue Ellery says that before this action, only warnings had been issued as part of an “education” period, but that the “grace period” had now come to an end. “The massive mark-ups we have seen in some of these alleged cases are not just illegal – they’re immoral, as scalpers clearly seek…

Flying is an essential service for many Australians. It connects regional communities, provides access to vital services, unites family and friends for important occasions and helps Australians explore more of their country. But events in recent years, including the pandemic, have revealed a number of flaws in consumer protection within the aviation sector. Consumers regularly struggle to obtain satisfactory outcomes when flights are cancelled or delayed, and many people have been left out of pocket or given credits they can’t use. In the 2022–23 Budget, the government committed $7 million towards the development of an Aviation White Paper. The terms of reference for this paper were released in February this year. The White Paper will look forward to 2050, examining issues and setting long-term policies to guide the sector towards…

Day hospitals are increasingly popular for a range of medical procedures, but there are some things to know if you want to maximise your benefit from private health insurance if you need to visit one. There are more than 350 private day hospitals around Australia that perform same-day surgical procedures and diagnostic and medical services. If you have cataract eye surgery, an endoscopy or colonoscopy coming up, chances are it’ll be performed in a day hospital. Make sure your health fund has a contract with the day hospital, or talk to your specialist or their receptionist and ask if they can charge you under your fund’s gap scheme. Alternatively, you can switch to a fund that has a contract with your day hospital up to the day before the surgery.…

Q I am considering buying a smart watch with a heart rate monitor and fall detection as my family has a history of heart issues and strokes. Do these watches actually work for this purpose? A CHOICE tech expert Denis Gallagher: Some smart watches are specifically designed to collect data about the wearer’s health, such as monitoring the wearer’s heart rate. We’ve tested lots of smart watches that perform these functions and yes, they do work, although some work significantly better than others. They’re not as accurate as professional medical equipment, but they can be pretty close and that’s perfectly fine, as long as you’re not using your smartwatch or fitness band for critical monitoring. Q I purchased an Asko dishwasher in December 2019. It recently began leaking and flooding,…

Community choice.community What are your tips for peeling onions? @vax2000: I usually peel the onion then cut in half leaving the roots in place. I then cut vertically to near the roots then turn the onion around and cut horizontal to the roots. Get nice regular diced onions this way. @maggie1: I wear my Rural Fire Service goggles. @Galath: The best way I’ve found is slicing them close to the rangehood with it turned on, that way all the gasses get taken away and your eyes stay dry. Facebook @choiceaustralia Is a NutriBullet blender worth it? Tanya K: Have had my NutriBullet for three years. No issues. Makes fantastic smoothies, way better than my old blender did. Kyla B: As long as it crushes ice for my margarita. Pammi S:…

Technology moves so quickly that a TV that was cutting-edge when you bought it can feel outdated after just a couple of years. If your TV isn’t ‘smart’ but you want to watch your favourite shows, movies and sports using a streaming service like Stan, Netflix or Binge, you might be looking at buying a smart TV. Or maybe your smart TV isn’t the best model on the block any more, and you’re wondering whether to upgrade. Here’s the good news: you don’t necessarily need to rush out and buy the latest and greatest smart TV just so you’re up to date. There are some simple tricks you can try to smarten up your existing TV. Before you do anything, check your TV to confirm that it has an HDMI…

An ageing desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet may be lacking the grunt required to perform demanding tasks. But old equipment can still be useful for jobs that require a little less processing power. Smartphones and tablets often find new life as a universal remote to control smart devices and their various apps around the home. You can also use them to play music and videos from streaming services or a home server that can cast to other compatible devices. It’s not uncommon to see an old iPad attached to the wall as a digital calendar or family planner either, and you can save on baby monitors by mounting a phone or tablet with a monitoring app above the cot. While there are plenty of ways to repurpose a smart device…

With most robot vacuums costing well over $1000 these days (and some upwards of $2000), you’d expect to get several years of robust use out of them. So it’s disappointing that most manufacturers only provide a one-year warranty, or two at the most. Typically, the warranty doesn’t cover consumable accessories like brushes, mop pads and filters, or issues caused by your robot accidentally running over something it shouldn’t. Some warranty terms also seem frustratingly unclear, such as a clause in iRobot’s terms which states they “will not cover faults due to normal wear and tear with reasonable use”. Thankfully, you’ll be covered for any major failures under Australian Consumer Law, regardless of these relatively short guarantee periods. Reliability and replacement parts When CHOICE surveyed robot vacuum owners about reliability in…

France’s repairability index makes it possible for consumers to know how easily a faulty product can be fixed on a 0–10 rating scale. The scale was introduced in January 2021 and initially only covered a few key categories, such as smartphones, TVs and lawnmowers. But in November 2022 it was expanded to include pressure cleaners (also known as pressure washers). The initiative forms part of France’s anti-waste laws, which aim to encourage consumers to combat obsolescence by repairing products rather than replacing them. In time, the repairability index will evolve into a sustainability index and will include criteria around a product’s reliability and robustness. Many manufacturers have warranties that go up to seven years While there isn’t yet a similar scheme operating in Australia, the Productivity Commission inquiry report ‘Right…

Chief Executive Office Alan Kirkland (CEO), Alana O’Sullivan, Zara Hawthorne 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, 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, Audrey Lenain, Rong Liu, Hooran Mahmoudinasab, Simon Miller, Ehsan Razavi Nejad, Wahida Nusrat, Steven Peralta, Deepa Kartik Coimbatore Prakash, Samir Sadikhov, Corrine Shipway, Mitch Thompson, Peter Vien, Michelle…