Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from June 2008

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from June 2008

Protecting consumers in a credit crunch.(Comment)
June 1, 2008... Australians are already experiencing flow-on effects of the global credit crunch. Higher mortgage and credit card interest rates are widespread. CHOICE is particularly concerned about borrowers whose standard variable home loan interest rates...

eBay Australia changes its feedback and payment policies: using Australia as a test case before rolling out its new payment policy internationally, online auction site eBay now requires Australians to pay for items via the eBay-owned PayPal money-transfer service, eliminating other payment methods unless the item is collected in person.(+ CHANGES TO EBAY)
June 1, 2008... PayPal charges sellers its own set of fees in addition to eBay and stands to make a good deal of money out of the change, eBay Australia says redirecting payment options through the PayPal system will increase transaction safety. At the time of...

NAB penalty-free account.(+ BANK FEES)
June 1, 2008... National Australia Bank (NAB) is the first of the major banks to offer a standard transaction account with no penalty fees. Its Clear Banking account doesn't charge penalties (which the banking industry calls exception fees) if your account...

ACCC on the offensive: the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has been busy lately taking action against several companies for misleading advertising.(+ MISLEADING ADVERTISING)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The ACCC has commenced proceedings in the Federal Court in Perth against Nudie Foods Australia, claiming it made misleading claims on the packaging and promotional material for Rosie Ruby and Rosie Blue fruit juice...

Tasmania scraps builder's warranty: home owners in Tasmania will be able to save on expensive building costs, following the state government's decision to scrap a compulsory--but largely worthless--insurance scheme.(+ MISLEADING ADVERTISING)
June 1, 2008... Tasmania has become the first state to axe the mandatory housing indemnity insurance scheme. The scheme, known as 'builder's warranty insurance', involves a premium paid by home owners, but it provides little to no insurance against poor...

More gas heater results.(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... In the May 2008 issue of CHOICE we brought you a test of unflued gas heaters and promised test results for two more models we encountered problems with in the original test. The additional results are now available: go to...

Botox warnings required: as Botox moves from the realm of the rich and famous into the mainstream, one consumer advocacy group says its use is linked to life-threatening conditions and wants clearer warnings sent to doctors and clients.(+ COSMETIC SURGERY)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Botox and similar injections should come with stronger health warnings after being linked to 16 deaths, says US consumer group Public Citizen. The botulinum toxin (sold in Australia under brands Botox and...

Feed the kids fish: another reason to make fish a regular part of our diet has emerged, following research that indicates that fish oil may prevent schizophrenia symptoms developing in young people at risk of the disorder. Left untreated, about one third of children who suffer from brief hallucinations or delusions go on to develop a psychotic disorder.(+ MENTAL HEALTH)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The study focused on a group of 81 young people with a family history of schizophrenia. Some were treated with fish oil, while others were given a placebo. While just 5% of the people who took fish oil went on to...

Greener packaging at the click of a mouse: product packaging could become less environmentally damaging--if companies heed advice from a new online tool.(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Researchers at RMIT University in Melbourne have developed software that can quickly and more cheaply assess the lifecycle of a product's packaging. Dubbed the Packaging Impact Quick Evaluation Tool, or PIQET, it's...

Corrections.(Consumer news)(Correction notice)
June 1, 2008... (1) HOME AND CONTENTS INSURANCE, APRIL 2008 In the table on pages 32-33, for the two policies REAL INSURANCE Essentials and REAL INSURANCE Top Cover, the cover for 'fusion [10-year-old motor]' should have been 'Limited' instead of 'no...

New solarium rules in NSW.
June 1, 2008... People with fair skin and those under 18 won't be allowed to use solariums in NSW from January 2009. This follows similar regulations introduced in SA and Victoria earlier this year. Coin-operated sunbeds will also be banned. [ILLUSTRATION...

Black cohosh linked to liver failure.
June 1, 2008... Black cohosh, an over-the-counter herbal extract used to treat menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, is marketed as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy. A report in the Medical Journal of Australia describes the case of a...

Scrapping fine print on hidden fees.(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Consumers won't be faced with ads that feature an asterisk masking hidden fees, under new laws proposed by the Federal Government. To allow easier price comparison, businesses such as airlines and car dealers would be required to advertise the...

Pizza to go: don't have the space for an oven, but still want your pizza fix at home?(+ MICROWAVE & PIZZA OVEN)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A combination of microwave oven and pizza grill sounds like a great idea. If you don't have room for a full-sized oven and don't want to pay for a combination convection microwave, this gives you the option of having...

Listen and learn with audiobooks.(+ AUDIOBOOKS)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Talking books have been around for years on cassette tapes and CDs, but the modern digital version, called audiobooks, are far more than just an aid for the visually impaired. The popularity of both MP3 players...

Quick cuppa is a hotshot for energy saving: these days many of us are time-poor and environment-aware; any help we get to speed up a chore and reduce our footprint is welcome.(+ SINGLE-CUP KETTLE)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The TEFAL Quick Cup aims to meet that goal, producing hot water for your tea or coffee in three seconds, and claims to use up to 65% less energy than a normal electric kettle. It also has a replaceable filter, so you...

Combination microwave ovens.(Coming)
June 1, 2008... The combination of a microwave and a conventional oven with a grill has great appeal if you want to save space and energy but there are compromises. This CHOICE test looks at their cooking performance and how easy they are to use.

Baby slings.(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... With a baby carrier or sling, you can keep your baby close and secure, which is great if they're upset and need to snuggle up. Slings also leave your hands free to do other things, but choosing the right carrier depends on body shape, both the...

Steam irons.(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... You can pay $10-$160 for a new steam iron and, as you'd expect, they come with a range of different features--some that are essential, some that are useful to some people and others that left our trialists less than impressed. Our experienced...

Real vs virtual advice.(Letters Emails)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Your recent article on GPS units prompts me to tell of an experience of ours. We live on a steep dirt road on the fringe of Melbourne that was officially closed to vehicular traffic over five years ago and is...

Consumers are well protected.(Letters Emails)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... Contrary to your March 2008 article Tougher laws needed for complementary medicine (Consumer News, page 5), the Complementary Healthcare Council (CHC) believes consumers are well protected by existing regulations in their right to access safe,...

Blend or spread?(Letters Emails)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... I have noticed the increased frequency of 'spreads' or 'blends' instead of margarine or butter available in supermarkets. I know margarine is associated with health problems but don't know if a 'spread' is any better. I would like it if you...

How much is it?(Letters Emails)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... Browsing around the cosmetics counter in the David Jones Miranda store (NSW) one morning, I noticed that no prices were shown for the majority of products. When I queried this with a staff member I was informed that this was DJ's pricing...

Using greywater from your washer.(LETTER OF THE MONTH)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... This is our experience of connecting our washing machine by hose to water our garden and lawn. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We purchased a large hose, as our local hardware store had advised a narrow hose would put too much back pressure on...

Mike would like to give a Thumbs up to Sampford IXL.(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Mike would like to give a Thumbs up to Sampford IXL. When he was cleaning his IXL Tastic bathroom exhaust fan/heater, the cover fell and broke. He emailed the company, asking where he could buy a replacement, and received an email in return...

When Anne had a problem with her Guardian paper shredder, the post office she bought it from wouldn't allow her to return it, as she'd lost her receipt.(Thumbs up!)
June 1, 2008... When Anne had a problem with her Guardian paper shredder, the post office she bought it from wouldn't allow her to return it, as she'd lost her receipt. She then emailed the manufacturer Pelican Artline, which contacted the Australia Post shop...

Jillian offers her Thumbs up to Nutricia, maker of Karicare baby formula.(Thumbs up!)
June 1, 2008... Jillian offers her Thumbs up to Nutricia, maker of Karicare baby formula. When all the stores in her country town ran out of Karicare HA AR formula, she contacted the company, which posted out one can a week to Jillian, free, until new stocks...

When Michael's Belkin surge protector/battery pack developed a fault after two years he called Belkin, which told him that a replacement model would be sent out that day.(Thumbs up!)
June 1, 2008... When Michael's Belkin surge protector/battery pack developed a fault after two years he called Belkin, which told him that a replacement model would be sent out that day. He was pleasantly surprised when it arrived two days later to find it was...

Supermarket Green Watch: Supermarket items make all sorts of green claims sustainable, natural, recycled, biodegradable should you trust them?(Shopping: Green claims)(Cover story)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The packet of Glad Tuff Stuff garbage bags (below left) claims, "When properly incinerated, polyethylene breaks down to carbon dioxide and water vapour." But what about the rubbish you put in the bag? Shower...

Hot stuff? Hot chocolate has had a makeover--no longer just a bedtime soporific, it now promises all manner of sensual delights. To help separate the delicious from the dreary, we called on CHOICE's enthusiastic army of Home Testers.(Home Test: Hot chocolate)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Montezuma, the 16th century ruler of the Aztec empire, is said to have fortified himself by drinking chocolate before visiting his harem. And, according to recent research, chocolate causes a more intense and...

Broadening your internet horizons: CHOICE's guide to broadband cuts through the confusion so you can understand what's being offered and choose a plan that suits your needs.(Computers: Home broadband)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Broadband is a high-speed connection to the internet. It's called 'broad' because it allows a large amount of data to flow between you and the outside world, which means things happen faster than with a' dial-up...

When it comes to the crunch... We scrutinised more than 180 mueslis to find the best ones for you--low fat, low sugar, high fibre, lots of fruit, nuts or seeds--so all you have to do is eat and enjoy.(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There seems to have been a muesli explosion of late--a trawl of the supermarket shelves returned more than 180 different products. And we discerning consumers could be the cause. Reader feedback told us that when...

Crash tests reveal the latest in new car safety.
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thinking of buying a new car? Then you'll be pleased to know that throughout 2007, the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) released more high-speed crash test results for a number of popular cars in various...

Till death us do part ...: a reverse mortgage can dramatically reduce your options and lock you into staying in your house till you die.(Finance Reverse mortgages)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Imagine this scenario: Jenny (60) and James' (65) family home is worth $450,000. James has just retired and they'd like to go on a three-month holiday to Europe and buy a new car. They think this will cost about...

Drink to your health: you've heard of the healthy food pyramid--now here's the healthy drink pyramid, dedicated to quenching your thirst in the best possible way.
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] The drinks pyramid works like the well-known Healthy Food Pyramid--you drink more of the drinks on the bottom, and less of the ones further up. The first reason what you drink matters is kilojoules. Drinks can...

No need to pay more: mid-priced vacuum cleaners--better than the cheaper models and as good as most of the expensive ones.(Test Vacuum cleaners)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You could fork out more than $1000 or as little as $70 for a vacuum cleaner, but how much do you really need to spend for a good machine? CHOICE tested 15 vacuum cleaners costing between $400 and $600 (when we bought...

Bleach and destroy: how did seven popular bathroom cleaners scrub up when 120 CHOICE Home Testers put them through their paces in real life?(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In CHOICE's latest test of bathroom cleaners, our hard-working home trialists scrubbed their bathrooms clean with seven widely available commercial bathroom cleaners that claim to remove and/or prevent mould and soap...

Put another watt on the fire Sometimes, where there's fire there's no smoke.(Test: Electric flame-effect heaters)(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2008... Of all the electric heaters sold last winter in Australia, heaters with a flame effect were the only category to enjoy a significant increase in sales. CHOICE tested seven models that deliver the old-world charm of a roaring fire without the...

Snap decisions: bigger can be better, but it's only part of the picture.(Test: Digital cameras)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Have you ever missed that perfect shot because your camera took forever to turn on? For many digital camera users, the delay between pressing the shutter button on a digital camera and the shot being taken can be...

Liquids on the line laundry liquids don't wash as well as the best powders, but they're kinder on your garden if you want to use your greywater on it.(Test: Liquid laundry detergent)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CHOICE tests regularly show that the best washing powders give a better wash than laundry liquids, but despite this many people prefer to use liquids. Some think they dissolve better and don't leave a residue on...

'All-in-one' and one for all having a printer, scanner and copier in one package saves space and money--but they're far from perfect.(Test: All-in-one printers)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] All-in-one printers (also called multifunction printers, MFPs or multifunction devices) are suitable for the home office or photo enthusiast. They combine inkjet printing (including colour photo prints), copying and...

Dock 'n' load: these speaker docks let you listen to your music without headphones, but don't expect too much in terms of sound quality.(Test: Speaker docks)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Have you walked down the street lately or caught a bus and spotted anyone who wasn't listening to music via the ubiquitous earphones connected to an MP3 player in a pocket? The sight of young people in particular...

Recalls & bans.
June 1, 2008... Nowadays there are so many product recalls we may not be able to print all of them in CHOICE. For comprehensive recall information go to the Product Recalls Australia website: www.recalls.gov.au. If you don't have web access, call the Product...

Carbon trading scheme must protect consumers.(+ ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL EQUITY)
June 1, 2008... Increasing energy efficiency is the quickest and cheapest way to cut greenhouse pollution. CHOICE's report Energy & Equity, written jointly with the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Australian Council of Social Service, finds that an...

Fighting for fair fees: choice has backed a proposal for a new law that would give the Australian Securities and Investments Commission powers to regulate bank penalty fees.(+ BANK FEES)
June 1, 2008... A Penalty fee is charged when a customer breaches a term or condition of their bank account contract, which puts them in 'default'. The default may occur as a result of overdrawing the account, having insufficient funds to process a...