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Airline horror stories

03 Feb 12 | Jetstar fails again in an airline horror story that makes poor service very clear to Brendan Mays.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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Knockdown and rebuild: Sustainability requirements

01 Feb 12 | In the third part of her series about the process of knocking down her existing home and building a new one, Corinna Horrigan talks about the sustainability regulations she was required to meet.

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Post by: Corinna Horrigan
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Optus upsell attempt ends in tears - for Optus

23 Jan 12 | When Angela McDougall's Optus home phone plan was discontinued Optus "carefully considered" her phone usage and decided to upgrade her to a new plan - at double the cost.

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Post by: Angela McDougall
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Is SOPA a threat to internet freedom?

19 Jan 12 | The US Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) has triggered one of the biggest industry-based protests ever to hit the World Wide Web. Most notably, the popular Wikipedia site closed down in protest. Is SOPA a necessary move to curb copyright infringement, or a threat to internet freedom?

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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Costco vs Cash 'n' carry

18 Jan 12 | They're designed to provide a cheaper shopping alternative through bulk buying and membership but is the experience worth it?

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Post by: Matthew Steen
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Latest blog posts

Live events going cheap

13 Jan 12 | It’s a great time of year to get out and enjoy live entertainment, if you can afford the ticket prices.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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Streaming music services in Australia

09 Jan 12 | Retailer JB Hi-Fi has recently released a streaming facility called JB Hi-Fi NOW. Matthew Steen has been giving it a test run while it's still in beta and is pretty happy with the service and functionality.

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Post by: Matthew Steen
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Credit cards - Which one should you choose?

19 Dec 11 | Credit cards can be a useful tool - and when you pick the right one they can even be a cost effective way to access a loan or additional features. However, if you have the wrong credit card for your needs, it could end up costing you big time.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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Make your charity donations count

08 Dec 11 | Giving is a part of the Christmas tradition for many of us, and this includes making charitable donations where we can. However, how charities handle our donations can sometimes be the cause of confusion and controversy.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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A penalty by any other name is still a penalty

06 Dec 11 | Penalty fees are down, and some gone, but it’s not beyond the banks to indulge in other tricks and distractions to gouge customers, which is why CHOICE is maintaining the scrutiny with our Better Banking Campaign.

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Post by: Christopher Zinn
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It's the season to be cynical about bank profits

06 Dec 11 | There is something predictable about Australia's bank reporting season. As surely as our minds turn to office Christmas parties, days at the beach and cricket on the TV, we will witness a parade of record profits and executive remuneration packages.

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Post by: Nick Stace
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Unit pricing still has room for improvement

01 Dec 11 | It’s two years since unit pricing was made mandatory in large supermarkets and our new survey shows the numbers using it are high. Unfortunately it also reveals there are some problems with the current system which need to be addressed.

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Post by: Christopher Zinn
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Pet dental health - don't brush it off

25 Nov 11 | Considering that oral disease the most frequently diagnosed problems for pets, we think it’s worth considering an insurer that will cover these costs. Of course, it also helps if you take a preventative approach to your pet’s dental health - an area that can easily go neglected.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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The long path to VoIP satisfaction

24 Nov 11 | When a change of mobile phone provider meant a loss of coverage inside the home, one couple decided to give VoIP a go instead of returning to a traditional landline. While they're happy with the result, getting it all up and running wasn't as easy as they'd hoped.

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Post by: Matthew Steen
15 Comments

Environment and the economy – what are your choices?

21 Nov 11 | Our national economic backbone, mining, has found itself at odds with another area of financial importance – The Great Barrier Reef.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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Car recall leaves owner out of pocket

10 Nov 11 | When he received a recall notice for the car he'd owned for several years, Matthew Steen was keen to return it for the repair. What he didn't count on was having to fork out for a rental car for four days when it was the manufacturer of the vehicle who was at fault.

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Post by: Matthew Steen
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Customer service matters if traditional retail is to thrive

03 Nov 11 | On a recent visit to a major department store, George Perry was surprised by the emptiness of the store. There was plenty of stuff to buy but no-one there to buy it. And, more to the point, no-one to help him make the purchase he was there for.

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Post by: George Perry
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Bumpy road to diagnosing milk, soy protein intolerance

31 Oct 11 | When Samantha Hartmann's newborn daughter began to sleep less, feed more and cry, a lot, mother’s intuition told her something was wrong but getting a correct diagnosis and reliable advice proved a challenge.

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Post by: Samantha Hartmann
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Girl racer

19 Oct 11 | How one woman set out to reduce her footprint and ended up with two motor scooters and a car.

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Post by: Mary Gillespie
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Does your contents insurance fully cover theft?

15 Oct 11 | Home and contents insurance is a mandatory purchase for many home owners, and lately there has been a lot of interest in flood cover. However, a recent letter from a CHOICE member George* has highlighted another area of potential confusion – theft.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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Latest blog posts

No refunds for Rewind festival-goers

14 Oct 11 | Picture this – for three days the musical heroes of my youth were to belt out cheesy 80s pop classics under an azure Illawarra sky. Children frolick in the grass nearby, while adults sip wine and laugh at what they wore 25 years ago. Except, oh no, what’s this? The event has changed? It’s being moved from a field on the South Coast to the Hordern Pavillion in Sydney?

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Post by: Ian Morgan
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Discount grocery shopping online doesn't stack up, yet

10 Oct 11 | I recently saw that Catch of the Day launched a sister operation called Grocery Run. I’m not new to buying online, however aside from the odd overseas grocery item that I couldn’t get in Australia, I’ve never ordered groceries online locally in Australia.

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Post by: Matthew Steen
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Piracy common but people still paying for music

07 Oct 11 | Music has been a gift of choice for consumers for some time. Throughout the 20th century, new technology continually changed the face of the industry, from the gramophone to the LP record, cassette tape, CD and eventually – digital.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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Pet insurance gives paws for thought

28 Sep 11 | Growing up on a farm gives you a pretty good idea of the ups and downs of pet ownership. From our cigarette-stealing sheep to miniature horses and donkeys running alongside the dogs in the backyard, I’ve had pets in all different shapes and sizes.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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Bad customer service? Try none at all

27 Sep 11 | Poor customer service sucks. Dealing with rude, incompetent and/or unhelpful staff who refuse to abide by the "customer is always right" mantra can leave you feeling angry, dejected and utterly undervalued. But when it happens, you at least have some means of recourse.

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Post by: Sam Butler
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More money for retirement on the way

23 Sep 11 | Earlier this week, the Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten announced some important reforms to the way we build our superannuation. CHOICE has made several submissions to Cooper Review and many of our recommendations were considered in the reforms, which will begin to take effect in July 2013.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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My journey from disposable to cloth nappies

15 Sep 11 | When I was pregnant with my daughter I started thinking about which products I wanted to use and, of course, nappies were on that list. There are so many options: disposables, biodegradable disposable, partly biodegradable disposables and many types of cloth nappies.

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Post by: Samantha Hartmann
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Struggling families? Better than before, says ABS

09 Sep 11 | Recent household spending statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) indicate that we have more money and better living standards since the last survey in 2003-04. While prices of goods and services have risen by 19%, the mean household income has increased by 50%. In short, costs are on the rise, but our pay is rising faster.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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Questioning your phone bill can pay off

05 Sep 11 | The recent experience of a friend is a timely reminder to give your phone bill a once-over before you pay it.

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Post by: Ingrid Just
7 Comments

Comparison websites confusion sparks warning

02 Sep 11 | Comparison websites have been given a warning to act in a fair and transparent manner after the ACCC launched legal action last Friday against EnergyWatch.com.au. The ACCC is alleging misleading or deceptive conduct and making false representations in its advertising. This marks a line in the sand which comparison sites of all types will surely be considering.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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Latest blog posts

Has cash lost its crown?

30 Aug 11 | There are now many ways to pay for goods and services without cash – EFTPOS, PayPass, payWave, BPAY, PayPal, Paymate, credit card, debit card, POLi, online transfer and mobile payments.

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Post by: Elizabeth McNess
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Magic money savers

26 Aug 11 | You might not be able to pull money out of a hat, but with these money saving tips, you could magically boost the contents of your piggy bank.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
2 Comments

Mobile internet changing the marketplace

19 Aug 11 | There’s no doubt that internet on the go is becoming commonplace. Nearly 12 million Australians now have an internet-capable mobile phone, and over half of those are smartphones, according to Nielsen’s Australian Online Consumer Report.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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An experiment in people power

18 Aug 11 | “Knowledge must come through action,” observed a very wise man about 2,500 years ago. While Sophocles was not referring to the Australian banking sector, the ancient Greeks did know a thing or two about people power. The CHOICE Big Bank Switch is an experiment in people power. Although not quite on par with the invention of democracy, the concept of group switching is all about putting power back into the hands of consumers – the most important people in Australia’s banking sector.

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Post by: Nick Stace
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Children's product testing at CHOICE

17 Aug 11 | Here at CHOICE we take our work in the Babies and Kids area very seriously. It can be quite difficult to tell whether a product is safe or not and parents and carers need information they can trust. To the untrained eye a product may look safe enough but there may be hazards you've never thought of.

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Post by: John Ashes
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Super and stocks in the current economic climate

12 Aug 11 | If you’re wondering what to do with your super and investments in the current financial market, you’re not alone. Stockmarkets in Australia have been bouncing up and down as debt fears in the US and Europe fuel global speculation, and investors and fund managers worldwide have been riding a rollercoaster of uncertainty.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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Testing PayPal's guarantee

09 Aug 11 | We recently purchased a product for a CHOICE review but never received it. We had paid for the item via PayPal, so we pursued PayPal’s guarantee of coverage through their internal resolution centre.

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Post by: Matthew Steen
5 Comments

What the Census means for consumers

05 Aug 11 | Census night allows the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to gather vital data for planning and infrastructure, but plenty of people don’t mind having a joke when filling out their question sheets.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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Putting ideals into practice

04 Aug 11 | This week CHOICE launched the first ever group mortgage switch, aiming to give every consumer who takes part the negotiating power of more than a thousand people. We’re calling it the CHOICE Big Bank Switch. With this campaign, CHOICE is putting itself at the forefront of a next-generation consumer campaign; audacious in what it can achieve now and a template for the future.

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Post by: Nick Stace
3 Comments

Energy audit shines light on savings

03 Aug 11 | Saving energy is all the rage these days, which is no surprise given rising energy prices. A little while ago my wife and I took part in a voluntary government study which measured the standby power and lighting in 150 Australian households. The results were illuminating.

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Post by: Matthew Steen
9 Comments

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Consumers and commissions - opening up the business of switching

02 Aug 11 | CHOICE has partnered with One Big Switch to help 1,000 Aussies get better home loan deals with our eyes wide open – and focused squarely on the benefits for consumers.

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Post by: Christopher Zinn
2 Comments

Big Bank Switch - why group switching is here to stay

31 Jul 11 | Try this. You gather a group of people together who want the same thing and negotiate a better price than even the best solo haggler could achieve. You might even get the kind of discounts normally reserved for big spenders like millionaires. It’s called group buying and has been around for a long time in different incarnations.

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Post by: Christopher Zinn
2 Comments

Telco complaints reach tipping point

29 Jul 11 | Frustration at our telecommunications providers has been allowed to grow to Hulk-like proportions due to years of customer service incompetence and confusing pricing plans that are impossible to calculate. With the number of consumers frequently facing bill shock, it’s no wonder people are angry.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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eBooks going to the library

27 Jul 11 | A few weeks ago, CHOICE Technology team leader, Steve Duncombe, and I visited the Bowen Library in Maroubra (Randwick City Library Service) in New South Wales to give a talk on eBooks and eBook readers.

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Post by: Matthew Steen
6 Comments

It’s time to end excessive credit card surcharging

22 Jul 11 | Whenever you pay for something using your credit card, it costs businesses money. Typically, it costs more for stores to accept credit cards than other payment methods like debit or EFTPOS. In 2003, the RBA decided to allow those costs to be passed on to consumers in the form of a surcharge.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
4 Comments

Latest blog posts

Committing to winter exercise

20 Jul 11 | I recently decided to put some thought into getting more exercise. The weather was getting colder, and while I love winter, the part I love about it is getting warm. I generally cycle to work, so I thought about how I could get some more exercise without having to spend any extra time braving the cold winds.

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Post by: Matthew Steen
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Reduce the stress of moving house

18 Jul 11 | Having read a couple of blogs from my colleagues on their experiences with real estate agents and the challenges of buying, I thought that I'd share my experiences of the next step: moving.

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Post by: George Perry
3 Comments

Bullying beyond the schoolyard

15 Jul 11 | What happens in the playground can stay with us for a long time. That’s not always a bad thing, but when it comes to bullying, it’s hard to see any good in being picked on relentlessly.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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Your privacy is in the fine print

14 Jul 11 | The unravelling of the News of the World scandal has put the tenuous right to privacy into the spotlight over the last week. As the extent of the News phone hacking operation has become clearer, people are asking questions about the safety of personal information.

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Post by: Zoya Sheftalovich
6 Comments

Steep learning curve follows switch to HTC Sensation

13 Jul 11 | Some time ago, I was made aware that I had given some bad advice. My wife took great enjoyment, given where I work, that my advice on her phone had been rushed.

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Post by: Matthew Steen
4 Comments

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Censorship - too much, not enough or just right?

08 Jul 11 | Australia has a long history of censorship. At our foundations, we have no constitutional protection of free speech, and some claim ours are among the most restrictive censorship policies in the Western world.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
1 Comments

Practical steps to slashing your power bills

07 Jul 11 | We’ve all noticed our power bills creeping up over time, in part due to the increased number and types of goods and appliances we all have, but also due to increasing energy costs. So what can a family household do to limit costs?

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Post by: John Ashes
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Ten tips to navigate the banking maze

05 Jul 11 | Just like changing the oil on your car, your finances also often need maintenance to run smoothly. The start of a new financial year is a good time to begin. Here are 10 fast and effective ways to ensure your accounts are in order.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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Think big or our progress will be small

02 Jul 11 | Having worked at the heart of government I have some insight into how the daily morass of stuff can obscure the bigger picture and the ambitions that drive people into politics in the first place. The divisive debate around the National Broadband Network is reflective of the balancing act of vision and self-preservation that politicians face.

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Post by: Nick Stace
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Dental health - the silent epidemic

01 Jul 11 | What’s worse than going to the dentist? Not having the option – like the 650,000 Australians who were on public dental waiting lists at last check in 2009. While many people can afford to seek treatment if they need it, those without the means to pay the high costs of dental care can spend years waiting.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
2 Comments

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United Airlines brings me back to earth

27 Jun 11 | I've just spent a week Silicon Valley inside some of the most impressive companies to emerge in recent times. That feeling of inspiration was still fresh as I boarded my United Airlines flight to return to Sydney. Unfortunately, it was like stepping inside the jaws of a dinosaur.

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Post by: Nick Stace
3 Comments

Complaints about bad service

27 Jun 11 | When one CHOICE journalist received less than savoury service at a formerly favourite restaurant, she complained to the owner. But do others let their displeasure be known, or do they take out their frustration online (and in the CHOICE Your Say column)?

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Post by: Zoya Sheftalovich
4 Comments

Comfortable travel is a tall order

24 Jun 11 | What’s not to love about travelling overseas? The journey, the hotels, different cultures, food and modes of transport all combine for an experience you won’t forget. But there is one thing that makes travelling a little less enjoyable than it should be - being tall.

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Post by: George Perry
3 Comments

Next generation travelling

20 Jun 11 | Going overseas can be an expensive exercise. After you've paid for airfares, travel insurance and accommodation, the budget starts to look a little thin. But by taking advantage of a number of websites and resources online and on the smartphone, it's possible to take the financial sting, and the guesswork, out of a dream holiday.

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Post by: Zoya Sheftalovich
1 Comments

Sleeping with Tony Abbott

17 Jun 11 | Sleeping with Tony Abbott and Ralph Norris was not an idea that had ever crossed my mind - which will no doubt come as a relief to them and my wife - but for a good cause it was worth that morning after feeling. Last night Ralph, Tony and I, along with hundreds of other CEOs and leaders, forsook the comfort of our own beds to sleep out at Luna Park. We braved the winter weather for the CEO Sleepout, in aid of homeless charity Vinnies, to raise money and awareness of homeless issues.

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Post by: Nick Stace
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15 things I wish I had known before buying my first home

03 Jun 11 | Buying your first home can be a daunting prospect. The thought of entering into a new realm of finance, solicitors, reports and negotiations is a little overwhelming, to say the least. In order to assist potential buyers with this process I've complied a checklist of 15 things you’ll need to consider before entering the market and some you will want to know once you've decided to take the plunge.

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Post by: Kat Hartmann
1 Comments

Tablet, eBook reader or plain old paperback?

26 May 11 | When CHOICE started testing eBook readers a few years ago, there was nothing like the iPad out there. But since its inception and inclusion in our second test, the question we get asked most regarding eBook readers is: why bother with an eBook reader when I can get a tablet?

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Post by: Matthew Steen
7 Comments

A tale of two airlines - good service v. cheap fares

24 May 11 | Picture it: Narita Airport, Tokyo, April 2011, 23:00. Two Aussie travellers sprinting behind a petite but very speedy Japan Airlines (JAL) paperwork-laden staff member as she ushers us through airport security, customs and other blurred bureaucrats onto a shuttle cable to take us to another terminal, rushes us past what seems like a thousand flight gates and finally to the fully boarded Jetstar plane that’s literally seconds from taking off.

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Post by: Sam Butler
23 Comments

Real estate: mistake or misrepresentation?

23 May 11 | Real estate agents get a really bad wrap. As a journalist, who in the past has been on the receiving end of some rather offensive professional generalisations, I have always been conscious of avoiding the tarring of an entire profession with the one brush. That is, I was sympathetic, until my partner and I decided the time was right to enter the property market and a virtual comedy of misrepresentation ensued.

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Post by: Kat Hartmann
2 Comments

Five ways to save on your home loan

17 May 11 | With interest rates and the cost of living set to rise over the coming year, it may be time to re-examine your budget and identify a few areas where you can save money. For many people, a mortgage represents a large part of the budget, so it makes sense that this should be one of the first places to look.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
1 Comments

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Roam around to avoid bill shock

10 May 11 | Disclaimer: I am an idiot. I’ve been working for a fine consumer organisation for almost three years now, during which time I’ve come across several bill shock horror stories from members stung by exorbitant global and data roaming charges for postpaid mobile phones.

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Post by: Sam Butler
3 Comments

What the big four banks can learn from Apple

06 May 11 | This week’s media has been full of news about the four big banks’ latest record-making profits - $12 billion in profit over the past six months. One article that got my attention however was Business Spectator’s "Apple can bank its winnings" by Charis Palmer. Given Apple’s significant cash pools, she pondered the possibility of Apple entering the banking industry.

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Post by: Katrina Lee
4 Comments

Consumers reap benefits of the social web

04 May 11 | The phenomenal growth of social networking combined with continuing technological advances, like mobile internet connectivity, has brought new opportunities across the social spectrum – and consumers are one of the biggest winners.

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Post by: Brendan Mays
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The great Aussie beer glass dilemma

04 May 11 | A guy walks into a bar & says to the bartender, "I’d like a beer, please."
The bartender replies: "Sure, mate. What size?"
"What sizes have you got?"
"We’ve got pots, ponies, middies, schooners, pints, butchers, sevens, eights, tens, handles…"

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Post by: Sam Butler
5 Comments

Knockdown and rebuild: project home pros and cons

03 May 11 | We’d finally chosen our house. It wasn’t quite our dream house – who can afford that – but we felt we could make changes that would bring it close. Even on project homes, you can make changes to the floor plan within certain constraints and usually at extra cost, so you definitely need to allow for a bit extra when budgeting – actually, quite a bit extra.

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Post by: Corinna Horrigan
1 Comments

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Mobile phones: one size doesn’t fit all

27 Apr 11 | Cat people and dog people, people who think Sean Connery is the only James Bond and those who can only consider Roger Moore. Lady Ga Ga fans and people who just don’t get it. The world is full of divided camps and mobile phones are yet another area where people have strong opinions on what constitutes the perfect model.

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Post by: Denis Gallagher
2 Comments

Breastfeeding doesn't always come naturally

20 Apr 11 | Breastfeeding is perfectly natural and the absolute best thing you can do for your baby. At least that was what I was told during my pregnancy countless times: early parenting classes, pre-natal visits and all the literature I was reading trumpeted the benefits of breastfeeding. But what none of them told me was how absolutely frustrating and discouraging it can be to get breastfeeding established.

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Post by: Uta Mihm
11 Comments

Don't settle for a bad haircut

18 Apr 11 | Have you ever had a bad haircut? What about a really bad haircut? One so bad that when you got home and looked in the mirror you had to fight back the tears? Or, one that required you to wear a hat day and night for the next month?

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Post by: Robyn Ball
8 Comments

Reduce energy consumption and pocket the savings

14 Apr 11 | 1985 was a very different place to 2011. Nelson Mandela was in jail, Ronald Reagan was US president and a man in a chicken suit trespassed into the Australian Parliament and sat on the government’s front bench. But electricity prices…well, they were pretty much the same. Over the last couple of years, Australia-wide electricity prices climbed back to the same levels, inflation adjusted, as the mid-80s.

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Post by: Matt Levey
2 Comments

Mail order madness

12 Apr 11 | My dad was after some in-shoe supports for a pair of shoes that couldn’t accommodate his regular orthotics, and was convinced by an ad in Seniors magazine for some Foot Cradles. He sent off for them, received them quickly and is happy with them. However, he now finds himself on mailing lists for mail order companies selling products making grand medical claims and promises for great health and eternal youth.

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Post by: Karina Bray
1 Comments

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Is your email account at risk from hackers?

11 Apr 11 | I was awoken on Friday with an early morning phone call from a friend. She told me she’d received a strange email from me saying that I was in Spain and that I had been robbed - and asking if she could help by sending me some money.

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Post by: Marni Switzer
3 Comments

When an insurance claim just isn't worth it

06 Apr 11 | I've owned a laptop for about five years now. I bought it at the top of the range, upgraded it and use it constantly for education, business trips and at home almost every day. It really has served its purpose and I cannot complain about it at all. It's gone through Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.

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Post by: Matthew Steen
2 Comments

Behind the scenes of the CHOICE Awards

31 Mar 11 | Planning the CHOICE Awards is a little like planning a wedding. No bride, sure, but a similar amount of organisation and hard work: book a venue, tee up an MC, invite guests, select a menu, prepare speeches, make seating plans – and then there’s the little thing about choosing awards and winners.

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Post by: Linda Magee
0 Comments

What is social business and why does it matter?

31 Mar 11 | Something profound is happening to the way some of us do business – so fundamental that the old left and right might even seek to claim it as their own but in truth it happened despite them, and certainly doesn’t need them. And in any case it’s a phenomenon that doesn’t conform to stereotypes or sectors but simply stands to change the world through business means.

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Post by: Nick Stace
1 Comments

Why the milk debate isn't clear-cut

29 Mar 11 | Hands up if you want cheap milk? Actually, let’s try rephrasing that - hands up if you want to rip off farmers? Many consumers could be forgiven for feeling slightly confused about which side to take in the recent “milk war” between Australia’s major supermarkets.

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Post by: Matt Levey
1 Comments

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Freeview labelling - do we need it?

25 Mar 11 | Digital TV is already being broadcast across much of Australia. By 2014, remaining analogue TV broadcasts will be shut down, and you’ll have no choice but to watch digital TV. The federal government is doing a pretty good job of educating Australians about the transition to digital, and what consumers need to do. But then there is Freeview - is it a help, a hindrance, or just plain old marketing hype?

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Post by: Scott O'Keefe
2 Comments

Knockdown and rebuild - how it all began

22 Mar 11 | When I mention to people that we’re building a house, the most common reaction is that we’ve temporarily gone insane and will wake up to regret it. That may yet happen but so far we’re still ok with it.

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Post by: Corinna Horrigan
2 Comments

A fee-fueled world gone mad

21 Mar 11 | Fees are frustrating. Those little acknowledged, overly annoying additions to everyday purchases that, over time, add up. What’s even more irritating is the fact that they've become particularly prevalent in Australian society (yes, banks, I am looking directly at you – and while I’m in a staring mood, you too "budget" airlines).

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Post by: Kat Hartmann
2 Comments

Baby buying brain

18 Mar 11 | Something happens to a woman when she becomes pregnant. Before you get up in arms about that statement, I’ll clarify. I’m not saying pregnant women get crazy, just cautious - very cautious. I can say that because I was one of them. Suddenly everything matters. Everything is potentially dangerous.

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Post by: Robyn Ball
6 Comments

Why we try not to put photographers in their place

17 Mar 11 | Heroditus was a Greek tourist (and some say historian) who lived around 490 to 430BC. He didn't have a camera and we can't be sure if he wore a bumbag, but he did try to describe some of the places he visited. He used a simple classification of people: if you speak Greek you are Greek, if you don't you're a Barbarian. The term Barbarian wasn't meant as an insult, it just meant everyone else. Today marketers classify us into market segments like Gen X or Y, or in the case of people who might be thinking of buying a camera: pro, semi-pro, enthusiast, serious, point-n-shooter or style conscious.

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Post by: Chris Ruggles
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Will you take on old age fighting fit or lying down?

09 Mar 11 | Hitting our 60s should mean finally having the time to travel, take up hobbies, get involved in community and interest groups and socialise more with friends and family. And these days we expect to be living independently in our own home as we get older, rather than living with family members or in a nursing home. The key to making this happen is good health.

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Post by: Karina Bray
3 Comments

Taking your call for better banking to Canberra

03 Mar 11 | Today we’re in Canberra handing a new CHOICE report on banking to the Treasurer, Wayne Swan, and to members of the Senate Committee that’s carrying out an inquiry into banking. The report, packed full of consumer views on banking gathered by CHOICE over recent months, won’t bring a smile to the faces of the fattest cats in the banking industry.

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Post by: Richard Lloyd
7 Comments

My used car horror story and how to avoid a scam

01 Mar 11 | For the last couple of months, I’ve been searching for a second hand car. I’ve whittled the options down, done all my homework, and have the exact model I want in mind. Trouble is that finding the right car at the right price isn’t as easy as I thought it would be. There are a myriad of sales sites out there, lots of promising leads, but more often than not I’ve found that what might seem like a good deal is actually a scam.

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Post by: Zoya Sheftalovich
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Carbon price: households shouldn't carry the cost for industry

28 Feb 11 | The federal government has announced a plan to implement a carbon price in Australia from 1 July 2012. This is a welcome step because a carbon price is the least-costly way of tackling climate change, and studies show the sooner we act, the lower the cost, so this is potentially good for consumers in the long term.

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Post by: Matt Levey
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Book store woes highlight gift voucher risks

23 Feb 11 | This current situation with the parent company of the Borders and Angus and Robertson bookstore chains going into voluntary administration highlights one of the risks involved in buying gift vouchers; you’re giving money that could potentially never give a return.

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Post by: Ingrid Just
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Consumers are banking on reform

22 Feb 11 | Today the government released emails containing advice on banking reform given to the Treasurer Wayne Swan last October. The advice from officials repeats banking industry concerns about proposals to scrap exit fees and introduce portable bank account numbers - two key reforms strongly supported by CHOICE.

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Post by: Richard Lloyd
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Foreign flowers for Valentine's Day

11 Feb 11 | My love is like a red, red rose… but I haven’t a clue where she comes from. This is the conundrum facing those of us buying cut flowers this Valentine's Day. There’s currently no requirement for country of origin labelling, despite the large number of blooms imported into the country for the celebration. This means that short of asking - and hopefully getting a straight answer - you have no idea if your bouquet comes from Canberra or China, Mexico or Melbourne.

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Post by: Christopher Zinn
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A Level Playing Field

01 Dec 10 | It’s not every day that Gerry Harvey of Harvey Norman fame gets on the blower to challenge my position on globalization and internet buying, but that’s what he did the other day. Gerry has set himself up as the lightning rod of discontent for local traders who are feeling the impact of a massive surge in offshore online sales. The issue has become pub talk with dollar parity, bargains and Christmas providing a perfect triage of temptation.

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Post by: Nick Stace
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GST threshold - join the debate

26 Nov 10 | It’s the hot button issue about tax, technology and competition that has provoked a fiery debate about online shopping versus bricks and mortar retailers. At present, Australians can buy goods online from overseas and not pay GST for products under $1000.

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Post by: Christopher Zinn
9 Comments

It's good to talk

18 Nov 10 | It takes a lot more than a few days to bring about lasting change; in fact a lifetime may not be enough when it comes to taking on the big end of town. But for the very few days the CHOICE Better Banking Campaign has been up and running we are beginning to see some green shoots of change. The global consumer movement won an unexpected victory at the G20, and the Government and Opposition in Australia have been falling over themselves to say the right things.

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Post by: Nick Stace
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Join us in our push for better banks

04 Nov 10 | During the worldwide GFC, the public stood by the banks in their time of need and financial markets are now fortunately more stable. The collapse of the financial system would have benefited no one and that’s why the public gave the green light to any action deemed necessary to stabilise a shaky sector. While Australia didn’t suffer like Europe and America, takeovers and mergers were allowed that have left a legacy of less competition and a worse deal for consumers. That’s why I've been keen for CHOICE to run a campaign to redress the balance. Today we launched that campaign against a backdrop of rising bank profits, interest rates and public anger.

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Post by: Nick Stace
3 Comments

2010 Shonkys - A stark reminder of why we exist

26 Oct 10 | After a 23-hour flight from the US, I stepped straight off a plane and into CHOICE’s Shonky Awards ceremony today - and instantly my jetlag evaporated. Nothing could have revived me more than being reminded of our vision in action – to make Australians the most active and savvy consumers in the world. And nothing does this as effectively as the Shonkys, the least coveted awards in the country.

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Post by: Nick Stace
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Take two tablets

20 Sep 10 | Samsung is hoping to give Apple a real headache with its new tablet. The Galaxy Tab, unveiled early in September, is a smaller, lighter rival for Apple’s highly successful iPad and one of the first of what is expected to be a flood of tablet-style devices to hit the market in coming months.

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Post by: Chris Ruggles
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Choose your own adventure

17 Sep 10 | Being a geek and gadget lover I read all about Android and the promise it held (though I must admit I was tempted by the iPhone 4). So patiently I awaited a mobile phone that ticked all the boxes for me. Some people can make snap purchasing decisions and buy on impulse. Others like to take their time and thoroughly research an item before deciding to buy it. I fall into the latter camp.

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Post by: Jason Ranieri
11 Comments

Picture perfect

16 Sep 10 | I like travelling. I've done a lot of it, but mostly in my own time and at my own cost – so I appreciate the very rare occasions when CHOICE decides I need to be somewhere other than at my desk in Marrickville. Brussells is a very long way from my desk. So even the prospect of spending three or four days buried in databases and PowerPoint presentations didn't diminish the prospect of meeting with over 80 colleagues from all over the world, and indulging in a little tourist photography in Paris on the side.

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Post by: Chris Ruggles
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