Commonwealth Bank, Temu and HCF have been blasted for taking advantage of poor customers, failing safety standards, and hiking prices, with the three companies picking up gongs in consumer advocate Choice’s annual Shonky awards.

The 2025 iteration of the Shonky awards has also targeted energy retailers for their use of confusing pricing tactics, as well as a plug-in heater that fails to plug in or heat.

Commonwealth Bank’s Shonky was awarded off the back of an ASIC investigation earlier this year that found major banks charging low-income customers excessive fees when they were eligible for low or no-fee accounts.

While most of the banks caught said they’d issue bulk refunds, Commonwealth Bank initially refused refunds , before saying it would instead only consider individual refunds

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