Kevin Milne

Kevin Milne uncovers his mystery woman at the palace

Are you able to take a Christmas gift back to the store it was bought from, and if so how do you go about this?

People make all the difference to Kevin Milne’s family trip to Japan.

What stat holidays are you entitled to over the festive season?

When making a significant retail clothing purchase, it’s well worth knowing your rights.

Kevin Milne looks at the ins and outs of splitting a restaurant bill.

Discover what you can do when an operation hasn’t worked out satisfactorily.

Kevin Milne helps us brush up on the laws governing returning unwanted Christmas gifts.

Consumer expert Kevin Milne investigates the ban on cellphones at gas stations.

Kevin Milne says shops can’t sidestep the law on repairs or refunds.

Hit the brakes if you’re thinking of taking a vehicle across the Tasman.

Do real estate agents have an incentive to achieve a top price when selling your house?

With the right help, investing for the first time is a cinch.

It’s more common now for companies to do their billing business online. It may be easier for some, but what about the people who don’t have the internet?

Unsubscribing from mailing lists can be a tangled web, and so can getting your picture taken.

Know your options when it comes to sky-high dental bills and protecting family heirlooms.

Many of us are used to leaving a piece of meat out on the bench all day to defrost, but it turns out that this practice is not recommended by experts – and not just because of the flies.

It’s all very well complaining about a restaurant’s food or service to friends and family, but that doesn’t help the establishment in question address any issues. Let them know your thoughts.

It stands to reason that a brand-new product should come with a brand-new warranty, but this isn’t always the case. It all depends on the manufacturer. Here’s what you need to know.

Beer doesn’t sit around for long at my place, so this question below presented a new conundrum. Like food, which goes off, and unlike wine, which can be cellared, beer is for now.

Consumer relations are a significant part of running a successful business. However, some retailers fail to understand this and can cross the line when dealing with their customers.

When something seems simply too good to be true, it usually is. If you receive a text message from an unknown source with an offer to get rich quick, you’re likely being “had”.

Last week I went to a lawyer for advice, but was shocked to find out what it would cost me. I am a beneficiary and there is no way I could pay the sort of money he expected me to pay. I thought I’d be able to get some legal aid. Can you give me […]

Sort the facts from fiction when it comes to bank safety.

What happens if the dealer selling clothes on your behalf "does a runner".

Insurance pay-out logic can be confusing to understand.

The taxi stops, you check the meter and dig for the $20 note. Then, before you can say, “Keep the change,” the driver taps the meter a couple of times and the fare’s gone up to $24. How can that be? To work out how your final fare is calculated you need to understand flag […]

I love a hot espresso, but so often they aren’t hot to my mind. It drives me mad, but complaining is difficult, as it’s so subjective. Is there a way of telling if a coffee isn’t hot enough? And if a coffee isn’t hot enough for me, can I send it back for a hotter […]

Just how much should the price ticket have to tell you?

I bought some Christmas gifts from an overseas online store. Most arrived in time for Christmas, but one didn’t. Do I have to pay for it? I told them it was a Christmas gift and they said the goods should arrive between 12 and 15 days. That would have made it by Christmas. But they […]

How quickly do you have to pay in full for your holiday?

A tow truck operator turns up to take my car away. What if I get back in my car to keep it from being towed? Can tow truck drivers use force to get me out? If they tow a car with me in it can I sue? Can tow drivers call the police in an […]

My daughter has severe allergies and is about to start school. As a parent, do I have the right to request that her teacher impose hand-washing rules and restrictions on what foods other kids can bring to school? If your daughter is allergic to certain foods, first make sure she understands her allergies and what […]

What are your options when menu rules leave a bitter taste?

Kevin provides free budgeting advice.

Budget tips for Kiwi families.

Take control of your debt in the new year!

*Our son borrowed some money for Christmas from a private lender and has got into a bit of strife. We’re so sorry he didn’t tell us, but now he has a $1500 debt. We tried to pay back the debt as soon as we found out, but the lender told us there are hefty penalties […]

Wise up before you commit to lending terms and you’ll keep debt from becoming an insurmountable burden.

I went to pick up some books at my local library last Friday night to find loud rock music being played throughout. Couldn’t believe it! Aren’t libraries supposed to be quiet? I complained to the librarian. She could hardly hear me above the racket. Apparently, it was Friday Fun Night. Has the world gone mad? […]

Losing your best friend is hard enough without the added sting of vet bills.

When a shop asks if I’ll be paying by Eftpos, what does it mean? Does it mean will I be using my credit card and/or Eftpos card, or just the latter? I replied that I’d be paying by Eftpos, but when I produced a credit card, the owner reacted grumpily. Yet I know other shops […]

When your teen tech support moves out, where can you go?

I gave up sending out Christmas cards years ago, but this year, once again, I found myself with a smattering of cards that others had sent me.

*We bought a pine tree in the first week of December. By Christmas week, it was definitely past its best and we threw it out and replaced it with another. Do you think we have the right to demand our money back? How long should they last?* There are important factors to be taken into […]

Our plan is to put up a fairly substantial boundary fence, but our neighbour is a dear old lady in her eighties and not terribly well. When we raise the matter of sharing the cost, she says she’ll talk to her family, but never gets back to us. We don’t want to cause her unnecessary […]

Who foots the bill when work dinner plans go awry?

You are touching on an issue which thousands of parents of school graduates wrestle with.

Council rules are putting a dampener on outdoor fires.

There are things you can try to fix your mill before you try to refund it.

What are your options when you are gifted an unwanted photo?

Why is computer ink so expensive? Our family spends nearly $200 a year replacing cartridges. Is there any problem with buying refilled cartridges rather than new, leading brand products all the time? I can’t remember having to pay a ludicrous amount for ribbons in the days of typewriters! Manufacturers claim that the high cost of […]

Everyone loves a BBQ, but it’s not always the cheap option.

Has the “loophole” been closed?

Here are some answers to questions we frequently get asked.

Why is Manuka Honey so pricey?

read the fine print on items boasting unlikely claims

Why do you still have to check out at hotels?

Do you have to share your winnings?

Always check your clothing labels before dry-cleaning.

Should we clean our sky dish ourselves?

A reader heard Kevin on the radio and has some questions.

To machine wash or hand wash? That is the question.

Is there a dress for success charity for men?

Redirecting mail is a pain, but what does the law book say about it?

If I buy a plant from the garden centre and it dies can I get a refund?

A retro theme can help you stick to a furniture budget

Is the luxury of underfloor heating out of the question, if you're working to a budget?

How do you value your house for insurance?

Can roadside assistance insist on driving you home?

Has the 2-in-1 concept gone out of favour?

There's an art to telling a print from a reproduction.

Do you need to organize receiving a letter from the queen on your 100th birthday?

The cost of appliances is not always included in the estimate of the price of a new kitchen.

What is meant by a lifetime guarantee?

Future-proof your home with energy-efficient bulbs

Kevin explains age restrictions on lotto tickets.

Avoid roaming gangs of tree workers or pay the price.

Kevin explains the policies around insuring a car for someone else.

In the case of a fender bender, be sure to get a witness.

How do they work?

Blades are on the increase, but which razor is a cut above.

Kevin gives advice to a mum, whose hip-hop loving son wants a gold grill.

What’s in a name when it comes to wine making?

Make sure you're up to speed on whether or not your warranty is transferable.

Hiring a wedding photographer can be costly, so it’s frustrating when guests’ amateur pictures show up on social networking sites first. Be sure to address it with the following options...

Insurance problem? Pipe up!

You might be covered in the case of credit theft, but what about the bank?

It has always puzzled me why there are two "n's" in Swanndri?

Achieving that perfect candid shot isn’t easy, especially when you need to make your presence known to the subject. Be sure to know where, when, who and what you can shoot, before you get snapping.

Kevin Milne gives re-assuring advice on the standard of medical care provided by your health insurance company.

The simple act of packing away a toaster can spell disaster.

Want to donate?

Should parents have to fork out for a night of fun?

Should you fork out the extra money to stand out in the crowd?

Kevin Milne answers your consumer questions.

Know what you need to ask, when purchasing a computer.

What can you do when you get trouble with what you've brought from a daily deal site?

Kevin Milne answers a worried mum's question- Does the law say you have to be a particular age before you get tattooed?

Will a combination lock box attract burglars or deter them?