News in September 2006
- 29 Sep 2006DIY store to sell wind turbinesA DIY chain is launching a new range of budget-priced wind turbines and solar panels from next month to help householders generate their own energy.
- 29 Sep 2006Mattresses spring into new lifeFurniture giant Habitat is launching a recycling service for old and unwanted mattresses and divans in ten of its stores from October.
- 28 Sep 2006NTL launches '4 for £40' packageCable giant NTL Telewest has launched a package which bundles together digital TV, unlimited broadband, home and mobile phone services.
- 28 Sep 2006Painkiller probe over heart attack riskEuropean health chiefs are to investigate the safety of common painkillers such as ibuprofen.
- 28 Sep 2006Billions wasted on unused gadgetsBritish consumers are wasting almost £2 billion a year on gadgets that are rarely used, a new survey says.
- 28 Sep 2006New MPVs score well in crash testsAll five cars have scored well overall, but there are a few areas to watch out for on specific models, as our round-up shows.
- 28 Sep 2006Credit card companies raise ratesCredit card companies are hiking up their interest rates after the government forced them to cut to cut other charges.
- 28 Sep 2006Airline liquid ban to be liftedAir passengers will be able to take small amounts of liquids and gels on board planes in hand luggage from November.
- 27 Sep 2006Britons branded poor shoppersBritons are among the least savvy shoppers in Europe, a survey shows today.
- 27 Sep 2006New orange Sainsbury's bags are greenerSupermarket giant Sainsbury's has stepped up efforts to prove its green credentials by ditching its white carrier bags for orange versions which are a third recycled material.
- 27 Sep 2006US relaxes airline liquid banUS authorities have relaxed the total ban on carrying liquids and gels on to aircraft flying from the States.
- 27 Sep 2006Stay clear of bank charge refund firmsCustomers trying to recoup unfair bank charges should stay clear of firms which offer to do the work for you - but take a cut of any refund.
- 26 Sep 2006Fruit and veg pesticide warningConsumers who eat a lot of fruit and vegetables are in danger of being exposed to unsafe levels of pesticides, campaigners claim.
- 26 Sep 2006Parents back junk food ad banParents and health campaigners have overwhelmingly backed a pre-watershed ban on junk food adverts.
- 26 Sep 2006BT payphone price riseBThas announced that the minimum cost of making a call from a payphone will rise to 40p from November.
- 26 Sep 2006Anti-junk mail postman keeps jobA postman suspended after telling residents how to stop junk mail being delivered to their homes has kept his job.
- 25 Sep 2006Public 'complacent' over online securityConsumers are still not doing enough to protect themselves from online crooks despite a massive increase in ‘phishing', a banking industry body has revealed.
- 25 Sep 2006Orange offers 'Unique' serviceOrange has announced a new service which will allow customers to use their mobile as a home phone.
- 22 Sep 2006Health chiefs name 'stolen bone' hospitalsTwenty-five UK hospitals may have received contaminated human body parts allegedly stolen in America, healthcare watchdogs have revealed.
- 22 Sep 2006Packet-a-day crisp warningEating a packet of crisps a day is the equivalent of drinking almost five litres of cooking oil every year, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has warned.
- 22 Sep 2006MFI sells stores in £1 dealFurniture chain MFI has today agreed to sell its loss-making retail arm to a private equity group for £1.
- 21 Sep 2006Organic milk 'no healthier'A call by a group of scientists to declare organic milk healthier than standard milk has been rejected by the government’s food watchdog.
- 21 Sep 2006Airline hand luggage restrictions easedRestrictions on hand luggage imposed at airports in the wake of an alleged terrorist bomb plot are to be relaxed.
- 21 Sep 2006Kids to be taught internet safetySchoolchildren are being taught how to stay safe online and avoid internet predators as part of a new government-backed initiative.
- 21 Sep 2006Drivers warned over dodgy insuranceDrivers who were duped into buying dodgy car insurance through a bogus company have been warned they could be driving illegally.
- 21 Sep 2006Sugar substitute may offer sweet reliefA sugar substitute goes on sale today which is claimed to be sweeter and healthier than real thing.
- 21 Sep 2006New airport parking mapA new service from airport parking comparison website simplyparking.co.uk displays a map with available car parks marked on it to help you find a convenient spot.
- 20 Sep 2006Bulldog rapped over broadband speed claimAdvertising watchdogs have rapped a leading broadband company for misleading consumers over the speed of its service.
- 20 Sep 2006Boots criticised over 'misleading' sun cream adHigh-street chemist Boots has been slammed over a 'misleading' TV advert which suggested its sun cream offered children complete protection from the harmful effects of the sun.
- 19 Sep 2006Toshiba recalls laptop batteriesElectronics giant Toshiba has announced it’s recalling 340,000 Sony-made laptop batteries – the third such recall in two months.
- 19 Sep 2006Royal Mail launches online post serviceA new service has been launched which allows people to beat post offices queues by buying their stamps online.
- 19 Sep 2006Hewitt says NHS reforms must continueHealth Secretary Patricia Hewitt has vowed to press ahead with controversial NHS reforms despite fears that services across the UK are under threat.
- 18 Sep 2006Parents in dark over new car seat rulesMany parents may break the law today because they don't know about new rules which make child car seats compulsory for older kids.
- 18 Sep 2006Food watchdog facing legal action over GM riceBritain's food safety watchdog is facing a legal challenge over claims it's not doing enough to keep genetically modified (GM) rice off supermarket shelves.
- 18 Sep 2006Nintendo Wii in stores by ChristmasNintendo has announced its 'next generation' games console will hit British shops just in time for Christmas.
- 16 Sep 2006Saga says sorry over policy blunderA major insurance company has said sorry for a mistake in wording which almost cost a Which? reader thousands of pounds.
- 15 Sep 2006Bebo website boosts safety for childrenSocial networking site Bebo has beefed up its safety measures to help youngsters stay clear of 'cyber bullies'.
- 15 Sep 2006New child car seat lawsNew laws come into force on Monday which will dramatically change how children travel in cars.
- 14 Sep 2006Apple tops computer surveyApple, Dell and Sony are the brands of desktop computer people are most likely to recommend to a friend, says this month's Computing Which?.
- 14 Sep 2006Sinister side of networking sitesKids and teenagers using popular social networking sites such as Bebo and MySpace are in danger of being exposed to pornography and bullying, warns Computing Which?
- 14 Sep 2006Pensioners hit by travel insurersTourists over the age of 70 are often lumbered with steep hikes in the cost of travel insurance, says the latest Holiday Which?.
- 14 Sep 2006School uniform prices taxing parentsThe practice of selling school uniforms only through designated retailers creates a £45 million a year ‘tax' on parents, the competition watchdog has concluded.
- 14 Sep 2006Supermarkets 'need to be greener'Britain’s leading supermarkets must do more to help shoppers make greener choices, a consumer organisation said today.
- 14 Sep 2006Parents warned over dangerous yo-yoParents have been warned to look out for an inflatable yo-yo that could maim or even kill a child.
- 14 Sep 2006Music MP3 rival for AppleA new music download service has been launched in the UK to rival Apple's iTunes.
- 13 Sep 2006Look before you leap into lettingAnyone thinking of buying property to let should think carefully - they may be better off putting their money in the bank.
- 13 Sep 2006Boots considers cheque banHigh-street chemist Boots is looking at banning the use of cheque payments at its 1,500 stores.
- 13 Sep 2006Apple unveils movie downloadsComputer giant Apple has unveiled a new film download service alongside a device which will allow you to watch the movies on your TV.
- 13 Sep 2006Patients missing crucial bowel cancer testsMore people in England may die from bowel cancer than in Scotland and Wales because the NHS screening programme for England has a lower age limit.
- 12 Sep 2006Investigation finds watersports safety lapsesDodgy watersports operators in popular European resorts are endangering holidaymakers with unsafe equipment, warns Holiday Which? today.
- 12 Sep 2006Travel tips for parentsHoliday Which?has drawn up some handy survival tips to make it easier for parents travelling with a young family.
- 12 Sep 2006Nationwide announces Portman mergerBritain’s biggest building society has announced plans for a £150 billion merger with one of its main rivals.
- 12 Sep 2006Dangerous cigarette lighters to be bannedMoves to ban the dangerous novelty lighters have been welcomed by child safety campaigners.
- 12 Sep 2006Climate change 'will hit gardens'Britain’s 27 million gardening enthusiasts are at the ‘front line’ of climate change, according to the government.
- 11 Sep 2006Councils 'should ban' leisure centre sunbedsCouncils who put sunbeds in their leisure centres are like hospitals offering cigarettes to patients, an environmental health group complained today.
- 11 Sep 2006Vodafone to provide home broadbandMobile phone company Vodafone said today it plans to enter the home broadband market by the end of the year.
- 09 Sep 2006Supermarkets unveil more eco-friendly schemesTescois launching an organic clothing range designed by Katharine Hamnett.
- 09 Sep 2006BT unveils mobile TV serviceBThas unveiled a new service that broadcasts TV and digital radio stations to mobile phones.
- 09 Sep 2006UK car prices still a rip-offUK motorists are still getting a poor deal on the price of a new car, Which? can reveal.
- 08 Sep 2006Apple to offer movie downloads?Speculation is growing that Apple is about to start selling feature-length films for viewing on new iPods.
- 08 Sep 2006Npower reveals more price hikesNpowerhas announced it is increasing fuel prices by up to 17.2 per cent – its third price hike this year.
- 08 Sep 2006New protection against door-to-door scamsThe government has stepped up the fight against rogue door-to-door traders by unveiling new protection against dodgy sales tactics.
- 07 Sep 2006Probe launched into rip-off bank feesBritain’s high-street banks are going to have to explain why they rake in billions of pounds a year in unauthorised overdraft charges.
- 07 Sep 2006Financial advisers fail Which? testMore than 80 per cent of bank and building society financial advisers in a Which? investigation failed to give good financial advice.
- 07 Sep 2006Sony further delays PS3 launchElectonics giant Sony has delayed the European launch of the PlayStation 3 (PS3) until next spring.
- 07 Sep 2006Phone giants lag behind on customer servicePhone giants BT and NTL lag behind smaller telephone companies when it comes to customer service, Which? reveals today.
- 07 Sep 2006'Ban school run' to end traffic jamsAlmost 70 per cent of Britons want the school run banned in a bid to ease the growing congestion on UK roads, a survey from which.co.uk found.
- 06 Sep 2006Diners set for easier access to hygiene scoresDiners could soon be able to check out the cleanliness of their favourite restaurants under a planned nationwide scheme.
- 06 Sep 2006ITV begins mobile broadcastsITV has started broadcasting its programmes direct to mobile phones on the 3 network.
- 06 Sep 2006Pensioners face Powergen price riseEnergy giant Powergen’s latest price rise comes into force today for thousands of its elderly customers.
- 05 Sep 2006Britons pay out billions for botched jobsShoddy workmen have charged British homeowners more than £8 billion for botch jobs over the past two years, according to new research.
- 05 Sep 2006Toshiba to launch HD-DVD playersToshiba has announced it will launch two high-definition (HD) DVD players in the UK later this year.
- 04 Sep 2006M&S branches out into electricalsMarks and Spencer (M&S) is to sell electrical goods from almost 100 stores across the UK following a successful trial.
- 04 Sep 2006Pupils return to healthier menusPupils in England returned to school today to healthier lunchtime menus as part of the government's drive to tackle childhood obesity.
- 04 Sep 2006Energy suppliers 'penalising poor'Energy suppliers are charging poorer people more for gas and electricity, a coalition of consumer groups and charities has warned.
- 04 Sep 2006NHS complaints body is sorry for delaysThousands of patients who've complained about treatment in the NHS are being left in limbo because of a huge backlog in cases, it has been reported today.
- 04 Sep 2006Computer users facing new fraud threatGangs of criminals are stealing home computer users' personal details and selling them on, according to a computer security expert.
- 02 Sep 2006Abta loses seal of approvalAbta has lost its government seal of approval after it reduced the amount of financial protection it offers holidaymakers.
- 01 Sep 2006Top marks for the Porsche BoxsterOpen top sports car the Porsche Boxster is the UK's most loved car according to a new survey from Which? Car.
- 01 Sep 2006Turn your garden into a wildlife havenAlmost any garden has the potential to become a haven for local wildlife within just a few months, says Gardening Which?
- 01 Sep 2006Which? reports Rice Krispies TV adWhich? has complained to the advertising watchdog that the current Kellogg’s Rice Krispies TV advert is exaggerating the cereal's healthiness.
