Watchdog investigates concerns tenants are being hit with fees to pay rent

Watchdog investigates concerns tenants are being hit with fees to pay rent

An increasing number of real estate agents have outsourced the processing of rental payments to third-party companies and are charging tenants a fee to use these services.

  • byHenrietta Cook

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Businesses apologise after maskless customers make human rights complaints

Businesses apologise after maskless customers make human rights complaints

Since last March,the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission has received 231 complaints from people with legitimate exemptions for not wearing a mask.

  • byHenrietta Cook
The plan to make smartphone and whitegood repairs cheaper and easier

The plan to make smartphone and whitegood repairs cheaper and easier

Manufacturers would have to provide consumers and independent repairers with access to tools,spare parts and product manuals under a Productivity Commission plan to reduce landfill and make it cheaper to fix products.

  • byHenrietta Cook andJennifer Duke
Businesses blacklisted and hit with scathing reviews over COVID stance

Businesses blacklisted and hit with scathing reviews over COVID stance

Anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers are blacklisting small businesses for enforcing mask rules and QR codes.

  • byHenrietta Cook
Victoria's largest independent car dealer accused of selling lemons

Victoria's largest independent car dealer accused of selling lemons

As used car sales boom,some consumers claim they are being sold faulty vehicles.

  • byHenrietta Cook
Telcos slammed for signing up customers to unwanted phone deals

Telcos slammed for signing up customers to unwanted phone deals

Eighty-year-old dementia patient Len Smith was sold a phone plan he didn’t need or want. His daughter has spent more than a year trying to recoup the cash.

  • byHenrietta Cook
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Consumers in legal fight for refunds after COVID cancellations

Consumers in legal fight for refunds after COVID cancellations

Victorians who paid deposits for holidays and weddings that were scuppered by the pandemic are taking their grievances to VCAT.

  • byHenrietta Cook
‘I can’t sleep’:Household debt escalates as Victorians struggle to pay bills

‘I can’t sleep’:Household debt escalates as Victorians struggle to pay bills

Victorians like Jen are retreating to bed early because they can’t afford to turn on the gas heater.

  • byHenrietta Cook
Pricing tribunal takes aim at funeral providers for not disclosing costs to grieving families

Pricing tribunal takes aim at funeral providers for not disclosing costs to grieving families

Fewer than half of NSW funeral providers had all the cost information they are legally required to provide on their websites.

  • byDaniella White
Solar cowboys:Door-to-door sales crackdown in government’s sights
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Renewables

Solar cowboys:Door-to-door sales crackdown in government’s sights

The salesman who knocked on Max Johansen’s door had an offer that sounded too good to be true. Turns out,it was.

  • byHenrietta Cook andClay Lucas
Surge in disconnections puts Victorians in the dark

Surge in disconnections puts Victorians in the dark

After halting disconnections for most of last year due to the financial impacts of the pandemic,energy retailers are stepping up their action against those who haven’t paid their bills.

  • byHenrietta Cook