January
Warning to big super: fix customer service, or we’ll see you in court
Labor’s plan to force superannuation funds to meet minimum standards will add fuel to regulators Margaret Cole and Simone Constant’s 2025 ambitions.
December 2024
Woolworths NZ faces criminal charges for allegedly misleading shoppers
The Commerce Commission was not satisfied that “specials really are special”, leading to legal action against the supermarket and its rival Pak’nSave.
November 2024
This Australian AI start-up wants you to complain more
Backed by Carthona Capital, Ajust is a consumer start-up that offers to fight your customer service battles on your behalf.
Webjet misled customers on fares for years, says ACCC
The online travel agency allegedly charged one customer $21,764 more after the booking had been made. Webjet says it is cooperating with the regulator.
Where have the cowboy solar panel spruikers gone? Home battery storage
The roll-out of renewables to households has been a success. But it has come with a dark side, with dodgy operators taking advantage of ill-informed customers.
How we identified the 2024 Customer Champions
Submissions were evaluated across the three dimensions that define a Customer Champion – customer value, shareholder value and approach to doing business.
October 2024
After half a century, a new era of competition law begins
Fifty years of the Trades Practices Act should be celebrated by adapting to changing times, with competitive and efficient markets in front of mind.
ASIC sues QBE for misleading half a million customers on price
ASIC’s action against QBE on Wednesday follows similar cases against NRMA and RACQ, who paid big fines last year.
September 2024
Music fans caught in industry’s surge-pricing war
Surge pricing – where ticket prices peak with demand – has been the scourge of the Oasis reunion tour. Can anything be done to stop the rot?
July 2024
ASIC queried Qantas’ knowledge of ACCC investigation as shares fell
The regulator wrote to the competition watchdog requesting a “a better understanding” of the probe into ticket sales on cancelled flights, emails reveal.
April 2024
Companies at risk of ‘state-sponsored greenwashing’, Senate told
The ACCC has not yet signed off on the government’s Climate Active carbon neutrality certification even though more than 500 companies already use it.
March 2024
Home builders keep buyers in the dark about financials
Without clarity about builders’ financial positions, consumers could again unwittingly pay deposits to builders about to go under.
December 2023
Mattress maker accuses rivals of dodgy marketing with fake reviews
One of the Young Rich Lister founders of Sleeping Duck says the websites are owned by rival companies and are masquerading as review sites.
November 2023
ACCC poised for $50m blitz on unfair contracts
The watchdog’s ‘ghost flights’ case against Qantas is a warning to other firms that they are on notice for “take or leave” terms in standard consumer contracts.
These are the most complained about super funds
Grievances about AustralianSuper more than doubled to 750 last financial year – more than two times the average of big providers on a per-member basis.
October 2023
Qantas has made its ‘ghost flights’ defence. Now it should settle
The company that calls itself the Spirit of Australia would be best to show it believes in the spirit of consumer law, not the letter of it.
Builder blames hidden commissions for his company’s collapse
Home owners were often unaware they were also paying agents’ commissions worth tens of thousands of dollars, the former Chatham Homes owner said.
March 2023
MYOB allegedly manipulating users into joining its sub-par super fund
The government is already reviewing how companies could be circumventing laws on stapling workers to single super funds.
January 2023
Life insurer apologises for ‘unfortunate mistake’
A system error at fast-growing Resolution Life ensured that hundreds of customers received time sensitive information seven weeks late.
December 2022
ACCC moves against Dominique Grubisa and DG Institute
The competition watchdog has accused the debt and property spruiker of selling and marketing misleading products.