Australia's most trusted consumer advocate, CHOICE, has once again pulled back the curtain on the nation's most disappointing products and services in their highly anticipated - and deeply feared - 2025 Shonky Awards.
The Dubious Honour Roll
This year's 'winners' include some of Australia's biggest names, with Commonwealth Bank, global online marketplace Temu, and health insurer HCF all earning a place on the shame list for practices that left consumers feeling short-changed and frustrated.
Commonwealth Bank's Costly Security Failure
Australia's largest bank found itself in the spotlight for what CHOICE describes as a "security feature that costs you money." The organisation highlighted the bank's decision to charge customers a fee to receive security codes via SMS - essentially making customers pay to protect their own money.
"Charging customers for security measures is like a lifeguard asking you to pay for the life ring before they throw it," one CHOICE representative commented.
Temu: The True Cost of 'Too Good to Be True'
The Chinese online marketplace Temu earned its Shonky for what lies beneath those unbelievable prices. CHOICE's investigation revealed concerning data privacy practices and questionable product quality that often doesn't match the glossy online images.
Multiple consumer tests showed items arriving significantly different from their online representations, with some products failing basic safety standards that Australian consumers take for granted.
HCF's Health Insurance Headache
Even health insurance wasn't immune from scrutiny. HCF received a Shonky for policy changes that left many customers with reduced coverage while continuing to pay the same premiums - a move that CHOICE says undermines trust in the entire health insurance sector.
What Makes a Shonky Winner?
CHOICE's awards aren't handed out lightly. Products and services must demonstrate exceptional levels of disappointment through:
- Misleading claims or advertising
- Poor value for money
- Significant failures in quality or safety
- Practices that exploit consumer trust
- Making life unnecessarily difficult for customers
Fighting Back for Australian Consumers
The Shonky Awards serve as more than just entertainment - they're a powerful tool for holding corporations accountable. CHOICE uses these awards to highlight systemic issues affecting Australian consumers and advocate for stronger protections.
"These awards remind businesses that Australian consumers are watching and won't accept being treated as an afterthought," said a CHOICE spokesperson.
For the 'winners,' the publicity serves as a stark warning that poor practices won't go unnoticed. For consumers, it's a valuable guide on what to avoid in an increasingly complex marketplace.
