Consumer behaviour Archives - Consumers' Federation of Australia

7 December , 2023

65% of People Don’t Trust Business to Use Their Data Responsibly: CHOICE

New research from CHOICE has revealed 65% of people don’t trust businesses to use their data responsibly and in their best interest – an increase of 25% from 2022.

“It’s no surprise more people don’t trust companies to use their data responsibly. Over the past year we’ve seen the terrible consequences data breaches can have for those affected by them, including at Medibank and Latitude,” says Senior Campaigns and Policy Advisor Rafi Alam.

28 July , 2023

Record Number of Financial Complaints for Second Year in a Row

“We are deeply concerned by the volume of complaints consumers are having to escalate to AFCA,” chief ombudsman David Locke says. “It’s not fair on consumers and not good for business. We need to see a significant improvement from firms.”

Image 29 April , 2023

ACCC Social Media Report Finds Consumers and Small Businesses Require More Protections

The ACCC has highlighted a range of harms to consumers and small businesses occurring across social media services, including excessive data collection practices, lack of effective dispute resolution options, prevalence of scams, lack of transparency for advertisers and inadequate disclosure of sponsored content by influencers and brands.

7 August , 2020

Consumers and COVID-19: from crisis to recovery

Today the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) released its June briefing for the Consumers and COVID-19: from crisis to recovery research initiative. With governments, regulators, business and the broader policy community challenged to provide sufficient support for consumers during the COVID-19 economic crisis and into recovery, CPRC’s research aims to: Better understand the impact that COVID-19 is having on…

22 November , 2019

Almost half of Aussie kids own or use a mobile phone

New analysis of Roy Morgan data from the Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) shows that nearly half of Aussie kids aged 6-13 own or use a mobile phone. The analysis shows that in 2018, 32 per cent of kids owned a mobile phone with a further 16 per cent having access to one. One…

28 February , 2019

Renters must be at centre of reforms, CPRC report finds

Consumer think-tank launches latest research report – The Renter’s Journey –at CPRC Policy Connect Series forum • 5 common challenges• 10 key policy implications• 20+ organisations involved in research process Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) has released its latest research report – The Renter’s Journey – following the rental experiences of four key groups of…

28 November , 2018

ASIC puts spotlight on the rapidly growing buy now pay later industry

ASIC has released its first review of the rapidly growing buy now pay later industry. The review of this diverse and evolving market has found that buy now pay later arrangements are influencing the spending habits of consumers, especially younger consumers. A buy now pay later arrangement allows consumers to purchase and obtain goods and…

14 February , 2017

Call for improved power retailing

The Queensland Consumers Association is calling on energy retailers, politicians and regulators to place the retail market at the centre of thinking about the transformation of the energy system. This is a key conclusion from a national survey* of 2300 consumers just released by Energy Consumers Australia (ECA). The survey revealed that: consumers rank the…

2 December , 2016

Cooling-off periods for consumers don’t work: study

Paul Harrison, Deakin University When customers are offered a “cooling off” period, they don’t change their minds, even when the alternative is considered subjectively better, our research finds. We also found that some consumers (around 30%) only responded when contacted by the seller and asked if they would still like to opt in. Under current…

28 October , 2014

Report shows most consumers ‘guess’ insured value when choosing home insurance

ASIC reports set out areas for improvement in home insurance sales practices

20 August , 2014

How your shopping choices will help Coles and Woolworths take on the banks

Supermarkets are gathering information on Australians’ financial situations and lifestyles as they prepare to take on the big four banks