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Know your consumer rights

CHOICE helps you understand the law so you can fight for your rights as a consumer.

Consumer rights guides

Problems with a product: how to use your consumer guarantees A step-by-step guide to identifying and resolving service issues.

Problems with services: how to use your consumer guarantees A step-by-step guide to identifying and resolving service issues.

What to do with a faulty product Bought something new only to find it's not up to scratch? Find out what your rights are.

Common consumer problems Learn from the recent consumer wins of other CHOICE members.

Do you need an extended warranty? We take a look at whether extended warranties are really worth paying extra for.

Are you being harassed? There are rules against overly aggressive sales tactics.

Faded receipts and proof of purchase Thermal receipts fade, but that doesn't mean you lose your rights.

Pyramid schemes They seem too good to be true - because they are.

Telemarketers and door-to-door sales What can you do to discourage unwanted telephone and door-to-door sales?

Your rights when it comes to unfair contracts Australian Consumer Law deals with unfair contract terms.

How to deal with stuff you didn't ask for You don't have to pay if you didn't order it.

What to do when a company collapses How you pay for goods will often determine whether you get your purchases when a company goes under.

Articles

Best and worst electronics stores Our survey results reveal the best shops and online stores for electrical appliances.

Should you buy electronic appliances online? CHOICE members share pros and cons of shopping with Australia's biggest online retailers.

What do I do if my new car turns out to be a lemon? We explain your rights if something goes wrong with your new car.

CHOICE calls for a general safety provision New laws would make it illegal for Australian businesses to sell unsafe products.

Kogan refunds and returns policy shows room for improvement Is the online retailer playing fast and loose with Australian consumer guarantees?

Bissett magazine services goes under Will the affiliated publishers do the right thing?

Top 10 tips for sales season Avoid sales fails with our top tips for the sales season.

How to handle a pushy salesperson What to do when salespeople try to stop you from walking away from a sale.

Australia's weak product safety laws Businesses are not legally required to ensure the products they sell are safe.

Are you owed a refund or compensation? If you've bought a dodgy product or been misled, check here to see if you're entitled to a court-ordered compensation or refund.

How long should your household appliances last? We look at the lifespan of washers, fridges, TVs, phones and more, and when you should repair vs replace.

The markets the ACCC will be watching closely The chair of the competition watchdog has shared its 2018 enforcement priorities.

Complaints to the ACCC surge 39% Repair and refund complaints rose to 29,000 last year.

Faulty cabling puts thousands of homes at risk of fire There's still 2000km worth of defective Infinity cabling in Australian households.

Harvey Norman extended warranty provider faces ACCC undertaking One of two extended warranty providers will have its sales practices come under ACCC scrutiny.

Fines, product safety and refunds targeted in final consumer law report Review recommends 19 legislative changes.

Slap businesses with bigger fines: Productivity Commission Review of ACL picks apart its shortcomings.

Beware the hidden conditions in your user agreement You may be clicking away your consumer rights when you're forced to agree to terms and conditions for most digital services.

ACCC boss takes a swing at bad big businesses Consumer watchdog head promises stronger enforcement in 2017 and calls for harsher penalties for wrongdoers.

We're after fines that'll dent big businesses: ACCC A change in strategy by the industry regulator has seen bigger penalties from the courts.

Calls for product safety reporting to be made public How safe are your products? CHOICE has submitted a freedom of information request to find out.

Marcs, David Lawrence gift cards: use them ASAP No guarantee they'll work in five weeks after companies were placed into administration.

Members share what CHOICE means to them We don't like to blow our own horn – we let our members do it for us.

Consumers could soon save by accessing their own data New government proposals around big data give consumers the power to unlock big savings.

Countdown to the 2016 Shonky awards Who will take home the prize?

CHOICE fights changes to product safety reporting Products that cause death or serious injury should be reported within 48 hours, not four days.

NSW Fair Trading launches complaints register Real estate agencies LJ Hooker and Ray White top the list for customer complaints.

Non-disclosure agreements Can gag orders from the likes of Thermomix, Ford and Holden prevent you from criticising their products?

No refund in sight for Dick Smith gift card holders Administrator calls for liquidation, says company will have $260m shortfall.

Forever Flawless customer win Skincare company refunds $3000 after complaint about high pressure sales tactics.

CHOICE calls for Consumer Law changes CHOICE weighs in on the Australian Consumer Law Review suggesting six key changes to protect consumers.

Parents warned about kids casting scams Beware big promises for little return.

AGL fined for misleading marketing Mid-contract price changes coming under increasing scrutiny.

CHOICE consumer wins 2015 There's still plenty more work to be done, but we ticked a few boxes this year.

Consumer law and extended warranties 2013 Our shadow shop showed salespeople have a lot to learn about consumer law.

Do salespeople understand consumer law? Our shadow shop of Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi and the Good Guys found that salespeople are still struggling to understand consumer guarantees.

Consumer resolutions in 2016 From avoiding surcharges to better value insurance, we give you our top new year tips for consumers.

Why you should care about the TPP Access to cheap medicines, clear food labelling and public interest laws is under threat.

Credit card debt and debt collectors Woman has credit card debt cut by $22,950 after collectors continue to harass.

Customer service shadow shop We check up on Australia's retail service standards.

Dick Smith announces closure Embattled electronic retailer Dick Smith is set to close following an unsuccessful attempt to find a buyer.

Changes to Ts and Cs Can a business change the terms and conditions of your contract?

Consumer organisations Fighting for consumers behind the scenes.

Dick Smith customer database now with Kogan Shoppers have until 22 March to say no to the transfer of their personal info.

What the US withdrawal from the TPP means for Australians An opportunity to renegotiate pain points

Gender equality and consumer affairs How well are women represented in Oz consumer affairs?

Dick Smith: every extended warranty will be honoured Extended warranties are okay, but manufacturer's warranties may be another matter.

Energy and mobile phone contracts rife with unfair contract terms Despite the ACL, unfair terms don't seem hard to come by.

When goods aren't fit for purpose It pays to know your legal rights when it comes to products that don't do what they should.

Competition Policy Review delivers consumer reforms CHOICE supports competition policy recommendations, albeit with concerns in the area of human services.

Having trouble paying your electricity, gas or water bill? As power and water bills continue to rise, it's more important than ever to know your rights about disconnection.

In the dark on interest-free deals Be wary of interest-free finance offers – they could cost more than you expect.

Big business and penalties for bad behaviour Do big companies just treat monetary penalties as the cost of doing dodgy business?

Interest-free shopping offers Read the fine print before committing to a 'buy now, pay later' shopping scheme.

Nuisance calls CHOICE research shows that Australians are hounded by fundraising phone calls, with a quarter fielding requests for cash every week.

Data collection by loyalty programs Who's really getting a bargain when it comes to store loyalty cards?

Loyalty programs and privacy law What are businesses allowed to do with your personal information?

Financial ombudsman update reveals systemic issues Under-reported misconduct by financial services reps is under investigation.

Product recalls and safety Should consumers demand better protections when it comes to product recalls?

Friend or fake? Review sites can be a great source of information, but can they be trusted?

Refunds and returns - your rights If you need to return a purchase or get a refund, know your rights.

Signed TPP deal leaves Australians in the dark CHOICE calls for an independent inquiry of the benefits of the TPP.

The pros and cons of lay-by Lay-by can be a cheap and convenient way to budget but you should be aware of the pitfalls.

Trans-Pacific Partnership text revealed The TPP has been brought out into the light, but consumers are still in the dark.

Trans-Pacific Partnership: experts take on the intellectual property With the final intellectual property chapter recently leaked, CHOICE spoke to experts to find out how the TPP will affect Australians.

TPP secretly trading away your rights Negotiated behind closed doors, what effect will the Trans-Pacific Partnership have on consumer rights and privacy?

Trans-Pacific Partnership: what does it mean for you? With the final text presented to a Parliamentary inquiry, find out how the TPP will affect Australians.

Why you should care about the TPP Access to cheap medicines, clear food labelling and public interest laws is under threat.

Epic product fails: your top picks World Without Choice competition finds plenty to work with, but there can only be one winner.

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The consumer rights and advice team

CHOICE has been on the consumer's side for decades, ensuring your rights are not just recognised, but protected. Our consumer rights experts are passionate about helping you know your rights so you get the outcome you deserve.