News in December 2006
- 29 Dec 2006TV campaign to promote food labelling schemeThe Food Standards Agency will launch a campaign to promote ‘traffic light’ food labels in an effort to help consumers make healthier choices.
- 28 Dec 2006Gardeners warned over peat useEnvironmentalists have voiced concerns about the continued use of peat by amateur gardeners.
- 28 Dec 2006Vehicle-scrapping scheme welcomedCar owners will be able to have their old vehicles scrapped for free under a new scheme that comes into force on 1 January.
- 28 Dec 2006Shoppers warned over festive spending spreeWhich? is warning many Britons face a New Year financial hangover after it emerged the average person has spent £700 on the Christmas season.
- 27 Dec 2006Thieves target car gadgetsA new survey has reveled that the theft of gadgets from cars is growing, with satellite navigation (sat-nav) systems a particularly popular target.
- 27 Dec 2006Thomson scraps fuel supplementsBritain's biggest tour operator has announced it’s scrapping fuel supplements on its holidays.
- 27 Dec 2006Millions wasted in 'take back' hassleOver a million people won't be returning unwanted presents this Christmas because it is too much hassle, Which? reveals today.
- 21 Dec 2006Severe fog causes flight chaosMore than 350 flights are expected to be cancelled from Heathrow Airport today as thousands of Christmas travellers face a battle with the weather.
- 21 Dec 2006Junk food ad ban 'seriously flawed'Many of the TV shows most popular with children will not be covered by proposed new advertising restrictions, Which? warns today.
- 20 Dec 2006Watchdog raps allergy claims advertAn advert for Piriton is criticised for failing to back up claims about the number of allergy sufferers in Britain.
- 20 Dec 2006More building societies to disappearAnalysts are predicting that at least five building society names will disappear from the high street next year as mutuals merge to become more competitive.
- 20 Dec 2006Switch with Which? gets seal of approvalIndustry watchdog Energywatch has given its seal of approval to the Which? impartial energy price comparison site - Switch with Which?.
- 19 Dec 2006Celebrity restaurant fined over organic claimA London restaurant which counts Gwyneth Paltrow and Kylie Minogue among its celebrity clients has been ordered to pay more than £11,500 after claiming standard meat was organic.
- 19 Dec 2006Digital switchover support to cost £600 millionMinisters have confirmed that it will cost around £600 million to help older and disabled people with the switch to digital television.
- 19 Dec 2006Electric gadgets should have 'green' labelsThe amount of electricity people use to power gadgets such as cordless phones and electric toothbrushes is set to double in the next five years, according to a new study.
- 18 Dec 2006'Real men don't use sat-nav'One in five male motorists think satellite navigation (sat-nav) systems are for ‘wimps’, according to a new survey.
- 18 Dec 2006Air passengers told not to turn up too earlyAirport authorities are asking passengers to watch what they pack and not turn up too early as millions head overseas for a festive break.
- 18 Dec 2006Tesco to make lorries 'greener'Supermarket giant Tesco has confirmed it will run three-quarters of its distribution fleet on ‘greener’ biodiesel from next month.
- 15 Dec 2006glass fragments found in ready mealsHundreds of thousands of ready meals are being recalled after some consumers found glass fragments.
- 15 Dec 2006Survey to highlight accident blackspotsRoads are to be given a star rating to show motorists how dangerous they are.
- 15 Dec 2006Nintendo recalls millions of Wii strapsGames giant Nintendo has recalled 3.2 million straps for its popular Wii computer game controllers following a stream of reports they were flying out of the hands of overzealous players.
- 15 Dec 2006British Gas to price cuts in the springBritish Gas owner Centrica has promised to cut gas and electricity bills in the spring after nearly one million customers deserted the company.
- 14 Dec 2006Holiday firm goes bustThousands of Britons heading abroad for Christmas sun are facing travel chaos after a holiday firm went bust.
- 14 Dec 2006Green energy tariffs under fire‘Green’ tariffs offered by many energy companies don't live up to their environmental claims, according to a report out today.
- 13 Dec 2006Britons reluctant to return unwanted Xmas giftsMillions of Britons will be lumbered with unwanted Christmas presents this year because they won't return them to the shops, new Which? research has found.
- 13 Dec 2006More free cash machines for poor areasHundreds of non-charging cash machines are to be installed in low income areas around the UK following a deal between banks, ATM operators and the government.
- 12 Dec 2006MPs condemn 'chronically poor' postal serviceMPs have slammed the Royal Mail for being ‘chronically poor’ in parts of the country and have complained that the interests of customers are not an absolute priority.
- 12 Dec 2006Inquiry urged into UK airportsBAA's ownership of London's main airports looked under threat today after Britain’s consumer watchdog called for a full inquiry into its supply of airport services.
- 11 Dec 200675% of kids admit taking internet risksMany children are are putting themselves at risk of falling victim to online predators because they don't follow safety warnings, a new survey has found.
- 11 Dec 2006Millions fall victim to identity theftMore than four million people in the UK say they've fallen victim to identity fraud, according to a new report.
- 08 Dec 2006Airlines warn of tax-rise chaosHolidaymakers who have already booked trips abroad next year may be forced to stump up extra cash at the airport to cover a rise in passenger duty, it was claimed today.
- 08 Dec 2006Alert over babies asleep in child car seatsBabies lives could be at risk if they're left to sleep in car seats unsupervised for long periods, scientists warned today.
- 07 Dec 2006Top restaurants for Christmas Day treatThe Which? Good Food Guide has come up with a list of recommended restaurants open on Christmas Day for those who want to avoid cooking this year.
- 07 Dec 2006Queues form for Nintendo Wii launchThe hype surrounding the long-awaited new Nintendo console is reaching fever pitch as hundreds of games fans start queuing in London ahead of tonight’s midnight launch.
- 07 Dec 2006Sky broadband gets Google email and videoSky'snew broadband service has been boosted after the satellite broadcaster announced it was teaming up with internet heavyweight Google.
- 06 Dec 2006Mobile phones 'not linked to brain tumours'People who regularly use a mobile phone do not have an increased risk of developing brain tumours, a major study has found.
- 06 Dec 2006Channel 4 launches TV download serviceChannel 4has launched an online service which allows viewers to catch up with their favourite programmes by downloading them from the internet.
- 06 Dec 2006Chancellor doubles airline taxAir passengers and drivers are set to be hit in the pocket after Chancellor Gordon Brown today ended the freeze on fuel duty and doubled the tax for air travellers.
- 05 Dec 2006Lloyds TSB offers piggy bank schemeA scheme which allows bank customers to save their small change in the 21st century equivalent of a piggy bank has been announced by Lloyds TSB.
- 05 Dec 2006Sky expands movie download serviceSatellite broadcaster Sky has added pay-per-view movies and Sky One shows to its broadband download service.
- 05 Dec 2006Broadband customers fume over call centre delaysThe time people spend on the phone to their broadband provider is growing and is damaging customer satisfaction, a new survey claims.
- 04 Dec 2006BT intros TV over broadbandBThas launched its long-awaited next generation TV service which lets viewers watch films and programmes over the internet.
- 04 Dec 2006Kids warned of premium-rate phone chargesA new website will be launched today which aims to make children more aware of premium-rate services.
- 04 Dec 2006Manchester plans city-wide wi-fi networkPlans to provide Manchester with a free city-wide broadband wireless network have been unveiled by the city council.
- 01 Dec 2006'Economy' food ranges branded 'unhealthy'Shoppers who rely on economy range supermarket food could be getting unhealthier products, a new report claims.
- 01 Dec 2006Government report backs road pricingRoad charging should be used to pay for better bus and rail services according to a Treasury backed report.
