Consumer Choice – August 2007.

             
Make the switch!
For the September 2007 edition of its award-winning Consumer Choice magazine, the Consumers Association of Ireland takes an in-depth look at the following topics:

Is VHI really that expensive?
Given the spate of developments in the health insurance market over the last year, a new consumer information campaign by the health insurance authority and a flurry of aggressive marketing by all three players, is it really worth your while switching health insurers? In our extensive report, we take a fresh look at the market and select our Choice Buys for six different profiles of customers and their families.

An Energy Consumer Charter for Ireland
Despite full deregulation in both the gas and electricity markets, Irish consumers have yet to see any benefits. As the European Commission prepares its European Energy Customer Charter, we set out what we believe are the essential rights for Irish consumers in a competitive energy market.

Everything you need to know about Nutrition
Do you need to drink milk? How much alcohol is too much? Are trans-fats bad for you? And what about the stuff your mum was forever telling you?

Pre-NCT checks
Many garages advertise pre-NCT checks for your car but are they worth it? We ask what happens if your cars fails. Do you have any comeback?

A-Z of vitamins and minerals
Is it possible to get your essential vitamins and minerals in pills and other food supplements?

Your consumer rights when PCs go bad
Given their complexity, PCs and peripherals can be susceptible to breakdowns shortly after they’ve been bought.  But we hear about too many PC retailers trying to break your consumer rights as well. We take a look at some classic examples.

Online newspapers
More and more readers are choosing to walk past their usual newsagents in favour of looking up their usual newspapers online when they get to the office. We highlight the best sites.

Small Claims Court
Now handling nearly 3,000 claims every year, the Small Claims Court is proving an effective consumer weapon against unscrupulous or dishonest retailers. Making a claim is easier than ever, thanks to a new online application service.

Getting a grip on 4x4s
We bring you the latest Which? tests of 4x4 vehicles, freezers, camcorders and disposable cameras.

All these reports and many more are to be found in the September 2007 edition of Consumer Choice the magazine of the Consumers’ Association of Ireland.

                                                           
CONTACT:

Nora/Judy only at :  01 – 497 8600
Consumers’ Association of Ireland
43-44 Chelmsford Road,
Ranelagh
Dublin 6.