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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

Misleading pricing – what is it, and what are your rights? Different advertised prices, checkout scanning errors and hidden fees are just some of the things to watch out for.

Your rights when you receive goods or services you didn't ask for These are called unsolicited supplies, and you don't have to pay if you didn't order them.

What to do when a company collapses Our guide to your rights for unreceived goods when a business goes bust.

Problems with a service: what you can do From building repairs to clothing alterations, the law protects you from poor service.

What to do with a faulty product Our expert guide to your rights when something goes wrong.

Do you need an extended warranty? Is extra protection worth it? Here are the questions to ask.

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 your rights do.

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 contract terms Australian Consumer Law deals with unfair contract terms.

Articles

CHOICE's biggest stories of 2024 The investigations, research and tests that made the news – and made a difference – this year.

How to avoid dangerous products this Christmas New data reveals Australians are overestimating their consumer protections during the busy shopping season. See how you can stay safe.

Expert tips for shopping the Boxing Day sales Avoid sales fails and grab a genuine bargain with our top tips for the sales season.

Best and worst appliance stores in 2024 We surveyed over 3500 Australians about their experiences buying electrical appliances online and instore.

The worst products of 2024 These duds and disappointments are some of the poorest performers our experts have seen over the past year.

10 times the Shonkys delivered for Australians Our Shonky Awards have led to some amazing wins for consumers. Here are some of the greatest hits.

Government vows to ban unfair business practices Dodgy tactics like subscription traps, dynamic pricing and pre-selecting extras at checkout could soon be illegal.

Aussies still struggling to get refunds for faulty products We're legally entitled to certain remedies if a product fails, but a recent CHOICE survey reveals that the reality isn’t that simple.

Receipt refusal: Shoppers don't want to hand over personal data for receipts Retailers such as Chemist Warehouse and Lorna Jane aren't giving people the option of paper receipts.

That's discrimination! What businesses aren't allowed to ask How companies discriminate against consumers, and what to do about it.

Consumer champion: 'Being First Nations is part of my qualifications' We spoke to Bettina Cooper about the fight for justice for Youpla victims and gaining her voice.

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

Refunds, returns and repairs – your rights explained Have you bought a product that’s faulty or not quite right? Get to know your rights.

The gimmicky gadgets we won't be buying in 2024 From smart kettles to novelty fridges, we'll be steering clear of these duds.

DoorDash T&Cs prevent customers taking class action – is that legal? Businesses urged to review their terms and conditions, in face of new penalties for unfair contract terms.

Shonky business practices on the rise A new government survey shows a significant drop in businesses' knowledge of consumer law obligations.

Why non-disclosure agreements fly in the face of consumer law Businesses that make you sign an NDA to exercise your consumer rights are making up their own rules.

The unfair business practices that should really be illegal CHOICE is calling for new laws to protect Australians from a wide range of dodgy tactics.

The worst products of 2023 (so far) As we gear up to announce the 2023 Shonky Awards, we look at some of the other duds we've encountered so far this year.

Unfair business practices are illegal elsewhere – why not in Australia? It's time to stamp out trading practices that can trick, trap and exploit consumers.

These are the most complained about businesses in 2023 If you're a follower of CHOICE's annual Shonky Awards, some of these names will be familiar.

World Consumer Rights Day 2023: Our top tips for transitioning to cleaner energy We share our most useful advice for switching to cleaner and more efficient energy practices.

7 out of 10 Australians misunderstand extended warranties and their rights CHOICE survey finds many consumers falsely believe buying an extended warranty gives them extra consumer protections.

Op-ed: Companies have no qualms telling straight-out lies Companies lie to protect themselves and show no shame when they are caught out.

Five ways CHOICE made a difference to consumers in 2022 Want to know how we've helped you this year? We recap the biggest wins of 2022 that consumers made possible.

JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, The Good Guys pushing extended warranties on consumers Our 2022 mystery shop of Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys revealed most salespeople are getting it wrong.

ACCC takes US-based Fitbit to court for flouting local consumer laws In its second action against the fitness tracker company, the regulator is seeking penalties and a compliance program.

CHOICE staff share their favourite Shonkys moments The moments that captured our hearts over 16 years of Shonky Awards.

5 ways to take control of your consumer rights Here are our top five things you can do right now to take control of your consumer rights, from getting the best deal to using your voice.

ACCC raises alarm as RAT price gouging continues Regulator says it has significant concerns about the retail price of rapid antigen tests.

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

Just two in five Australians have asked for a repair, refund or replacement We're reminding people to exercise their consumer rights in the Boxing Day sales and beyond to avoid buyer's regret.

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

Can we fix it? Building a meaningful right to repair for Australia When it comes to product repair, Australia lags behind the US and Europe. It's time we found a big-picture solution.

CHOICE CEO calls out businesses taking advantage of the COVID-19 coronavirus Op-ed: Alan Kirkland says watch out for misleading advertising, price gouging and shonky health claims.

Five product safety wins CHOICE helped deliver As we continue to celebrate 60 years of CHOICE, we look back at some of our biggest wins.

'An incredible difference' – here are the top CHOICE wins of 2021 From kissing goodbye to bank marketing in schools to protecting renters from insurance 'robodebt', it's been a year of big wins.

Refund, repair or replacement rights should be tightly enforced, consumer groups say CHOICE joins forces with consumer groups to call for stronger consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law.

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

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.

Customers still buying extended warranties they don't need – survey Our research shows that one in five customers buy an extended warranty, despite existing warranty rights under consumer law.

COVID-19 lockdown and suspicious price hikes on big ticket items We tracked whitegoods retailers' daily prices and pinpointed some very timely price increases.

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.

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

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.

What to do if you're having trouble paying your electricity, gas or water bill With utility bills consuming more of the household budget, it's important to know your rights.

How to ask for a refund Not sure if you're entitled to a refund for an event or service? Here's what you need to know.

10 ways to protect yourself from buying unsafe products How to avoid being stuck with a dangerous dud.

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

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

Consumer law and third-party sellers Can businesses trading online dodge their legal obligation to provide a refund, repair or replacement?

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

Price gouging: COVID-19 rapid antigen test prices soar Stronger protections needed for consumers as some businesses take advantage of demand for 'RAT' kits.

Product recalls and safety Is Australia's product recall system good enough?

5 product safety battles we're still fighting CHOICE is still pushing for reforms on these five issues to protect consumers against unsafe products.

Consumer product safety in the UK The head of consumer protection policy at our UK sister organisation explains how general safety laws help protect UK citizens.

Rather than recalling unsafe products, why not ensure they're safe in the first place? Businesses, not consumers, should be responsible for managing product safety risks

CHOICE Shiny Award winners Recognising kindness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australians push for stronger protections and repair rights for household products Our survey has found that most people want greater longevity for household products and stronger rights when it comes to repairs.

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

9 things every consumer should know about their rights What you need to know to exercise your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

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

Shonky season is almost here Sign up to stay updated on the dud products of 2022.

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.

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