News in 2005
- 30 Dec 2005Fake DVDs and CDs seized in raidsMore than GBP 1.5 million-worth of pirated goods including DVDs and CDs have been seized in a series of raids.
- 29 Dec 2005New guide to green claimsShoppers searching out bargains in the post-Christmas sales should beware of certain 'eco-friendly' logos that aren't all they appear, says a new government guide.
- 28 Dec 2005Pest threat from imported plantsGardeners are unaware of the environmental threat posed by pests and diseases from imported plants, according to the Royal Horticultural Society(RHS).
- 21 Dec 2005Crazy Frog frenzyThousands of mobile phone users who ran up big bills downloading the Crazy Frog ringtone could be in line for a refund.
- 21 Dec 2005Store card changes not enoughMeasures proposed today to prevent shoppers running up huge bills on high-interest store cards don't go far enough, says Which?.
- 20 Dec 2005ITV News Channel axedITV has announced it is to axe its News Channel a month early so that staff can have a break over the festive season.
- 14 Dec 2005Comet backs downHigh street chain Comet has admitted giving bogus information to shoppers about the benefits of its high-definition television (HDTV) sets.
- 13 Dec 2005Your rights onlineMillions of UK shoppers are getting a raw deal because they don't have the same rights as their Continental counterparts, according to Citizens Advice.
- 12 Dec 2005How to cheat call centresA website is set to give out tips on getting round companies' automated call centre systems.
- 12 Dec 2005British gas strikesBritish Gashas said it will do its 'very best' to protect vulnerable customers during a series of strikes by its heating engineers.
- 09 Dec 2005Government phonelinesMore than one in three people ringing government helplines are not getting through according to damning new figures released today
- 08 Dec 2005Stamp prices riseThe price of a first-class stamp is set to rise next April by 2p to 32p.
- 08 Dec 2005Payment protectionCompanies selling loan repayment cover are to be investigated over concerns that consumers could be getting a raw deal.
- 08 Dec 2005Bt offers TVBT has signed deals with three entertainment giants to provide programmes, music and films for its planned TV-over-broadband service
- 07 Dec 2005Waterstones bid referredBook buyers have helped to put the brakes on a multi-million pound bid by Waterstone's to buy one of its main rivals.
- 06 Dec 2005O2 tops customer pollShoppers rate O2 stores the best place to buy a mobile phone on the high street, says an annual survey published today.
- 05 Dec 2005Safer EU shoppingNew measures to streamline European law should make it easier to take legal action if you're sold shoddy goods by a shop based on the Continent.
- 05 Dec 2005More spent on boysParents will spend almost GBP 100 more on sons than on daughters this Christmas because boys want more expensive toys - and are better at pestering.
- 02 Dec 2005Problem postal serviceIf you forget to send cards this Christmas, you've good reason to claim they were lost in the post.
- 01 Dec 2005Pensioner refused emailPensioner Herbert Humphreys was refused an email address because his name was 'offensive'.
- 30 Nov 2005Empire have misled consumers... againA catalogue shopping company exposed by Which? for its misleading mailshots has fallen foul of the advertising watchdog for the fifth time in a year.
- 30 Nov 2005Pension scheme lifelineProposals announced today for a national pension saving scheme are a lifeline which could save UK pension provision.
- 29 Nov 2005Watchdogs failingMPs in a select committee have branded the consumer watchdogs Energywatch and Postwatch 'feeble'.
- 29 Nov 2005OFT raps scammersThe company behind a scam which lured thousands into calling an expensive phone line has been forced to give legal undertakings to curb its behaviour.
- 28 Nov 2005Oil company investigatedOfgem has called for an urgent enquiry to investigate allegations that major gas suppliers have been withholding supplies to artificially push up prices.
- 26 Nov 2005Sony's best buysEntertainment giant Sony is the best audio visual brand of 2005, according to new Which? Awards.
- 26 Nov 2005Nintendo wins in 2005The portable Nintendo DS has been heralded as the most innovative new product in the Which? Awards 2005.
- 26 Nov 2005Metronet's top honoursInternet company Metronet has come out on top as the Best Broadband ISP in the inaugural Which? Awards.
- 26 Nov 2005New Which? awardsWhich? has launched new annual awards to honour companies who have produced the best products and services over the past year.
- 26 Nov 2005Bosch are the bestThat's the verdict of new Which? Awards honouring the companies who have produced the best products over the past year.
- 26 Nov 2005BT enhances car securityBT has launched a new car security system which uses global positioning technology to pinpoint the location of a stolen vehicle to within a few feet.
- 24 Nov 2005Tesco gets sums wrongSupermarket giant Tesco has been fined thousands of pounds for misleading shoppers about the cost of its wine.
- 23 Nov 2005Xmas Xbox shortageBritish stores are already warning that games fans face a wait to get their hands on the Xbox 360 after it's launched in the UK next week.
- 22 Nov 2005Flu vaccines diminishedBritain's stocks of winter flu vaccine are dwindling after bird flu fears apparently spurred many more patients to get a jab.
- 22 Nov 2005Stop internet fraudstersThe telecoms regulator has warned that tougher measures are needed to stop the internet dial-up scams that can add hundreds of pounds to victims' phone bills.
- 17 Nov 2005Catch bad estate agentsWhich? is urging the House of Lords to take on the rogue estate agents who fleece and hoodwink homeowners.
- 17 Nov 2005HIPs from 2007Which? has welcomed news that Home Information Packs (HIPs) will be compulsory for anyone selling a home from June 2007.
- 17 Nov 2005OFT to act more speedilyBritain's competition watchdog is too slow in cracking down on rip-off businesses according to a new report.
- 16 Nov 2005Online prices 'hiked up'Leading electronics companies have been accused of giving shoppers a raw deal by forcing up the cost of online goods.
- 16 Nov 2005Rising electrical costsInternet traders complain that manufacturers are charging them 10 to 15 per cent more than they charge high street stores for TVs, DVD players and other electrical products.
- 15 Nov 2005Driving refresher coursesOlder drivers are in favour of refresher courses to help them deal with the hazards of busy modern roads, a new survey reveals today.
- 14 Nov 2005Savings accounts slammedOne in six 'easy access' savings accounts penalise customers for withdrawing money, claims research published today.
- 13 Nov 2005Older motorists to brush up skillsOlder drivers are in favour of refresher courses to help them deal with the hazards of busy modern roads, a new survey reveals today.
- 10 Nov 2005Open all day SundayA consumer group is calling for Sunday trading hours to be extended so that people could shop when they wanted to.
- 10 Nov 2005Scammer convictedA prize-hotline conman who raked in thousands of pounds by duping people into calling because they thought they'd won a car has been sentenced to 200 hours' community service.
- 10 Nov 2005Rental cut plan for BTPhone customers look set to get a better deal after the phone regulator put pressure on BT to cut the amount it charges other companies for renting its lines.
- 10 Nov 2005Energy firm's price hikeMillions of homeowners are facing steep rises in their fuel bills after one of the UK's largest energy companies announced a price hike.
- 09 Nov 2005Jersey's cheap DVDsA scrap between Tesco and Amazon over which one sells the cheapest CDs and DVDs has highlighted the savings offered at Jersey-based websites.
- 09 Nov 2005BBC reveal donationThe BBC has agreed to be clearer about the GBP 2 it's donating to Children in Need out of the GBP 12.50 price of special charity egg cups, following intervention from Which?.
- 08 Nov 2005Uninsured cars seizedThe government is proposing a major expansion in wheel clamping to deal with minor motoring offences and announced tough new powers to tackle the UK's two million uninsured drivers.
- 07 Nov 2005New logo for HDTVA new logo has been unveiled to help consumers identify bona fide high-definition televison (HDTV) receivers.
- 07 Nov 2005Sony MP3 WalkmanSony has released its new MP3 Walkman which it calls the 'most stylish and sophisticated digital audio player' ever.
- 07 Nov 2005Kid's knives and alcoholChildren as young 13 are able to buy alcohol and knives over the internet, a new survey has found.
- 07 Nov 2005Payment protectionCompanies which sell payment protection insurance (PPI) have been reprimanded for failing to check whether those buying it would be barred from using the policy.
- 03 Nov 2005Driven mad by parkingWhich? is calling on the government to sort out Britain's parking problems after our research found many motorists feel bamboozled by the current system.
- 03 Nov 2005Internet bargainsShoppers can cut the price of some goods by a quarter if they buy them online rather than on the high street.
- 02 Nov 2005Fitness club fees gaffeA health and fitness club helped itself to more than GBP 10 million of its members' cash when a new computer system wiped out the decimal point in all the direct debits.
- 02 Nov 2005eBay fraud gang jailedThe mastermind behind a gang of fraudsters who conned eBay users out of almost GBP 200,000 has been jailed for four years.
- 01 Nov 2005Hi-tech bargainsLesser-known online stores often provide better deals on hi-tech goods than their big-name rivals, says a new survey from Computing Which?.
- 01 Nov 2005Internet fraud warningFraud experts have warned internet shoppers to be extra vigilant after three people were jailed for conning thousands of customers of the online auction site eBay.
- 31 Oct 2005Tighter silent call rulesCompanies that consistently plague homeowners with nuisance silent calls are to face fines of up to GPB 50,000 under new plans announced by the government today.
- 28 Oct 2005Honouring Sheila McKechnieTop politicians and journalists are backing new awards to highlight the next generation of campaigners who strive to improve the lives of ordinary people in Britain and particularly those denied a voice.
- 27 Oct 2005Protect yourself onlineMillions of computer users are at risk of internet fraud because they don't know how to protect themselves online, says a government survey.
- 27 Oct 2005TV on demandA set-top box to be launched next year will be a gateway to thousands of hours of archived TV programmes and films.
- 25 Oct 2005iPod in court?Entertainment giant Apple is facing a US lawsuit over alleged problems with the recently launched iPod Nano.
- 25 Oct 2005Drug side effectsA UK-wide pilot scheme allowing people to report suspected medicine side effects directly to the health watchdog has been welcomed by Which?.
- 25 Oct 2005Southern water payoutA water company could be facing a multi-million pound payout over irregularities in the handling and reporting of its customer enquiries and complaints.
- 24 Oct 2005Water shortage warningDespite the wet weather, water shortages are an 'increasingly serious issue' which can't be solved by building more reservoirs, says a new group set up to protect Britain's dwindling supply.
- 21 Oct 2005Motorway breakdownsThere were over 90,000 accidents or near misses on motorway hard shoulders last year because drivers still don't know what to do when they break down, according to a new survey.
- 21 Oct 2005Guide for simple billsNew guidelines have been introduced which aim to make it easier for consumers to understand their household bills.
- 20 Oct 2005Laptop batteries recalledHewlett-Packard (HP) has recalled 135,000 laptop battery packs amid fears they could catch fire.
- 18 Oct 2005Import tax for online shoppersOnline shoppers buying bargains from abroad have been warned they could be fined and have the goods seized if they try to duck import taxes.
- 18 Oct 2005Retune for freeviewIf you watch TV through Freeview , you'll have to retune the box on October 18 following a major reshuffle of the channel numbers.
- 17 Oct 2005Widower pension rightsMen whose wives died before 2001 may now be entitled to 'widow's benefit' following a landmark ruling by the European Court of Human Rights.
- 17 Oct 2005New consumer rights agencyWhich? has thrown its backing behind calls for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to head up a new super-agency to protect consumers.
- 17 Oct 2005Complaining about lawyersNews that lawyers will soon cease to handle their own complaints is a great victory for consumers, says Which?.
- 14 Oct 2005Pots of fruitFruit plants that yield an abundant crop can successfully be grown in pots, according to new trial results from Gardening Which?.
- 13 Oct 2005Telecom poaching clashTwo of the country's largest phone companies are embroiled in a war of words over claims one was using dodgy tactics to poach the other's customers.
- 13 Oct 2005TV in your handComputer giant Apple has unveiled the latest gadget which it hopes will take the Christmas market by storm - an iPod that plays videos.
- 12 Oct 2005Licence fee to soar?BBC chiefs are under fire over proposals which would see the licence fee soar to almost 180 GBP a year by 2013.
- 12 Oct 2005Be vigilant over avian fluPeople are being asked to ring a government helpline to report any large sightings of dead or dying birds amid fears the killer avian flu virus is heading towards the UK.
- 10 Oct 2005How to get More4Channel 4is launching a new digital television channel on Monday evening (10 October), the first of two channels to go live this autumn.
- 07 Oct 2005ASA on digital radioAn advert promoting digital radio has been criticised by watchdogs for making misleading claims about its sound quality.
- 07 Oct 20054x4 health warningAll 4x4s should come with a health warning to alert buyers to the deadly threat these cars pose to pedestrians.
- 07 Oct 2005Gardens facing crisis?British gardens are facing "challenging times" according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
- 06 Oct 2005Best-loved computersApple, Dell and Sony are the brands of computer Which? readers are most likely to recommend to a friend.
- 05 Oct 2005Logo failureWhich? has poured scorn on a new logo which claims to allow consumers to buy with confidence.
- 05 Oct 2005Botox treats sweatingThe cosmetic treatment Botox may provide welcome relief for people plagued by excessive sweating, says a Which? specialist journal.
- 29 Sep 2005Water charge grievancesComplaints about the cost of water services in England and Wales have soared by more than 150 per cent in the past 18 months, according to an industry watchdog.
- 26 Sep 2005Counterfeit goods raidForty thousand smuggled cigarettes and other counterfeit goods have been seized after police and customs officers swooped on markets across Manchester.
- 22 Sep 2005Bogus prize scamsBritish consumers are losing up to a billion pounds a year to mass-marketing fraudsters whose cons include falsely claiming you've won a prize - but must pay to get it.
- 21 Sep 2005Crazy frog ringtonesThe company behind the Crazy Frog ringtone craze has been rapped by a watchdog after parents complained that children were being tricked into running up huge bills.
- 15 Sep 2005Car servicing kitemarkA new scheme has been unveiled which aims to protect motorists from dodgy garages and rogue mechanics.
- 13 Sep 2005Songs on your mobileAppleand Motorola have announced the world's first mobile phone with iTunes.
- 12 Sep 2005Spammers convictedBritish companies who illegally spam consumers' mobile phones with calls and messages have had their own wake-up call from a landmark case in the Irish courts.
- 08 Sep 2005'Cut petrol tax' callTwo motoring organisations are calling on Gordon Brown to tackle rising oil prices by radically changing the way the government collects tax on petrol.
- 06 Sep 2005Beetle threat to treesGardeners are being asked to look out for a Chinese, tree-destroying beetle after several were found in the UK.
- 02 Sep 2005Hardy importsA new study by Gardening Which? has found many exotic plants can weather even a bitingly cold British winter - with the right care.
- 01 Sep 2005Beat the petrol hikesAs fuel prices soar, so does demand for smaller and more economical cars.
- 01 Sep 2005PlayStation PortableSony's new portable games console finally went on sale today in the UK as shoppers scrambled to get one.
- 01 Sep 2005Finance firm helpWhich? is proposing a pioneering partnership with the financial services industry to restore battered consumer confidence.
- 31 Aug 2005Net nanny softwareAs the government announces a major crackdown on violent internet pornography, a new Computing Which? study reveals that parental control software is far from foolproof.
- 26 Aug 2005Pension helpWhich? is calling on the government to issue immediate advice for those who contracted out of the second state pension following damning new research by the Financial Services Authority.
- 25 Aug 2005Smoking in your carSmoking in your car can reduce its value by hundreds of pounds and may make it impossible to sell, according to a new survey.
- 22 Aug 2005Postal chargesA major shake up in postal charges means that from next year you'll pay according to the size of a letter or packet as well as its weight.
- 20 Aug 2005BT Privacy wins approvalOne BT customer every three seconds is signing up to the phone giant's new service to thwart nuisance calls.
- 19 Aug 2005Royal Mail adjusts pricesA major shake up in postal charges means that from next year you'll pay according to the size of a letter or packet as well as its weight.
- 17 Aug 2005Contract-out scandalMillions of people could lose out in the latest billion pound pensions scandal to hit the UK, according to new Which? research.
