The Checkout

Zoe navigates the pitfalls of buying a home off the plan; Alex finds out which mozzie repellents actually work; and Ben gets the low down on security holding deposits which can take an age to return to your account.

Scott comes to grips with the fact that expensive running shoes aren't worth it; Mark discovers that hearing clinics are basically sales centres & Julian looks at how long a product should reasonably be expected to last?

Craig investigates why manufacturers aren't labelling trans-fat in foods; Zoe highlights the normalisation of payday lending & Scott finds out why tapping your debit card instead of swiping can land you with greater fees.

Kirsten finds something fishy in the world of Omega-3 supplements; Ben shows you how to complain about anything; Craig shares everyone's frustration with a look at what to do when your parcel delivery goes awry.

Craig Reucassel discovers the pitfalls of buying a car; the ACCC-CCC-C lift the lid on the biggest scam in Australia last year and in FUTube, Julian Morrow gets to the bottom of age discrimination in travel insurance.

Zoe Norton Lodge investigates how to assert your rental rights in Australia; Scott Abbot discovers Google Shopping's search results are allowing dodgy businesses to prosper & what happens when you can't pay your vet bill?

Alex Lee unpacks the issues with removalists, in a moving tale. The Tooth Fairy tells Ben Jenkins the 'tooth' about dentists. And in FUTube, Julian Morrow trawls the canned tuna industry with a new sustainability report.

Andy breaks down the cost of dying with a look at the funeral industry; Scott checks out the many ways telcos continue to torture us and in FUTube, Zoe discovers Australia Post are signing people up for junk mail.

Zoe investigates the nightmare of timeshare holiday accommodation; Craig looks at reverse mortgages for over-55s; The ACCC-CCCC bust open sports betting scams & Alex highlights the trap of automatically renewing payments.

The Checkout tackles issues that face all of us when we open our wallets - identifying ways consumers are being taken advantage of, manipulated and ripped off... even if there's nothing illegal about it.

Craig reports on the health ratings that leave you seeing stars (at the supermarket); Alex learns why you should think before you ink; Zoe & Kirsten look at the ways packaging tries to influence our purchasing decisions.

Hannah Reilly takes an interest in switching mortgage providers; Ben Jenkins shows you how to avoid an expensive lesson in further education and the yoga accessories that will really stretch your budget.

It's snot rocket science when it comes to over the counter cold & flu medication, the fine print in car parks that'll drive you mad, and are car makers coming clean with emissions ratings.

Zoe takes a high level of interest in "zero balance transfers" on credit cards, Andy negotiates the challenges of getting a better mobile phone plan and The Guilty Mum's guide to preparing school lunches.

Kirsten Drysdale looks at wine awards, Julian Morrow asks why pharmacies are selling so many scientifically dubious products & the scam detectors investigate scammers pretending to be government departments.

The Checkout returns to take a look at the pitfalls of buying a puppy, what to do when internet service providers promise one speed but deliver another & Craig Reucassel looks into the second hand car market.

Relive some of The Checkout's best segments in this compilation of viewer favourites from previous seasons. Satisfaction not guaranteed.

Relive some of The Checkout's best segments in this compilation of viewer favourites from previous seasons. Satisfaction not guaranteed.

Scott Abbot sheds too much UV light on sunscreen, the mechanics of private health insurance, and petrol prices make Craig Reucassel snap.

The hazards of travel insurance, what's so special about that new box feeling, and The Checkout story on unsolicited sales you haven't been asking for.

Alex Lee shines a light on sunglasses to find out which ones give you the best protection; Zoe Norton Lodge looks into the debt relief industry & tells you how you can help yourself, for free.

Kirsten Drysdale investigates whether online hotel booking sites save you money; Ben Jenkins explains your consumer rights when shopping online; Julian Morrow reveals what to do with your Dick Smith gift cards.

Zoë Norton Lodge looks at which pet foods are Best In Chow with guest stars Cat Stevens and Rene Descat; Kirsten Drysdale gets taken for a ride when examining rip-offs in the hire car industry.

'Checkout Chumps' investigates Premium SMS as Julian Morrow joins the Not Appy club and Zoë Norton Lodge shows us what the song and dance is with Arbonne direct marketing.

Julian plays The Price Is Right. Consumer edition! And Craig has an expensive groundhog day, thanks to financial commissions.

Ben Jenkins gets back to nature, Zoë Norton Lodge finds out why money transfers take so long to process, and Hannah Reilly exercises extreme caution about new car add-ons.

Kirsten Drysdale brings us up-to-date with the latest bogus developments in milk marketing and Alex Lee examines who really owns the books and other digital media you buy online.

Craig Reucassel looks at car financing plans and how much you’ll really pay, while Kirsten discovers she’s not related to Denise Drysdale, despite what the internet says.

Julian Morrow looks at the fine print on private parking fines and Ben Jenkins drinks the kool-aid that comes with sports drinks and asks if they’re really worth it.

Kirsten Drysdale does a clinical trial on clinical trials in the beauty industry, and Craig Reucassel asks what happens if your car turns out to be a lemon... or a donkey.

The pros and cons of online supermarket shopping, pet fitness products get a work out and ways to avoid the rental mentals.

Kirsten Drysdale looks at the nature of organic products, Scott Abbot takes on food labelling and animal self improvement from the loving pet owner Zoe Norton Lodge.

The pitfalls of the gift that doesn't keep on giving, a fresh look at claims to "freshness" and a price check on lowest price guarantees.

Gendered marketing and the equal opportunity to pay more, pet insurance gets put down and dishing the dirt on anti-bacterial cleaning products.

All roads lead to roam... ing fees for mobile phone companies, online dating and scammers make a perfect match, and the loving pet owner's guide to pet fashions.

Craig Reucassel pays the price of convenience, Kirsten Drysdale asks why serving sizes are so self serving, and water resistant watches face the judgement of the gods.

Craig Reucassel brings free range chickens home to roost, the loving pet owner's guide to pet stress relief, and Kirsten Drysdale discovers insurance companies charging a lazy tax.

Craig Reucassel phones home and turns the table on reverse charges, a cautionary tale about frequent flyer points, and how 4G affects our mobile data cap.

Kirsten Drysdale asks if we're being taken for a ride by the taxi industry, Zoe Norton Lodge untangles the mess of HDMI Cables, and is there something fishy about tuna?

Julian Morrow looks at superannuation and the quest for financial enlightenment, Kirsten Drysdale throws stones in the chlorophyll glasshouse, and Scott Abbot looks for clarity in headphones with a visit to Dr Dre.

Craig Reucassel on the health claims that are 98% fact free, Kirsten Drysdale and Zoe Norton Lodge show Unilever is a market leader in corporate hypocrisy, and the guilty mum takes on toilet training.

Kirsten Drysdale looks at The Struth About Australian Made labelling, Julian Morrow on your consumer rights when services go bad and Craig Reucassel explains how to not get ripped off when reading credit card statements.

- Superfoods - Door Knockers - If I Could Say One Thing : Rod Sims - Down Down Arithmetic - Access vs Ownership - Parallel Consumerverse : If Cinemas Were Gyms - Product vs Packshot : On The Menu Double Cheeseburger - F.U. Tube

- Chronic Pain - Swisse Vitamins - Search For The Most Expensive Wi-Fi - As A Guilty Mum : Sleep - Adventures In Fine Print : California Dreaming - Product Vs Packshot : Tom Piper Savoury - - - Mince & Vegetables - Not Appy - If I Could Say One Thing : Barry Schwartz - F.U. Tube

- Milking It - Tricks of the Trade Mags - Product Tampering : Strawberry Indulgence - Parallel Consumerverse : If Groceries Were Foxtel - Funeral Plans - The Search For The Most Expensive Water - If I Could Say One Thing : Alan Kirkland - Data Mining - Product vs Packshot : Bubble O'Bill - F.U. Tube : Jetstar and Sam

- Returning goods - Restaurants - Salty Cereals - Sea Life - As A Guilty Mum: Germs - Road Testing Electric Cars - F.U Tube

- Phoney Regulations - Adventures In Fine Print : Flight Insurance - Product Tampering : Ribena Fruit Drink - Copycats - F.U. Tube - Product Vs Packshot : San Remo Lasagna - If I Could Say One Thing : Teresa Corbin - The Rational Consumer

- Complimentary Medicines - Apple iPhone : Advertising vs Reality - If I Could Say One Thing : Catriona Lowe - Complaint Letter : Purina Cat Food - F.U. Tube : Consumers Bite Back - Product Vs Packshot : Coles Strawberries - As A Guilty Mum : Baby Bums - Parallel Consumerverse : If Toasters Were Mobile Phones - Product Tampering : Golden Circle Sunshine Punch - Meanwhile in Afghanistan - Buy Now, Pay Forever