Travel lighter with these hot tips
It’s great to be back out and about again, isn’t it? But before you step beyond the confines of your state or national borders, it pays to do some homework.
Not only will a little planning save you a lot of money, it could also save you a few headaches at your destination. After all, holidays are supposed to be relaxing, not stressful.
How loyalty programs sucker you into giving up personal information
If you’re not paying for a product, then you might be the product. Wise words to consider next time you're thinking of joining a loyalty program.
Fire victim joins Hyundai class action in fight for consumer rights
The fire was swift and silent. Anne-Maree Johnston still can’t believe how close she came to losing everything when her Hyundai caught fire in her garage without warning.
Christmas crackers: Last-minute gifts worth giving
The panic rises as the clock ticks ever closer to Christmas Day. What happened to all our good intentions with gifts for our loved ones?
Every year, we promise ourselves that next year we’ll get organised earlier and start a present cupboard. We’ll make a list of the things our loved ones like and keep an eye out for the sales and pop those precious items in the cupboard ready to be wrapped when the time comes. It makes financial sense, too, because we’re spreading our spending over the year, rather than copping it one big hit.
Great idea in theory. But, every year, we’re staring down the barrel of another last-minute rush to fill those stockings and pop something extra under the Christmas tree. Will we ever learn?
Happy customers: We’ve got a handle on your complaints
It’s been another busy year for the team at Handle My Complaint. Since launching our new online system in February, we have handled almost 2,400 complaints for Australians across a range of industries.
From vehicles to travel, home renovation to insurance complaints, if there’s a customer who feels hard done by, we’ve assisted them to get the outcome they deserve. As the year draws to a close, we take a look at some of the situations we’ve helped resolve and share some of the lovely feedback we’ve received from our clients.
Play to win: Don’t get caught with dodgy video games this Christmas
It's no secret that video games are big business. In fact, the gaming industry is now worth more than $200 billion globally and is expected to reach almost $300 billion by 2024. In Australia, the gaming industry is also huge and growing.
Apply the brakes: Top car rental traps to avoid
Are you planning to travel interstate over the summer holidays? There’s a good chance you might also want to get car rental, at least for a few days.
And while there are plenty of great deals to be had, there are some car rental traps you should know about before handing over your deposit. Otherwise, that deal that seemed too good to be true most certainly will be.
Start early and stay out of the red this Black Friday
If you’re a Black Friday veteran, you’ll know that you don’t have to wait until the designated day to snap up a bargain.
Retailers have been dropping their prices all month, and your inbox and social media have probably been inundated with offers for Black Friday steals because of your past purchases.
Sick of scam text and calls? It’s time to take charge
We’ve all received one. Chances are, most of you have received more than you can count. Spam calls and texts are insidious. Many of us just find them irritating and delete them or refuse to answer phone numbers we don’t recognise.
But invariably, these spam calls and texts are also scams.
False advertising: Don’t fall for fake reviews
Wanting a night out with friends? Keen to try something new? Do a quick Google search and up comes a bunch of restaurants nearby, one with far more positive reviews than the rest. But are they real? Fake reviews for everything from bakeries to dental services are abundant on the internet, and separating them from the real deal can take time and effort.
It’s hard to know exactly how many aren’t genuine, with estimates varying from about 10 percent to a third of all online reviews. Google is home to six times as many reviews as any other portal, even it has trouble keeping up. Last year the search engine said it removed 95 million reviews that did not meet its guidelines.