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The Latest Breaking News from Kat George

I noticed a customer review I think might be fake. In Australia, are businesses allowed to do this?

False testimonials are prohibited under Australian consumer law, writes policy professional Kat George, but they are also very hard to police

The Guardian - AU

My walking shoes wore down after only seven months. Is this really fair wear and tear?

Though products are getting flimsier, policy professional Kat George says that as a consumer, you still have rights

The Guardian - AU

Ads I see online unashamedly lie. Doesn’t Australian consumer law require advertisers not to mislead us?

Advertising shown in Australia cannot be false or misleading, writes policy expert Kat George. But false claims on the internet are vast and regenerative

The Guardian - AU

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Ticketek charged a $9 processing fee for my $35 ticket. Is this reasonable?

Ticket-selling websites are free to set prices as they want, Australian policy expert Kat George writes. Buying direct from the box office is the best way around this

The Guardian - AU

I don’t want to pay a card fee but the business won’t accept cash instead. Is this legal?

Australian businesses do not have to offer a cost-free way of paying, policy professional Kat George writes. But it’s a good time to make your voice heard on this issue

The Guardian - AU

Our NSW council banned street-visible solar panels. What can I do?

Support for heritage homeowners investing in green tech is growing, writes policy professional Kat George. But you may need to put in some legwork

The Guardian - AU

When I booked flights online I noticed the prices kept changing. Is it legal in Australia? Can I avoid it?

Unfortunately, dynamic pricing is legal in Australia, writes policy professional Kat George. But there are some things you can do to sidestep it when you’re shopping around

The Guardian - AU

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I’m not allowed to dry laundry on my balcony. What can I do about out-of-touch strata rules?

When it comes to what you can and can’t do in your home, the rules can be blurry, writes policy professional Kat George. First, seek out your building’s bylaws

The Guardian - AU

How do wines get away with not listing ingredients? I have allergies!

Australian alcohol labelling is contentious, writes policy professional Kat George. Declare your allergies as servers are obliged to help you

The Guardian - AU

Our new puppy has health and behavioural issues. Can I ask the breeder to foot the vet bill?

If your pet has a heritable defect, you can ask the breeder to cover the ‘repair’, writes Australian policy professional Kat George. But the puppy’s behaviour is another matter

The Guardian - AU

If I have a small amount of credit left on a gift card, does the merchant get to keep that money?

I wouldn’t bank on a business allowing refunds on a gift card, writes Australian policy professional Kat George. But if they have misrepresented the terms you may be entitled

The Guardian - AU

Each time I leave a rental, my landlord withholds some of my bond. How can I defend my rights without legal action?

The stress and cost of dispute resolution can outweigh the loss of a bond, writes Australian policy professional Kat George. Here’s what you should do

The Guardian - AU

I buy bread from Bakers Delight. Why aren’t the ingredients listed on the packaging?

All packaged food has to comply with national food standards, writes policy professional Kat George. Some exemptions apply – but if you’re concerned you should ask the seller

The Guardian - AU

We have one supermarket in our little town. Are they required to display unit prices?

Your grocery store may not be obliged to display pricing in this way, writes policy professional Kat George. But you can still advocate for it to do so

The Guardian - AU

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The Guardian - AU

I bought secondhand designer shoes online, but within a few months they fell apart. What are my rights?

The shoes might not be an authentic designer pair and have failed reasonable consumer expectation, writes policy expert Kat George. Although Vestiaire is an overseas company, Australian consumer law still applies

The Guardian - AU

My speakers don’t work properly and Apple won’t provide a refund. What are my entitlements?

You have a right to return the product if you think it’s faulty, says policy expert Kat George – but it will take some time and effort to claim your refund

The Guardian - AU

I cancelled my Airbnb booking within the appropriate timeframe. Why won’t they issue my refund?

The good news is you made the booking while in Australia via the Australian arm of Airbnb, so national consumer law applies, writes policy expert Kat George. With persistence, it’s likely you’ll get your money back

The Guardian - AU

A package I ordered weeks ago is lost in transit. How can I fast-track a resolution?

Because the loss was out of the store’s control, it isn’t legally obliged to provide you with a refund or replacement, writes Australian policy expert Kat George. But you can still pursue a solution

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The Guardian - AU

I contacted my bank to report a scam purchase. Why didn’t it cancel the transaction?

You’ve done all the right things since being scammed, writes Australian consumer law and policy professional Kat George. But there are a few more steps you can take to protect yourself and others

The Guardian - AU

Afternoon Update: Australia urged to resume UNRWA funding; Brisbane teen becomes nation’s fastest woman; and Australian dog of the year announced

Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark says cutting funding to the UN agency could have a ‘catastrophic’ impact

The Guardian - AU

I bought a gift voucher for a business that ceased trading. Is there anything I can do?

Navigating gift cards in Australia is unnecessarily complex, writes consumer affairs expert Kat George, but you do have avenues for recourse

The Guardian - AU

Afternoon Update: hikers killed in Indonesian volcanic eruption; tributes flow for Labor MP Peta Murphy; and how to avoid burnout

A volcanic eruption in Indonesia’s West Sumatra has claimed the lives of at least 11 hikers

The Guardian - AU

An Australian hire car company won’t reimburse our excess. What are the next steps?

You have a real case to make for yourself here, writes policy professional Kat George. Given the money you could recover, it’s worth pursuing it

The Guardian - AU

Can I get a refund? After I cancelled a gym membership via email, they debited $700 from me

Australian consumer law can help you, writes policy professional Kat George. Making it difficult to cancel is what advocates call a ‘dark pattern’

The Guardian - AU

I want my property revalued as part of my mortgage renegotiation. Is my bank obliged to do this?

In Australia, banks are covered by the Banking Code of Practice, writes consumer law and policy professional Kat George. Call your bank and remind it of the code

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