The history of Which? Find out more about our achievements in our 50 year history

The last 20 years

2007

• We launched our newest magazine, Which? Money.

2006

• We introduced a new look for our magazines.
• We launched our new website, www.which.co.uk, where you can find out all you need to know about Which?
• We published the first titles in our new consumer-based range of books, Which? Essential Guides.

2005

• Which? launches its free energy comparison service, Switch with Which?

2004

• Which? is granted official super-complaint powers by the Department of Trade and Industry. This gives Which? the power to make super-complaints to a number of government agencies about markets that are failing consumers.
• After 40 years calling for stronger regulation of estate agents, Which?'s Move it campaign celebrates victory: the government announces that all estate agents will have to sign up to a government-approved independent redress scheme and licensing of estate agents.

2003

• Two more switching websites launched encouraging consumers to search for the best mobile deal and switch from the 'big four' tour operators when choosing their holidays to ensure better service.

2002

• Which? launches its first Switch with Which? campaign, informing consumers that changing utility suppliers could save them money and possibly provide better service
• Which? lodges its first-ever unofficial 'super-complaint ' to the Office of Fair Trading on charges for private dentistry and poor access to NHS dentists.
• Which? Extra, an online archive of Which? magazine reports, launched.
• Endowment action campaign launches to help the millions of consumers who may have been mis-sold endowment mortgages.

2001

• Which? sets up an office in in order to influence the work of the Scottish Executive and Parliament.

2000

• After many years of campaigning for cheaper car prices, Which? launches 'Rip-Off Britain' campaign
• Treatment Notes, patient leaflets based on original Drug and Therapeutics bulletin articles, launched.
• 
  Computing Which? launched.

1999

• Which? wins the right to challenge companies which put unfair terms in their contracts.

1998

• Which? leads the way in exposing the over-priced UK car market.

1997

• The Government agrees to Which?'s demand for an independent Food Standards Agency.

1996

• Which? enters the world of cyberspace with the launch of Which? Online.

1995

• Which? moves to its new testing and research laboratory in Milton Keynes.

1994

• After 10 years of campaigning for seat belts in vehicles by Which?, the Government announces safety belts are compulsory for any vehicles carrying children.

1992

• Which? continues to successfully campaign on product safety and price rip-offs, as well as developing relations with our European counterparts to work for consumers throughout Europe.

1991

• Consumer Policy Review launched.

1989 back to 1970

1987

• Which? receives charity status for the research part of our work, achieving a long sought-after goal.
• Which? headquarters move to 2 Marylebone Road, London.

1986

• 
  Which? acquires Self Health which later becomes Health Which?

1984

• Gardening Which? exhibits for the first time at the Royal Show and wins two medals at RHS summer and autumn shows.

1983

• Handyman Which?, Money Which? and Motoring Which? are merged into a new-look, full-colour Which?.

1982

• Gardening Which? launched, coinciding with the organisation's Silver Jubilee.

1980

• Which?'s campaigning on competition policy leads to the introduction of the Competition Act.

1979

• Which?'s campaigning is further rewarded with the introduction of The Sale of Goods Act.

1978

• Which?'s persistent campaigning enables The Consumer Safety Act to become law.

1977

• Major expansion in book publishing starts with the 'Which? Way' series.
• Lobbying from Which? helps push through the Unfair Contract Terms Act.

1974

• Holiday Which? launched.

1972

• After extensive pressure from Which?, Britain appoints its first Minister for Consumer Affairs, Geoffrey Howe, now President of Which?.
• Which? plays an instrumental part in the establishment of the Office of Consumer Unions, now BEUC, which lobbies the European Union on behalf of consumers.

1971

• Which? launches its third satellite, Handyman Which?
• Successful campaigning leads to The Unsolicited Goods and Services Act.

1970

• Which? opens its own testing laboratory in Harpenden and market research survey unit.

1969 back to the start

1968

• Which? launches its second satellite, Money Which?

1965

• The quarterly Car Supplement is transformed into Motoring Which?

1964

• Which? begins to adopt a more campaigning stance and successfully campaigns to promote use of lead-free paint on toys and for safer electric blankets.
• Which? is sued for libel for the first time, but the action proves unsuccessful.

1962

• Which? expands its publishing with the launch of the first Which? satellite, the Car Supplement. 
• The British Edition of the American Medical Letter, the forerunner to Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, is also launched.

1961

• Which moves its London Headquarters to 14 Buckingham Street.

1960

• Which? helps found the International Organisation of Consumer Unions, now Consumers International.

1959

• Which? magazine changes from a quarterly to a monthly magazine and membership reaches 150,000.

1957

• Consumers' Association, now known as Which?, formed by Michael Young and others.
• First edition of Which? magazine published from a converted garage in Bethnal Green and 10,000 members enrol in the first month.