McDonald's back to its old advertising tricks

PICS: Have a close look at these two pics. Can you decipher the fine print on the bottom? One is on offer only until 10.30am while the other is available only after 10.30am. Unfortunately, McDonald's doesn't offer its customers binoculars to read the teeny, weeny wording on its store signage.


McDonald's currently has a snazzy, American-style promotion on its Value Picks offerings.

In a new twist on the old "bait and switch" technique, McDonald's has put the Value Picks conditions in the fine print at the bottom of the promo signs.

By sucking people into queuing for 10 minutes for lunch at their Mt Ommaney Centre store in Brisbane's southwest, only to tell them that the great-looking Bacon and Cheese burger is available only until 10.30am, gives McDonald's an even money chance of snaring a different order from hapless customers.

Instead of a prominent "Breakfast Only" sign, the Yanks have gone out of their way to engage in some old-fashioned deceptive advertising trickery.

And to add insult to injury, McDonald's customers at Mt Ommaney who query the style and positioning of their misleading signage, are told that it all determined by Centre Management and has nothing to do with McDonald's.

That is nothing but a deliberate lie and a pretty dumb thing to say to a consumer advocate who has dedicated 30 years of his life to exposing these sorts of ripoffs and corporate scams.

It seems that McDonald's Big Lies are now overshadowing their discredited Big Macs!

Maybe consumers should vote with their feet to stop this Yankee skullduggery.

Everyone knows the burgers are better at Hungry Jacks!

It really is bloody hopeless that these subtle advertising tricks are being played by McDonald's just to ship their greedy profits out of Australia back home to the USA.

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CR PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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AGIC Insurance is a national disgrace!

Floods tend to bring out the best in people - and the worst in insurance companies.

The recent torrential downpours at Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales Central Coast once again prove the horror of being insured with a company which will do anything and everything to refuse a claim.

Take the case of the two neighbours near Coffs Creek at Coffs Harbour.

NRMA Insurance quickly and happily paid a $6000 "storm water" damage claim to one couple.

Their neighbours - insured with the Auto and General Insurance Company - were denied their $7000 claim on the basis that their damage was caused by "flood waters".

This was the same day, same storm, same creek and same inundation!

Yet, Auto and General Insurance Company used its own powerful and shrewd policy interpretation to deny what were considered as legitimate claims by their competitors.

Consumer Watch spokesman Paul Tully says AGIC is a national disgrace.

"Consumers should dump AGIC and get on board with a company that is motivated by factors other than sheer greed.

"AGIC seems to have only two corporate aims - taking people's money and denying people's claims."

He said all Australian insurance companies should follow the lead of Suncorp in Queensland and provide automatic flood insurance cover on all of its household policies.

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CR PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Warning over Commonwealth Bank email scam

The following bogus email, purporting to be from the Commonwealth Bank, has hit Australia.

Ignore such emails and warn others of these malicious attempts to gain your financial information and hack your account.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Dear Client,

As a security measure, we regularly screen Commonwealth Bank activity. Recently, we
noticed a problem with your account.

We have reason to believe that your account was accessed by a third party.

We have limited access to sensitive Commonwealth Bank account features in case your account has been accessed by an unauthorized third party.

We understand that having limited access can be an inconvenience, but protecting your account is our primary concern.

We've limited access to your account temporarily. We'll review the limitation once you respond with the information we've requested.

To respond and remove the limitation, click the link below and follow the instructions:

http://www.commabwealthbank-au.com

Thank you for helping to resolve this problem.

Sincerely,
Commonwealth Bank Account Review Department

Please do not reply to this email. This mailbox is not monitored and you
will not receive a response.
For assistance, log in to your Commonwealth Bank account and click the Help link in the top right corner of any Commonwealth Bank page.

Commonwealth Bank Email ID CC522

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CR PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Gambling control trial is a sensible move by Queensland Government

The Queensland Government has moved to impose limits of gamblers in a trial in southeast Queensland.

This cashless gaming initiative is an excellent means of minimising some of the heartbreak caused to some families because of the ready availability of gambling venues.

The following is a media release issued today by the
Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading The Honourable Peter Lawlor:

28/05/2009

- Bligh Government moves to reduce problem gambling with new technology -

The Queensland Government is leading the way in the prevention of problem gambling in Queensland by completing further trials of 'cashless gaming' technology in two Brisbane venues.

Minister responsible for gaming, Peter Lawlor said the new card-based gaming technology allowed patrons to set limits on the money or time they spend on the pokies.

"This harm minimisation concept offers gaming patrons more control over their spending and could potentially be rolled out throughout the state.

"While less than half a percent of the Queensland population can be identified as a problem gambler, one problem gambler is a one problem gambler too many for the Bligh Government.

"The impact problem gambling has on families and communities makes it an important area for the Government to address," Minister Lawlor said.

The trials provided the Queensland Government with the opportunity to investigate pre-commitment card-based machine gaming using two different systems.

In March 2008 the Sandgate RSL Memorial Club became the hub for one of two trials into this important harm minimisation measure.

A second trial was conducted at Redcliffe RSL Club.

"The trials showed promising results, with some patrons reporting a spend reduction of up to $25 per day," said Minister Lawlor.

The wider investigation into card-based gaming is one of a many harm minimisation initiatives announced by Premier Anna Bligh last year, which forms a part of the Queensland Government's Responsible Gambling Strategy.

Member for Sandgate Vicky Darling said the Queensland Government recognises raising awareness of gambling harm is a collaborative effort involving community, industry and government.

"I am happy to report the evaluation of the card-based gaming trials demonstrated an overall support from both players and industry alike," said Ms Darling.

"The Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing has approved both systems for implementation in gaming venues on a voluntary basis.

"The Queensland Government intends to continue to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the card-based gaming systems as a larger number of venues take up the technology.

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CR PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Telstra hopes to fix major line break at Redbank today

Telstra is likely to fix a major 600 pair phone cable break at Brisbane Road Redbank today.

Services have been out since last week.

Most of the township of Redbank including commercial services to the local newsagent and the pawnbroker lost their phone and data connections during last week's local flash flooding.

Nigel Beaman, Telstra's General Manager South East Queensland, has now pulled out all stops to fix this problem.

Telstra advises that the planned completion date is today.

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CR PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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Warning against fraudulent ANZ internet banking scam

The following email is circulating on the internet.

Don't be fooled.

If you have received an email of this nature, delete it immediately.

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From: online_service@anz.com.au

Subject: Verify Your Account Details

Our Valued Customer,

For your security, ANZ Bank Help desk has safeguard your account when there is a possibility that someone other than you is attempting to sign on.

You now need to verify your Identity.

To verify your identity, kindly follow reference below and take the directions to instant activation.

https://www.anz.com/INETBANK/update.asp

Thank you for helping us to protect you.

Security Advisor
ANZ Bank Online Help desk

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CR PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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