News in August 2006
- 31 Aug 2006Ryanair to allow mobiles on flightsNo-fills airline Ryanair has announced plans to allow passengers to use their mobile phones during flights.
- 31 Aug 2006Tesco service offers speedy deliverySupermarket chain Tesco has launched a new home shopping service which it claims will slash the amount of time people spend waiting in for deliveries.
- 31 Aug 2006Car insurance set to riseDrivers look set to face a sharp rise in the cost of their car insurance after one of Britain's largest insurers announced plans to raise premiums by an average of 16 per cent.
- 30 Aug 2006Royal Mail's junk mail rowRoyal Mail is at the centre of a row over junk mail after it suspended a postman who advised residents on a way of stopping it being delivered to their homes.
- 30 Aug 2006Beware of airport parking roguesHolidaymakers hoping to cut costs by using off-site airport parking have been warned about crooked operators who've ripped off consumers and left cars damaged.
- 30 Aug 2006Free music download service to challenge AppleThe world's biggest music company is taking on Apple by making its entire music catalogue available on a free, legal download service.
- 29 Aug 2006Elderly patients face hospital hungerNine out of ten nurses say they don't always have time to help patients eat properly, says new research from Age Concern.
- 29 Aug 2006Pupils are stocking up on snacksChildren are stocking up 'a secret mountain of junk food' on their way to and from school, according to new research.
- 29 Aug 2006Scientists claim organic milk is healthierA group of scientists say they have evidence that organic milk has more health benefits than standard milk.
- 26 Aug 2006Show to offer garden planning tipsGardeners thinking ahead to how they're going to plan next year’s garden should pop along to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) London Flower Show next month.
- 25 Aug 2006Millions of GP appointments missed each yearOver 11 million doctor's appointments are missed in the UK each year, wasting GP's time and NHS money.
- 25 Aug 2006Britain facing obesity crisisBritain is facing an obesity crisis with nearly a third of all men classified as obese within the next four years, according to a report out today.
- 25 Aug 2006Apple recalls 1.8 million laptop batteriesAppleis recalling 1.8 million Sony-built laptop computer batteries because of fears they could overheat and catch fire.
- 24 Aug 2006Sony to release Pink PSPSonyhas unveiled a limited edition pink PSP which is due to hit UK shops in October.
- 24 Aug 2006Couples must save £29,000 to buy homeCouples hoping to buy their first home have to save almost three quarters of their income just to get a foothold on the property ladder.
- 24 Aug 2006Petrol price war hots upMotorists heading away for a Bank Holiday break will be able to take advantage of the latest skirmishes in the supermarket petrol price war.
- 23 Aug 2006Kellogg's rapped by ad watchdogKellogg’shas been rapped by the advertising watchdog for claiming that eating breakfast makes children more alert.
- 23 Aug 2006Carphone Warehouse tariff claim 'misled'Carphone Warehousehas been rapped by advertising watchdogs for claiming it offered the ‘UK’s cheapest pay as you go network’.
- 23 Aug 2006Milton Keynes to trial high-speed netMilton Keynes is set to become the first UK city to have a high-speed WiMax wireless broadband network.
- 23 Aug 2006Coffee cost set to riseThe price of a cup of coffee could be about to rise after bean prices soared to their highest point in seven years.
- 23 Aug 2006JVC admits camcorder problemsElectronics company JVC is offering free repairs after it identified problems with some of its camcorders.
- 23 Aug 2006Drivers urged to use green schemeA new scheme called Targetneutral allows you to calculate your car’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and help to offset them with a payment.
- 22 Aug 2006Stability control 'should be standard'There have been fresh calls for carmakers to fit electronic stability control as a standard feature on all new cars — this time from Thatcham, the motor insurance industry’s research centre.
- 22 Aug 2006Rail travellers lament ticket costsThe number of rail passengers who think train tickets are worth the price has reached a record low, according to the rail regulator.
- 22 Aug 2006Easyjet to charge for second suitcaseEasyjet is to charge passengers £10 if they want to check in more than one bag.
- 22 Aug 2006Blood clot risk linked to long journeysPeople who travel for more than four hours by air, car, bus or train are doubling the risk of blood clots, according to new research.
- 22 Aug 2006Tesco stocks up on giant satsumasSupermarket giant Tesco is hoping to tempt shoppers with a giant version of a satsuma.
- 21 Aug 2006Superdrug opens mole clinicsHigh-street pharmacy Superdrug has launched mole clinics at three London branches and could roll out the scheme across the UK if it proves successful.
- 21 Aug 2006Britons drowning in a clutter mountainBritons are drowning under a mountain of unwanted gifts that they're too embarrassed to return, a new survey reveals today.
- 19 Aug 2006First Choice does away with brochuresOne of Britain’s largest travel agents has launched the country’s first brochureless branches.
- 19 Aug 2006Post shake-up to come into forceThe biggest shake-up in postal pricing since the introduction of the Penny Black comes into force on Monday 21 August.
- 18 Aug 2006Powergen hikes up prices againPowergenhas announced that its customers energy bills will rise by as much as 18.4 per cent starting from Monday, 21 August.
- 18 Aug 2006Broadband switching to be made easierBroadband customers will find it easier to switch to another provider under new rules proposed by the telecoms regulator.
- 18 Aug 2006Kids go free to West End showsParents can take their children to top West End shows for free under a scheme starting today and running until 1 September.
- 18 Aug 2006Student-age generation wants help boiling eggsHere's some fuel for the long-standing rumour that many students don't even know how to boil an egg.
- 18 Aug 2006Which? wants debate on NHS DirectWhich? is calling for a public consultation into the proposed reorganisation of NHS Direct.
- 17 Aug 2006Travel World International goes bustTravel World International (TWI), which specialised in holidays to northern Cyprus, has become the second tour operator within a week to go bust.
- 17 Aug 2006Mobility scooter warningSome models of mobility scooter are in danger of bursting into flames when being used, a government watchdog has warned.
- 17 Aug 2006Drivers want 'Queen's English' sat nav voiceMore than half of British motorists want their satellite-navigation (sat-nav) system to give out directions in a posh, southern English voice rather than a regional accent, says a new survey.
- 16 Aug 2006Dixons ditches analogue radiosOnline electrical store Dixons is to stop selling analogue radios and may soon call time on personal CD players and ‘ghetto blasters', it announced today.
- 16 Aug 2006Acne drug wastes millions of NHS poundsDoctors are wasting millions of pounds of NHS money by prescribing an acne drug that costs more than treatments which are safer.
- 16 Aug 2006Walkers 'misled over salt content'A Walkers mailshot featuring Gary Lineker made misleading claims about salt levels in crisps, the advertising watchdog said today.
- 16 Aug 2006Carrots...and chocolate are dish of dayBritons seem to have adopted a Jekyll-and-Hyde approach to their diet by eating more fruit and vegetables but then rewarding themselves with sweets.
- 16 Aug 2006The camera which slims youThey say the camera never lies but the latest offering from HP does just that by slimming you down at the touch of a button.
- 15 Aug 2006New Mini on the way BMW has revealed the first details and pictures of the all-new Mini, due to hit showrooms by the end of this year.
- 15 Aug 2006Dell recalls batteries in fire scareComputer company Dell is recalling 4.1 million laptop computer batteries because they could burst into flames.
- 15 Aug 2006Aldi recalls pasta saucesSupermarket chain Aldi has recalled two pasta sauces over fears they could contain pieces of glass.
- 15 Aug 2006New washing machine 'does the ironing'LGhas launched the world’s first steam washing machine which it claims will do the ironing.
- 15 Aug 2006Ebay traders strikeAngry online traders have staged a one-day boycott of eBay in protest at fee hikes on the auction site.
- 14 Aug 2006NHS billions 'largely wasted'Billions of pounds worth of extra investment in the NHS have been ‘largely wasted’, according to a social policy think tank.
- 14 Aug 2006Sky launches 'easy' remote controlSatellite broadcaster Sky has launched a remote control specifically designed for older people and partially sighted customers.
- 14 Aug 2006Ambulance response times mis-reportedSix of the 31 ambulance trusts in England did not record ambulance response times properly in 2005-06, according to a Department of Health (DoH) audit.
- 12 Aug 2006Doctors warn of risks of buying drugs onlineDoctors are warning about the dangers of buying drugs over the internet after a woman who treated herself with steroids was left with severely damaged sight.
- 11 Aug 2006'TV Anywhere' lets you watch the box on the movePeople can watch live and recorded terrestrial television on their mobile phones and laptops thanks to a new product which turns home PCs into a TV and digital video recorder.
- 11 Aug 2006Tapestry Holidays goes bustTapestry Holidays, which operated package holidays to Croatia, Greece and Turkey has gone bust.
- 10 Aug 2006Tesco's dominance growsSupermarket giant Tesco looks set to become the UK's number one non-food retailer, a new report predicts.
- 09 Aug 2006Airlines failing disabled passengersAirlines must do more to meet the needs of disabled passengers, says a new report by the Department for Transport (DfT).
- 09 Aug 2006Sony's new instant messengerSony is launching a pocket-sized, wireless (WiFi) device aimed at young people who like instant messaging.
- 09 Aug 2006NHS still a 'postcode lottery'Patients are the victims of a ‘postcode lottery’ for treatment of cancer, heart problems and mental health, a report out today has found.
- 08 Aug 2006Garage labour charges 'extortionate'Garages are charging ‘extortionate’ labour rates reaching as high as £170 an hour in some areas, says a report out today.
- 08 Aug 2006Helpline hassle drives customers awayFed-up customers have to wait more than six minutes on average to speak to a human operator when they call company helplines, according to a new poll.
- 08 Aug 2006Warning over bogus probioticsUp to half the ‘friendly bacteria’ products on the market are ineffective and some may even be harmful, scientists have claimed.
- 08 Aug 2006Britons spend 50 days a year onlineNew research shows that the average UK broadband user spends about 50 days a year online.
- 07 Aug 2006Tax gas-guzzlers, say MPsMotorists who drive gas-guzzling vehicles should pay up to £1,800 in road tax to counter the damage they do to the environment, an influential committee of MPs said today.
- 07 Aug 2006Food wrapper allergy warningBiscuit and ice cream wrappers have been found to contain hidden latex that could trigger potentially fatal allergic reactions, according to a new study.
- 07 Aug 2006ITV and 3 announce mobile streaming dealITVhasstrucka deal with mobile company 3 to stream programmes live to its mobile phones.
- 05 Aug 2006Airline crackdown on sun-seeking loutsA holiday airline has launched a crackdown on rowdy passengers and promised it will operate a 'zero' tolerance policy when it comes to unruly sun-seekers.
- 05 Aug 2006Fake heart drug recalledMore batches of a heart drug have had to be recalled following the discovery of fake tablets.
- 04 Aug 2006Treasury probes travel insuranceThe government has launched an investigation after Which? revealed holidaymakers are getting a poor deal on insurance bought through travel agents.
- 04 Aug 2006Tesco bid to cut plastic bagsSupermarket giant Tesco says it wants to cut the 4 billion plastic bags it dishes out annually by a quarter within two years.
- 04 Aug 2006Dyson offers five-year guaranteeDysonhas responded to criticism about the reliability of its vacuum cleaners by offering an unprecedented, free five-year guarantee on all its upright and cylinder models.
- 03 Aug 2006Honda Jazz crowned most reliable carDrivers who want a reliable motor are better off sticking with small, cheap cars than shelling out on big, expensive models.
- 03 Aug 2006Sainsbury's to axe trans fatsWhich? has welcomed news that Sainsbury’s supermarket is to cut dangerous trans fats from its own food and drinks by nexxt January.
- 03 Aug 2006Rogue beauty clinics face crackdownUndercover surveillance operations are to be set up to crack down on rogue beauty clinics, a health watchdog has revealed.
- 03 Aug 2006Broadband's 'big three' fail to impressBritain’s ‘big three’ broadband providers fall short when it comes to customer service, says a new Which? survey.
- 02 Aug 2006Powerhouse goes underElectrical chain Powerhouse closed its 50 stores across the country today after going into administration.
- 02 Aug 2006Barclaycard and HBOS cut card chargesBarclaycard& HBOS yesterday cut penalty charges on their credit cards to £12 following pressure to slash charges.
- 02 Aug 2006Salmonella scare to cost Cadbury £20 millionThe salmonella scare that forced Cadbury Schweppes to recall more than a million chocolate bars will cost the firm £20 million, it revealed today.
- 01 Aug 2006Baby food recalledMore batches of baby food have been recalled amid fears that small pieces of plastic could be in them.
- 01 Aug 2006TV licences dropped from post officesYou’ll no longer be able to buy your TV licence from your post office from today.
- 01 Aug 2006Massive postal shake-upA massive shake-up in postal pricing later this month means the cost of posting a letter will soon depend on size and thickness as well as weight, this month's Which? explains.
- 01 Aug 2006BT slashes pricesBThas slashed phone bills for millions of its customers by up to a third after regulator Ofcom ended official caps on the company's charges.
- 01 Aug 2006HSBC customers face current account feeHSBChas denied it's planning to end free banking - but has indicated more customers may end up paying a fee for their accounts.
