Scare tactics: What to do about ghost stores
As an increasing number of Australians are ripped off by ghost stores, those caught in the trap may be wondering if there is anything they can do.
Online haunts: Watch out for ghost stores
Snapped up a bargain online from a local store only to find there is nothing local about it? Or that it doesn’t even exist? You are one of a growing number of Australians haunted by ghost stores.
Has your card surcharge been supercharged?
We are so used to paying for everything by debit or credit card these days, many of us barely give any thought to the little extra that is often tacked onto the purchase price. But you should take a closer look to avoid being needlessly stung by card surcharges.
Pay wise: How to keep card surcharges down
You might have heard that the Australian Government is preparing to ban debit card surcharges – those pesky percentages added to seemingly every electronic transaction.
Don’t get too excited. While the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is reviewing card surcharges – which cost Australians anywhere between $1 billion and $4 billion a year – any change would not come into effect until 2026.
Facebook Marketplace robbery alert
No one expects to fall victim to a Facebook Marketplace robbery when they choose the popular online platform to sell items.
Raising the alarm: Report scams on Facebook
Although online marketplaces are increasingly aware of the risks of fraud and scams, the level of protection varies from platform to platform. But you should always report scams on Facebook or any other online marketplace.
Late arrival: What happens when your goods aren’t delivered on time
How much attention do you pay to the delivery date on something you’ve bought online? Is it a deciding factor in your purchase?
Sales season: Stay out of the red this Black Friday
The emails are lobbing into your inbox with increasing regularity. You may even be getting alerts on your phone. The flashing ads are all over websites. All of them promise you amazing deals and unprecedented discounts.
There is no escaping the fact we’re hurtling toward Black Friday. And peak spending season. This mad day of discounts traditionally marks the start of Christmas shopping in the United States, falling just after Thanksgiving.
Identity crisis: Will a new national ID be better for you?
We have all endured the tedious task of paperwork to prove our identity, whether it is opening a new bank account, applying for a passport, or simply registering a child's birth.
Even the rise of online forms doesn’t seem to have reduced the number of times we have to fill out details to show we are who say we are.
Facebook Marketplace: Beware of online scams
As the number of Australians searching for a great deal online has risen, so has the number of Facebook Marketplace scams.
Wherever there are bargain hunters, there are scammers. There have even been alarming instances of criminals using marketplaces to break into your home.