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News$700k worth of savings tips from the government
$700k worth of savings tips from the government

$700k worth of savings tips from the government

Tags: Energy Information
Last updated by Someone on

Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately, you would have noticed all the talk about energy prices. If you have been off the grid (pun intended), there’s no hiding from your energy bill, which will find you eventually. 

And so will the Federal Government’s latest $700,000 ad campaign!

Launched this month, the Powering Forward Campaign reportedly cost tax-payers $300,000 for 60 seconds of airtime during the AFL & NRL Grand Finals, and as much as $700,000 in fees to a Melbourne ad agency.

There's some useful information buried in there, but it's hidden behind propaganda pushing the government's energy policy credentials.

What do you think of the campaign?

Our take? The website contains some useful info for people wanting to save on power bills, for example it links to the Energy Made Easy comparison site and the Victorian Switchon site to compare offers.

It also contains energy efficiency tips for households, which can be handy.

But all that useful stuff is buried behind the silly “powering forward” slogan and some bumph about the Government’s Snowy Hydro 2.0 and gas reservation policies.

They’re important, but we’d like to see the moneysaving info up front and centre!

Here’s something else you can do to save.

A couple of months back, the Fiftyup Club started our Power-Up Campaign,  which now boasts a staggering 50,000 registrations nationally That tells us that you do want to do something about energy prices even if it’s just to send a message to power companies that enough is enough.

While Australia may rank second in the world for quality-of-life, we rate first in the world for the highest energy prices. Data from the Carbon + Energy Markets' MarkIntell service says we’re ahead of Germany, Denmark and Italy with 4 Australian states in the top ten (click here to see the list).

This despite Australia having every energy resource available in the world including coal, wind, solar, nuclear and sea-water hydro power.

What can you do? It’s as easy as picking up the phone, calling your energy retailer and asking for a better deal. Don’t take no for an answer. The energy market has never been so competitive and you can get results, with many members reporting savings in the hundreds of dollars.

Click here to see the latest Fiftyup Club energy offers, extended for a limited time only


 

 

Originally posted on .

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Lindsay
Lindsay from NSW commented:

Changed to Coles Insurance not 2 months ago. Bugger it ! I have a home and contents policy due next month. Anything happening on that front? 

Terry
Terry from NSW replied to Lindsay:

Lindsay, I asked about contents & yes they do. I didn't proceed when told that they wouldn't if I go away for more than 60 consecutive days. My current insurer also has a similar condition however they allow it but hit you with a $500 excess if something happens while you are away. I figure a fire or burglar is going to cost me more than $500 so I will live with that one 

David - FiftyUp Club
David - FiftyUp Club from NSW replied to Lindsay:

Hi Lindsay, we will certainly be looking into Home and Contents Insurance. Stay tuned to your emails and we will let you know when we have an offer. 

George
George from ACT commented:

I don't trust the big two.(Coles and Woolworths) Their tactics with the petrol pricing is enough for me. 

eric
eric from NSW commented:

Re Coles Insurance Offer. Normal Coles Quote is $420 more than my current insurer. Saving offered is only for first year. Be careful. 

Peter
Peter from NSW commented:

I am pleased that we have some numbers to change the big end of town, but I would suggest that one looks at the Coles Insurance offer. As I see it his offer is only good for the joining up customer and will revert back to Coles' normal charges after 12 months. I would like to see the CPT insurance attacked, it has risen by more thn $50.00 in the last six months, and will continue to rise in spite of past governments promise that Greenslips would be cheaper if the CTP was sold off to private insurance. 

robert
robert from NSW commented:

good on you 50 plus for getting some great deals, but in the case of the coles car insurance I don't like their sniping tactics to get business. I entered my details and the price given was $1065 for my 2010 g6 falcon as against AAMI at $632.the only saving you get is for the first year and after that back to any old price. they don't deserve any business if they want to charge me a stupid price to start. I will stick with AAMI thank you. 

Paul
Paul from QLD commented:

Is the Fifty Up Club receiving a financial consideration from anyone, ie Coles, in relation to car insurance? 

Joel - FiftyUp Club
Joel - FiftyUp Club from NSW replied to Paul:

Hi Paul, we receive a consideration only if the offer saves you money. As the offer page FAQs say: Coles Insurance pays a fee of about $30 for every FiftyUp Club member who takes up the special offer. This fee is shared between consumer network One Big Switch and Macquarie Radio Network and helps to fund our next campaign. 

elizabeth
elizabeth from NSW commented:

I got a quote from Coles Ins a few months ago which was $200 cheaper than my APIA, but after reading numerous bad reviews on Coles I decided to stay with APIA. Yes a good discount is great but if you are getting a bad service is it worth it, I didn't think so, after all if you are making a claim it means you have had an accident and who want more stress and hassles at the situation. 

Joel - FiftyUp Club
Joel - FiftyUp Club from NSW replied to elizabeth:

Sorry to hear that Elizabeth, and somewhat surprised, as Coles Insurance has collected several awards this year: the Australian Banking and Finance “General Insurance Product of the Year” award, as well as the Mozo People’s Choice Awards “Best Value for Money Car Insurer” and “Top 5 Car Insurer” for 2013. 

elizabeth
elizabeth from NSW replied to Joel - FiftyUp Club:

Hi Joel, I think if you look back on this forum you will see that there are a number of posts stating the same as me, I was referring to other sites as in Product Review amongst others 

Joel - FiftyUp Club
Joel - FiftyUp Club from NSW replied to elizabeth:

Thanks Elizabeth, that's good to know and we will take a look. 

Terry
Terry from NSW replied to Joel - FiftyUp Club:

Sorry Joel but awards mean nothing. I won't mention names here in case I get sued etc but a classic example is the Company that uses a woman with a really bad French accent. When they were on TV some years ago they said if you were a good driver then they wanted you so I gave them a call. I went through all her questions & she kept gushing on about how I was exactly who they were looking for (no at fault claims ever). Then came "what car do you drive Terry?" "A Subaru WRX" I replied. Well, you would think I had just slapped her in the face & that was the end of that conversation. I even called the 2 major TV channels & asked them why they sanctioned adds from Companies that lied (GOOD DRIVERS remember). The adds actually stopped for a while but not for long. 

Max
Max from NSW commented:

I saved the first email with the Coles Insurance offer into my Fifty Plus Club folder for when my car insurance comes due, however I don't want the same email arriving every day thanks very much. That is just Gilding the Lily 

Peter
Peter from NSW commented:

It seems fiftyup can only do so much, I think us fiftyuppers need to get political. It appears the only chance we have, is for pollies to feel the heat of how we feel about the way we are treated. 

David - FiftyUp Club
David - FiftyUp Club from NSW commented:

Hi all, remember Coles Insurance guarantees to beat your current price by at least $100 if you’re 50 & over in NSW and you switch your comprehensive car insurance policy to Coles Car Insurance. 

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