8 GOLD COAST FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY "A person is a person through other persons" Desmond Tutu (Ubuntu philosophy). Connectedness, feeling grounded and proud are some of the comments people make once they embark on the search for family history. Regardless of humble or noble status during a lifetime, in the big picture, when all the pieces of a person’s life come together to make a tree, everyone becomes equally important. To be alive today is because of hardy genetics, mental drive and probably a lot of luck. On one hand death was common with child mortality, birth complications, death from injuries or disease no medical care could manage, plague, war and yet, men, and women after multiple births, lived to 6080+. Not everyone has a trail. It’s disappointing but never dull exploring possibilities. Finding a small fact about an individual who left their mark can feel incredible. “How could we not know this?”, “Why didn’t this information get passed down?” “I wish I’d asked more questions before my parents, grandparents passed away”. These comments are heard so often in family history conversations. Some information is easy to find while some takes searching multiple platforms. For example, following the line of a relative which may circle back to give valuable information about the focus person. For help with producing your family tree, you may like to join the Gold Coast Family History Society. For a modest yearly fee, you will have access to a comprehensive library, many worldwide subscription websites, and fellow researchers prepared to help you get started or break down any brick walls you may encounter. For further information visit http://www.goldcoastfhs.org.au or attend our rooms at the Bicentennial Building, 833 Nerang-Southport Road, Nerang. OPEN DAY The Gold Coast Family History Society is holding an OPEN DAY on Sat 7 March 10am – 2pm. Members will be on hand to guide people around our rooms and answer questions. Check out our worldwide resources provided for members. INTRODUCTION TO FAMILY HISTORY On Friday 20 March at 9 am we will be holding our Introduction to Family History class in Room 3, Bicentennial Building, 833 Nerang-Southport Road, Nerang. This session is free for members and $10 for non-members. Places will be strictly limited, please phone Pam on 0447 715 593 or email: goldcoastfamilyhistorysociety@gmail.com Subscription Traps and Your Wallet In today’s digital economy, subscription services are everywhere — from meal kits and fitness apps to streaming platforms and wellness programs. While these models promise convenience and value, they also bring a hidden risk: subscription traps. These occur when consumers are easily signed up to a recurring payment plan but face opaque or onerous processes to cancel, often resulting in unwelcome charges that can add up quickly. Subscription traps typically exploit psychological design features or “dark patterns” in online interfaces, such as buried terms and conditions, pre-ticked opt-in boxes, or multi-step cancellation processes that discourage users from opting out. These tactics not only frustrate consumers but also undermine trust in digital markets — particularly when people unwittingly transition from a free trial to a paid plan without clear warning. Recognising the growing harm, the Australian Government has made tackling subscription traps a priority. In late 2025 and into early 2026, it announced major consumer protection reforms aimed squarely at unfair trading practices like subscription traps and hidden fees. Central to this effort is a new ban on unfair trading practices under the Australian Consumer Law, developed in consultation with states and territories. These reforms will require businesses to disclose key subscription terms upfront, notify customers before free trials roll over into paid plans, and ensure that cancelling a subscription is at least as easy as signing up. The changes build on existing consumer law provisions against misleading and deceptive conduct, but go further by targeting the design and structure of the subscription process itself. Regulators such as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will have expanded powers to enforce these laws, including seeking penalties and compliance programs from companies that fail to treat consumers fairly. Recent legal action by the ACCC against major meal kit providers, including HelloFresh and Youfoodz, highlights why these reforms are needed. The watchdog alleges that tens of thousands of customers were charged despite cancelling subscriptions before the first scheduled delivery — evidence of how confusing practices can trap consumers into ongoing charges. For consumers navigating this landscape, vigilance is key. Australians should read the fine print before signing up, set calendar reminders for trial end dates, regularly audit bank and card statements for recurring charges, and use service-management tools where available. If difficulty cancelling arises, consumers can contact the ACCC or state consumer protection agencies for help. Ultimately, subscription services can offer real benefits — but only when they operate transparently and fairly. The government’s reforms reflect a necessary step toward restoring consumer control in an increasingly subscriptionled economy.
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