News in January 2007
- 31 Jan 2007Chrysler Voyager safety slammedChrysler Voyager: driver's chest hit steering wheel
- 31 Jan 2007More charter airlines are flying on timeCharter airlines improved their punctuality last summer - but only just, figures published today show.
- 31 Jan 2007One in three worried about pensions shortfallOne in three people aren't sure they'll have enough to live on as pensioners, according a new poll by Which? Money.
- 31 Jan 2007Carphone Warehouse fined for silent callsCarphone Warehouse has been fined £35,000 for making silent calls.
- 30 Jan 2007Microsoft unveils Windows VistaMicrosoft boss Bill Gates his unveiled the technology giant’s latest operating system, Windows Vista.
- 30 Jan 2007Halifax calls for estate agents licensingWhich? has welcomed a call from one of the UK’s largest property sellers for estate agents to be subject to compulsory licensing.
- 30 Jan 2007Record fine for store card insurance breachesThe provider of store cards to some of the UK's biggest retailers has been handed a record fine for failing adequately to protect customers from being sold insurance products they might not need.
- 30 Jan 2007Floppy disks dropped from saleA computer chain is dropping floppy disks from sale due to plummeting demand, it said today.
- 30 Jan 2007Warning over tax impact of wind turbinesHomeowners who spend money on eco-friendly wind turbines may face higher council taxes, MPs warned today.
- 30 Jan 2007Flights back on as BA strike is called offBritish Airways is today reinstating flights from Heathrow and Gatwick airports after a planned two-day strike by thousands of its cabin crew was called off.
- 30 Jan 2007New measures for compulsory water metersThe government will today outline its proposals for water metering in drought-stricken areas of the country.
- 29 Jan 2007Consumers warned over identity theftPeople are putting themselves at risk of identity theft by not protecting their personal details, a watchdog warned today.
- 29 Jan 2007Patients should pay for some routine operationsNHS patients should contribute towards the cost of some routine operations, a body of leading public health experts said today.
- 29 Jan 2007Shoppers urged to boycott salty foodsShoppers have been asked to boycott foods that still contain ‘large and unnecessary amounts’ of added salt.
- 29 Jan 2007Passengers give thumbs up to rail serviceThe majority of Britain's rail passengers think the service they receive is 'good', according to a survey published today.
- 29 Jan 2007Huge rise in liposuction operationsExperts have warned that liposuction is not a cure for obesity following a 90 per cent rise in the number of people having the operation.
- 28 Jan 2007Banks using 'underhand' methods in overdraft rowA Which? exposé has uncovered the tricks that some banks are using to deter customers who challenge their overdraft charges.
- 26 Jan 2007'Organic' label ban planned for air freight foodFood which is imported to the UK by air may be denied the ‘organic’ label under proposals being put forward today by the country's main organic certification body.
- 26 Jan 2007Steep rise in untaxed vehiclesMore than two million British motorists are not paying their road tax according to the latest government statistics.
- 26 Jan 2007British children top Euro sweet pollBritish children as young as five spend more than £100 a year on fizzy drinks and sweets, according to research published today.
- 26 Jan 2007Watchdog takes action over mortgage exit feesThousands of homeowners may be in line for a refund after the financial watchdog announced it was taking action over mortgage exit administration fees (MEAFS).
- 26 Jan 2007New smoking link to diabetesHealth experts have warned that passive smoking can increase the risk of developing diabetes.
- 25 Jan 2007Chancellor rebuked over air passenger dutyChancellor Gordon Brown was rebuked by MPs today over the timing of his decision to double air passenger duty (APD).
- 25 Jan 2007BA passengers braced for strike miseryThousands of British Airways (BA) passengers will find out today whether their flights have been cancelled ahead of next week’s cabin crew strike.
- 25 Jan 2007Silverjet ups the London-New York anteBusiness class-only airline Silverjet took off today offering passengers a London to New York service with a check-in time of just 30 minutes.
- 25 Jan 2007Asda sells £9 DVD playerSupermarket chain Asda has slashed the price of one of its DVD players to under a tenner.
- 25 Jan 2007Sony announces UK date for PS3 launchElectronics giant Sony has confirmed that its long awaited PlayStation 3 (PS3) will finally be launched in Britain on 23 March.
- 24 Jan 2007Pedometers to help get kids fitKids living in the poorest parts of England are to be given pedometers to encourage them to get fit, the government has announced.
- 24 Jan 2007Charities lose bowel cancer drug appealCampaigners have lost an appeal to make a bowel cancer drug available on the NHS, they said today.
- 24 Jan 2007Microwaves can help keep kitchens germ freeMicrowave ovens are a ‘very powerful and inexpensive tool’ in the fight against germs that cause food poisoning, American researchers claim.
- 24 Jan 2007TVs could help keep kids in school canteensSchools should set up plasma televisions in their canteens to encourage children to stay and eat a healthy meal rather than head to the chip shop, a minister has said.
- 24 Jan 2007London freesheets face ban in rubbish rowTwo free London newspapers could be banned from some areas of the capital unless their owners agree to help with the mountain of waste the papers create.
- 24 Jan 2007'Fibre reduces chance of breast cancer'Eating more fibre can cut the risk of breast cancer in pre-menopausal women, according to scientists.
- 23 Jan 2007Drivers caught on the phone to face bigger finesDrivers caught chatting on their mobile phone will face bigger fines and three penalty points from the end of next month.
- 23 Jan 2007Maternal DNA could help prevent diabetesCells passed from mother to child during pregnancy could be used to treat insulin-dependent diabetes, new research suggests.
- 23 Jan 2007Supermarkets facing further investigationA major inquiry into the grocery sector is looking at whether Tesco and other supermarkets stifled competition by creating strangleholds in local communities.
- 23 Jan 2007Warning over storm repair roguesOpportunist rogue traders are attempting to cash-in on last week’s storms by conning homeowners into agreeing to quick repairs, it was claimed today.
- 23 Jan 2007Heating or eating choice 'puts lives at risk'Energy companies are forcing vulnerable people to choose between heating and eating, the government has been warned.
- 22 Jan 2007Younger women fail to attend health screeningThousands of young women could be putting their health at risk by failing to turn up for smear tests, according to an analysis of figures.
- 22 Jan 2007Call for curb on children's pocket moneyParents should ration children's pocket money to stop them buying sweets and fizzy drinks on the way to school, according to Prue Leith, the government's new school meals adviser.
- 22 Jan 2007Talks continue to avert planned airline strikesBritish Airways(BA) passengers who have booked to fly during the period of planned industrial action can now change the date of their trip.
- 19 Jan 2007Sanitation is 'greatest medical breakthrough'Sanitation is the greatest medical breakthrough of the past 166 years according to a poll of thousands of people from across the globe.
- 19 Jan 2007Tesco to slash cost of green lightbulbsA pledge to halve the price of energy-efficient light bulbs was today unveiled by Tesco as part of a £500 million initiative to fight climate change over the next five years.
- 19 Jan 2007More than half of households are onlineMore than half of all UK households have the internet at home according to the latest government figures.
- 19 Jan 2007Healthy living can help prevent diabetesAdopting a healthy lifestyle is at least as effective as taking drugs to lower the risk of diabetes, experts said today.
- 19 Jan 2007Credit card borrowing downConsumers borrowed less on credit cards for the first time in at least 14 years, figures for 2006 revealed today.
- 18 Jan 2007Water companies lift hosepipe bansA number of water companies in the south east of England are today lifting hosepipe and sprinkler bans which have been in place since last year.
- 18 Jan 2007Loophole allows drivers to escape banAn anomaly in driving licence regulations means some UK motorists can accumulate as many as 18 penalty points without being banned from the road, MPs were told today.
- 18 Jan 2007Shoppers want hi-tech gadgets to be made simplerMore than four out of five people would prefer it if hi-tech gadgets were actually made simpler and had less features, a Which? poll can reveal.
- 18 Jan 2007Firms warned over 'misleading' debt advertsA government watchdog has warned 17 firms promoting Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) to stop using adverts which could potentially mislead consumers.
- 18 Jan 2007Jowell to announce TV licence riseThe television licence fee will rise by 3 per cent in each of the next two years, BBC News 24 has reported.
- 18 Jan 2007Private centres 'failing to provide health data'Private treatment centres are failing to provide evidence on the quality of care they give NHS patients, according to a leaked report.
- 18 Jan 2007Asda recommends a cooler wash for its clothesSupermarket chain Asda is recommending customers save energy and help the environment by washing its clothes at a lower temperature.
- 17 Jan 2007Burger King rapped over Whopper adFast food chain Burger King was criticised today for giving a ‘misleading impression’ of the size of its Double Whopper burger in an advert.
- 17 Jan 2007Skin cream ad criticised by watchdogAn advert which claimed an Avon cream could ‘lift’ skin has been banned for misleading consumers.
- 17 Jan 2007Dirtiest hotels top league tableA hotel chain has the dubious honour of having four entries in a new list of Britain's top ten dirtiest hotels, including the grimiest of them all.
- 17 Jan 2007Millions switch to cheaper energy supplierNew figures out today show over four million people switched their gas and electricity supplier last year.
- 17 Jan 2007One in eight men would dump partner for a new TVOne in eight men would consider swapping their partner for an iPod or the latest widescreen TV, a new survey has found.
- 17 Jan 2007Banks blasted over penalty chargesAn MP has claimed High Street banks are ‘mugging’ their customers by imposing billions of pounds worth of charges.
- 16 Jan 2007Kids 'incapable' of cooking for themselvesFewer than half of today's children can identify a ladle and a quarter believe sauté is a type of French dance, according to new research out today.
- 16 Jan 2007Gamblers should be treated on the NHSGambling addiction is a growing problem in the UK and should be treated on the NHS, doctors have urged.
- 16 Jan 2007Tomato and broccoli diet helps fight tumoursScientists claim a diet rich in both tomatoes and broccoli can help fight cancer.
- 16 Jan 2007Christmas drink drive numbers fallSafety campaigners are urging the government to get tougher on drink drivers despite a fall in the number caught over the Christmas period.
- 16 Jan 2007Pink tool kits boost Tesco Christmas salesSupermarket giant Tesco's record Christmas sales owe something to the popularity of pink tool kits, according to a breakdown of the retail chain's most popular goods.
- 16 Jan 2007Interest rate fears as inflation risesA further rise in interest rates was forecast today as inflation figures revealed a fresh surge in the cost of living.
- 16 Jan 2007Insurers told to stop misleading adsInsurance firms have been told they face action if they continue to run adverts which make misleading savings claims.
- 15 Jan 2007Find out your personal rate of inflationHouseholds across the country can go online and work out their own personal rate of inflation after the launch of a web-based calculator today.
- 15 Jan 2007Action taken against slimming chocolateA ‘miracle’ slimming chocolate which promised dieters they would lose at least 20lbs in 20 days will no longer be marketed in the UK.
- 15 Jan 2007M&S to go carbon neutral by 2012High street chain Marks & Spencer has announced a £200 million ‘eco plan’ which it says will make it carbon neutral in five years.
- 15 Jan 2007Scientists probe statins link to Parkinson'sExperts sought to reassure patients today after scientists announced they were planning an in-depth study on the link between statins and Parkinson's disease.
- 15 Jan 2007Sainsbury's Champagne sales soarSupermarket giant Sainsbury’s says one of its Champagnes is flying off the shelves after it was awarded a Best Buy in our December edition.
- 15 Jan 2007BT pushes paper-free billingTelecoms group BT is flexing its green muscles by telling half a million of its most ‘internet friendly’ customers they must ‘opt in’ to receive paper bills.
- 15 Jan 20073 scraps roaming chargesCustomers of mobile phone company 3 will be able to use their phones in some countries without having to pay expensive roaming charges.
- 15 Jan 2007Free financial advice for all by 2012Which? has welcomed the news that every adult in the UK will be entitled to free generic financial advice within five years.
- 15 Jan 2007Chewing gum could help fight obesityAn appetite-suppressing chewing gum could one day be used to tackle Britain's obesity epidemic.
- 12 Jan 2007M&S recall kettles and rattles over safety fearsHigh street chain Marks & Spencer is recalling thousands of kettles and children's rattles following a safety scare.
- 12 Jan 2007Fall in oil prices benefits drivers and flyersA fall in the cost of crude oil has finally resulted in some good news for both motorists and air passengers.
- 12 Jan 2007Carphone irons out TalkTalk problemsCarphone Warehouse is preparing a fresh assault on the broadband market after claiming a ‘significant’ improvement in the way it deals with customers.
- 12 Jan 2007Forward-facing speed cameras set for trialForward-facing speed cameras are to be tried out in central London in a bid to stop motorists trying to avoid penalty points.
- 11 Jan 2007Leaked memo warns of MRSA target failureA leaked government memo claims the NHS may never hit its target of halving infections from the hospital superbug MRSA.
- 11 Jan 2007Credit rating myths explodedConsumers risk misjudging their credit score by believing a number of incorrect ‘myths’ about how data is compiled, according to a report out today.
- 11 Jan 2007Iris scanning 'will cause airport delays'The government has denied claims problems with new iris-recognition equipment will cause major delays at British airports.
- 11 Jan 2007UK wine sales soarBritons are expected to become Europe’s biggest spenders on wine within the next three years, according to the world’s largest wine fair.
- 11 Jan 2007City watchdog steps up PPI crackdownThe city watchdog is stepping up its crackdown on the possible mis-selling of payment protection insurance (PPI).
- 10 Jan 2007Blood test can detect heart attack riskScientists have found that a simple blood test can warn doctors of when a heart patient's condition is about to deteriorate.
- 10 Jan 2007Rail fare rises could continueThe government has admitted that rail passengers would have to pay higher fares for improvements to Britain's transport system.
- 10 Jan 2007'Healthy' chip gets green lightsFood manufacturer McCain says it’s come up with a new ‘healthy’ chip which contains only 3 per cent fat and no cholesterol.
- 10 Jan 2007Tesco to sell health insuranceSupermarket chain Tesco has announced it is to sell private medical insurance in a further expansion into the personal finance market.
- 10 Jan 2007British Gas fined over phone line delaysEnergy giant British Gas has been hit with a £5,000 fine after it kept customers hanging on a premium-rate number for an ‘unreasonable amount of time’.
- 09 Jan 2007Book holidays online and save a packetTravellers looking for the best holiday deals are better off booking online than using tour operator brochures, Holiday Which? reveals today.
- 09 Jan 2007Tourists urged to protect against malariaTwo thousand British holiday-makers are at risk of contracting malaria this year and as many as a dozen could die from the disease, Holiday Which? warns today.
- 09 Jan 2007Black to overtake silver in car colour chartsMotorists seem to be agreeing with the Henry Ford ‘choice’ of colour for a car by opting for black.
- 09 Jan 2007Apple to launch iPhoneTechnology giant Apple has confirmed it is to launch a mobile phone that can download and play music.
- 08 Jan 2007BT launches Wi-Fi mobile phone serviceTelecoms giant BT is launching a new mobile phone service offering cheap internet calls using Wi-Fi technology.
- 08 Jan 2007'Organic food no healthier' row spreadsOrganic farmers have hit back over a government minister’s claims their produce is no healthier than food grown conventionally.
- 08 Jan 2007McDonald's to serve 'eco-friendly' coffeeFast food chain McDonald’s has announced it’s to begin serving environmentally-friendly coffee.
- 05 Jan 2007Britons waste £580 million in January salesBargain mad Britons will blow £580 million in the January sales on clothes that will never be worn.
- 04 Jan 2007Which? slams poor seat belt designThere is still a dangerously complacent attitude to safety among some car manufacturers according to a survey by Which?
- 03 Jan 2007Rip-off rail faresFollowing the storm of criticism over the annual price hikes for rail fares, figures published on tuesday show that the UK tops a comparison of standard single fares and has ‘the most expensive intercity route in northern Europe’.
- 03 Jan 2007Food giants promote own food labelling systemLeading UK food and drink firms are putting millions behind a marketing blitz to explain their own nutrition labelling scheme condemned by health campaigners.
- 03 Jan 2007Top credit tipsConsumers could save hundreds of pounds by using credit wisely and choosing the right way of borrowing, says Which?
- 03 Jan 2007Post services lead complaints listConsumers are more unhappy with postal services than with their banks, broadband providers and mobile phone companies, according to a new Which? survey.
- 02 Jan 2007Workers urged to take hearing testStaff are urged to check their hearing as they return to work after the festive break.
- 02 Jan 2007Driving test 'may be made harder'The driving test may be made harder in a bid to improve road safety and cut the high rates of accidents involving young motorists.
