News in November 2007
- 30 Nov 2007New cars and hot deals, 30th November 2007RS 60 Spyder harks back to 60s racing Porsches
- 30 Nov 2007Family tree researchers get new resourceOnline family tree researchers will be able to delve 300 years further back into their histories, thanks to a new register of burials in England and Wales.
- 30 Nov 2007Keeping your mobile number will be easierNew rules will make it easier for consumers to keep their mobile number when they switch providers, the communications watchdog has announced.
- 30 Nov 2007Gardening Which? rates eco pest control firmsGardeners are increasingly using living pest controls as an eco-friendly way to care for plants - but some companies in a Gardening Which? test sold duds.
- 30 Nov 2007Four in ten 'back zero limit' on drink-drivingFour out of ten motorists think people should be banned from drinking any alcohol if they plan to drive, a survey showed today.
- 29 Nov 2007Mortgage arrangement fees 'have doubled'The averagemortgage arrangement fee has nearly doubled in the past two years, while home loans which charge uncapped fees have soared five-fold in 12 months, new figures show.
- 29 Nov 2007Mobile phone payment launchedMobile phone network O2 has launched the UK’s first pilot of a system that allows people to pay for goods and Tube journeys on their mobile phone.
- 29 Nov 2007Asda sells Dom Perignon for £30A supermarket chain yesterday put a top brand champagne on sale at £50 less than the standard retail price.
- 29 Nov 2007FSA raps financial services adsOne in four adverts on the websites of financial services firms could potentially mislead consumers, the City watchdog has warned.
- 29 Nov 2007Rail fare hikes announcedRail fares such as season tickets are to rise by an average of 4.8% in the New Year, while cheap day returns and long distance fares will go up by 5.4%.
- 29 Nov 2007Setanta launches Setanta Sports NewsSetanta Sports has launched a 24-hour rolling sports news channel.
- 29 Nov 2007Test yourself with our consumer quizThere's a lot of information on which.co.uk, but how much of it can you actually remember?
- 28 Nov 2007Recycling symbols to be streamlinedPlans to create a single logo for use on recyclable packaging were unveiled yesterday.
- 28 Nov 2007Tesco launches car deal for Clubcard holdersTesco customers who earn Clubcard loyalty points on their shopping can now cash them in when buying a car.
- 28 Nov 2007Broadband switching advice 'must be clearer'Almost half the call centre staff in an undercover survey ofbroadband providers gave advice about switching that could have left customers being charged double.
- 28 Nov 2007RAC warns of 'severe congestion'One thousand miles of major road routes face severe congestion in the future unless new capacity is created, a report prepared for the RAC Foundation said today.
- 28 Nov 2007Nissan X-Trail’s four-star safetyNew X-Trail scored 56% in frontal crash test
- 28 Nov 2007Broadcasters announce Kangaroo - TV on demandThe BBC, ITV and Channel 4 are joining forces to allow viewers to catch up on thousands of hours of TV.
- 27 Nov 2007Cheques 'won't bounce after six days'Consumers accepting payment by cheque will have more certainty about when they can access the money from the end of this week, it has been announced.
- 27 Nov 2007Cartel victims need better rightsVictims of firms' anti-competitive behaviour have only a remote chance of getting compensation, a watchdog has warned.
- 27 Nov 2007Many women left alone during labourOne in four women is left alone during labour or shortly after birth despite being worried, according to a report out today.
- 27 Nov 2007Pensions warning over longevity predictionMen could live for up to 12 years longer by 2050 than is currently predicted, dramatically increasing the cost ofpension provision, new research claims.
- 27 Nov 2007Half of motorists 'have driven without lights'More than half of motorists have driven in the dark with no headlights at least once in the last year, says a new survey.
- 27 Nov 2007Christmas card post warningPeople receiving incorrectly stamped Christmas cards could be charged the underpayment plus a £1 administration fee, a watchdog has warned.
- 26 Nov 2007New drive to boost digital radioA new government taskforce has been set up to promote digital radio and increase the number of people listening to it.
- 26 Nov 2007Cosmetic treatment rules brokenSome of the biggest names in the UK cosmetic treatments industry broke industry rules at a recent exhibition, according to a Which? report published today.
- 24 Nov 2007Half save to avoid Christmas credit hangoverHalf of UK consumers save for Christmas to avoid racking up credit card debt, new research shows.
- 24 Nov 2007Banks make responsible lending pledgeBanks and building societies have pledged to give more help to customers who are facing financial difficulties.
- 23 Nov 2007Kenbuster gadget pays your congestion chargeThe maker of a new gadget for drivers says it will automatically pay the £8-a-day London Congestion Charge every time your car enters the zone.
- 23 Nov 2007Police slammed over charity bag theftsCharity bag collector Clothes Aid has criticised police for the lack of action over the continuing theft of bags from doorsteps.
- 23 Nov 2007Greener homes mean lower bills, says surveyIt can cost up to £9,000 to make a house more carbon neutral, but homeowners can quickly recoup some of the cash in lower fuel bills, research showed today.
- 23 Nov 2007Households recycling record amountsHouseholds are recycling more rubbish, with more than 80% of local authorities collecting less waste than ever before, according to government figures released yesterday.
- 23 Nov 2007New cars and hot deals, 23rd November 2007Save up to £4k on the RX-8
- 23 Nov 2007Hips to cover all homesThe government's controversial Home Information Packs (Hips) will be rolled out to cover all properties by Christmas, it was announced yesterday.
- 22 Nov 2007Food from supermarkets fresher than onlineOnline grocery shopping might save you from traipsing around a busy supermarket, but you may have to eat your food sooner than if you shop in the store, Which? can reveal.
- 22 Nov 2007Which? uncovers illegal Botox adWhich? has uncovered an ex-nurse illegally advertising Botox parties on eBay, raising fears that cowboy cosmetic practices are thriving.
- 22 Nov 2007Oatibix criticised over sugar contentA mum has accused Weetabix of hoodwinking parents over the sugar content of its Oatibix Bitesize cereal.
- 22 Nov 2007Asda tops Which? Christmas cracker testAsda has beaten supermarket and high-street rivals to come top in a Which? test of premium Christmas crackers.
- 22 Nov 2007Baby milk ads to parents bannedAdvertising of infant formula to parents will be banned under new rules announced yesterday.
- 22 Nov 2007Waitrose recalls seeds in salmonella scareWaitrose has pulled packets of mixed seeds due to salmonella contamination, the food watchdog said yesterday.
- 22 Nov 2007BT backs down after YouTube blastA BT customer forced the telecoms giant to back down in a billing dispute after he lambasted its customer service in a YouTube video, it's reported today.
- 22 Nov 2007Severn Trent facing criminal chargesWater company Severn Trent is facing criminal charges over allegations it gave false information to the industry regulator.
- 21 Nov 2007Disc loss exposes millions to fraud riskThe government has issued advice to the millions of Child Benefit claimants who could be at risk of identity fraud following the disappearance of two computer discs packed with personal and banking details.
- 21 Nov 2007Mobile mis-selling complaints have increasedCustomers now make more complaints about mis-selling by mobile phone companies than landline firms, the telecoms regulator has said.
- 21 Nov 2007Older shoppers are next big spendersRetailers must try hard to attract silver-haired shoppers whose spending power will hit £64 billion by 2017, research out today says.
- 21 Nov 2007Ofcom told to monitor broadband speedsThe telecoms watchdog has been asked to monitor whether broadband companies are still fobbing off consumers with slower speeds than they've promised.
- 21 Nov 2007Millions of child benefit records lostComputer discs holding personal data on 25 million people and 7.2 million families have gone missing, Chancellor Alistair Darling has told MPs.
- 21 Nov 2007High street stores best for credit cardsConsumers are more satisfied with credit cards from high-street stores than those from the big names such as Barclaycard and American Express, Which? Money reveals today.
- 21 Nov 2007Freeview upgrade proposed by OfcomHigh definition television (HDTV)channels could be available on Freeview by 2009, the broadcast regulator has revealed.
- 20 Nov 2007Smart meters could reduce energy useResearch and awareness in short supply
- 20 Nov 2007Pub beer sales at lowest level since 1930sPub sales have almost halved since 1979
- 20 Nov 2007PM wants to end plastic bagsThe Prime Minister wants to ban single-use plastic carrier bags.
- 20 Nov 2007Currys to sell wooden TV setsHigh-street chain Currys is hoping to appeal to eco-friendly viewers with a series of televisions made from wood.
- 20 Nov 2007BBC Trust approves HD channelThe BBC is to launch its own high definition television (HDTV) channel.
- 20 Nov 2007Arthritis drug withdrawn over safety concernsThe UK’s medicines watchdog has suspended the licence of a drug used to treat arthritis over concerns it may cause liver damage.
- 19 Nov 2007Record numbers affected by lost luggageUp to five million passengers have had their luggage lost or misplaced in the last two years, according to new research by travel insurer, InsureandGo.
- 19 Nov 2007Rise in UK fixes for cosmetic surgery abroadBritish plastic surgeons are repairing increasing amounts of botched cosmetic work done abroad, a study has revealed.
- 16 Nov 2007New cars and hot deals, 16th November 2007New cars and hot deals - 16th Nov 2007
- 16 Nov 2007OFT criticises banks over chargesThe competition watchdog has accused banks of charging customers more for unauthorised overdrafts than it cost to provide them.
- 16 Nov 2007Diners ‘pushed into buying expensive water’Most restaurants push diners to buy expensive bottled water instead of serving free tap water, a consumer group said today.
- 16 Nov 2007Bug hospital avoids chargesA health trust at the centre of a superbug outbreak which killed 33 patients and infected hundreds of others will not face criminal proceedings, a safety watchdog has confirmed.
- 15 Nov 2007French digital signals could reach UK TVsFrance could ruin television viewing for thousands of people in southern England by beaming high-powered digital signals across the Channel, a public spending watchdog has warned.
- 15 Nov 2007Air luggage rules could be relaxedThe government has announced that security restrictions at UK airports could be relaxed in the New Year.
- 15 Nov 2007New bra size launched by M&SMarks & Spencer (M&S) is selling J-cup bras for the first time as customers demand larger clothes sizes.
- 15 Nov 2007Make manuals simple, says governmentInformation on product packs is often too long and complicated for people to bother reading, new research says.
- 15 Nov 2007eBay to highlight consumer rightsAuction site eBay and several other similar sites are to include more information for consumers about their online shopping rights.
- 15 Nov 2007Nintendo warns of Wii shortageEntertainment giant Nintendo has warned shoppers there could be a shortage of its best-selling Wii console in the run-up to Christmas.
- 14 Nov 2007Cremation rules tightened in wake of ShipmanThe rules surrounding cremations are to be modernised to close a loophole which allowed mass murderer Harold Shipman to avoid detection for so long, the government has announced.
- 14 Nov 2007Shoppers to get help with EU shopping woesBritish shoppers can now get specialist help if they have complaints about any European-based shops and businesses.
- 14 Nov 2007Charity warns over diabetes time-bombA charity is warning of a diabetes time-bomb as it revealed that more than 3 million people in the UK may have the condition.
- 14 Nov 2007Southern Water facing £20 million fineSouthern Water is facing a fine of more than £20 million after it lied to the water regulator Ofwat about its performance.
- 14 Nov 2007Birds checked for spread of bird fluAnimal health officials are today checking whether any other flocks of poultry could have been exposed to the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu discovered on a free-range turkey farm in East Anglia.
- 13 Nov 2007Soaring food bills hit household financesNew inflation figures have revealed the pressure soaring food bills are putting on household finances already stretched by rising mortgage payments.
- 13 Nov 2007TomTom to launch more sat nav updatesSatellite navigation(sat-nav) firm TomTom has announced it's launching a new service in the UK next year which will provide drivers with five times more traffic updates.
- 13 Nov 2007Shopping websites to get legal checksA spot check on 500 of the most popular shopping websites will be carried out in the run up to Christmas, a watchdog said yesterday.
- 13 Nov 2007UK pension system 'worst in Europe'The UK has the worst state pension system in the European Union for the second year running, a report said today.
- 13 Nov 2007Warning over dangerous chargers onlineA trading standards probe has uncovered potentially dangerous electrical chargers and adaptors for sale online.
- 13 Nov 2007BA raises fuel surchargesBritish Airways (BA) passengers are bracing themselves for higher ticket prices after the airline confirmed it was raising its fuel surcharges.
- 12 Nov 2007Many online shoppers unaware of rightsMore than half of the estimated 27 million shoppers buying online this Christmas will be in the dark about their basic consumer rights, a consumer watchdog has warned.
- 12 Nov 2007Ditch the old boiler and save cashSwitching from a conventional boiler to one of the new condensing models will result in substantial savings for householders, according to Switch with Which?.
- 12 Nov 2007TV ad rules continue to fail childrenWhich? has renewed calls for a 9pm watershed for junk food ads after new research revealed more than half of the 20 programmes most watched by children under 10 are not covered by current rules.
- 12 Nov 2007Millions at risk of online fraudMore than 2.5 million people are making themselves vulnerable to identity theft by posting confidential details online, new research claims.
- 12 Nov 2007Tesco ups drive to recycle mobile phonesTesco has launched a mobile phone recycling scheme after its research found that millions of handsets are discarded each year.
- 10 Nov 2007Consumers warned over gas safetyHouseholders are being urged to check that gas fitters are properly registered before allowing them to work on domestic gas appliances.
- 10 Nov 2007Warning over cost of Christmas turkeysTurkey could be more expensive this Christmas because of soaring feed costs, an industry expert has warned.
- 10 Nov 2007Half a million toys recalled in chemical scareUp to 500,000 Bindeez children's craft toys are being recalled across the UK and Ireland by an Oldham-based firm after concerns that the product contains a chemical that converts to a powerful 'date rape' drug when ingested.
- 09 Nov 2007Banks facing customer exodus over chargesBanks are facing a major customer exodus if they start to charge fees for current accounts, new Which? research reveals.
- 09 Nov 2007Stores gear up for iPhone frenzyCarphone Warehouse, Apple and O2 are gearing up for a customer stampede as the clock ticks down to tonight’s UK launch of the Apple iPhone.
- 09 Nov 2007Sunshine can help your skin stay youngA healthy dose of sunshine may be the secret to staying young, a study out today found.
- 09 Nov 2007Homegrown holiday houses set for boomBritons are buying more second houses at home rather than abroad, according to a new report.
- 09 Nov 2007New cars and hot deals, 9th November 2007Retro-looking 500 will start at under £8,000
- 08 Nov 2007Green rewards card for shoppersOnline shoppers can help reduce their carbon footprint by signing up to what's claimed to be the world’s first green rewards card.
- 08 Nov 2007Man United's DVD gift card launchedFamilies of football fans now have something completely new to give them for Christmas – an interactive DVD gift card.
- 08 Nov 2007Amazon's Christmas Eve delivery dealAn online shopping service which could prevent a Christmas Eve rush to the high street was announced yesterday.
- 08 Nov 2007Homebuyers 'fail to check flood risk'More than half of homeowners admit they did not check to see whether their home was in a flood-risk area before moving in, says a new survey.
- 08 Nov 2007Buy to let is 'rich man's game'Investing in buy-to-let property is now a 'rich man's game', inaccessible to the average person, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said today.
- 08 Nov 2007Average petrol price tops £1 a litreThe average price for a litre of unleaded petrol in theUKhas broken through the £1 barrier.
- 08 Nov 2007Invasive foreign plants facing banSales of some non-native plants and animals including the floating pennywort and the water hyacinth could be banned to protect British wildlife.
- 07 Nov 2007Russell Hobbs recalls kettlesRussell Hobbs has recalled some of its kettles over fears the handle could break off and scald people.
- 07 Nov 2007Mattel pulls another toy from storesToy manufacturer Mattel has pulled another toy from stores because it could pose a choking hazard to young children.
- 07 Nov 2007Pensions Bill to launch Personal AccountsEmployers will have a duty to pay money into a pension scheme for their staff under legislation announced by the government in the Queen's Speech.
- 07 Nov 2007Poor care for broken bones is 'risking lives'Older people who fall and fracture bones are getting ‘inadequate’ NHS care with ‘unacceptable’ variations in treatment across England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
- 07 Nov 2007Drivers warned over stolen log booksGenuine log books are being used to fool motorists into buying stolen second-hand cars, senior police officers have warned.
- 07 Nov 2007Shell broke ad rules with CO2 claimsShell broke advertising rules with a claim about its waste carbon dioxide (CO2) being used to grow flowers, the industry watchdog ruled today.
- 07 Nov 2007New hygiene watchdog for hospitalsA new regulator with powers to fine hospitals and shut down wards will be created under legislation set out in Gordon Brown's first Queen's Speech.
- 06 Nov 2007Government launches over-50s websiteA new social networking website has been set up to allow the over-50s to talk directly to the government about issues that concern them.
- 06 Nov 2007BT heads Which? complaints listWhich? Legal Service dealt with more complaints about BT in October than any other company.
- 06 Nov 2007Woman jailed over fake drugs scamA woman who supplied counterfeit prescription drugs to the UK was sentenced to two-and-a-half years at Croydon Crown Court yesterday.
- 06 Nov 2007Pet owners spending more on foodOwners are splashing out more money on posh nosh for their pets, the latest figures suggest.
- 06 Nov 2007Ofcom delays clearer 0870 chargesA last-minute hitch on new rules for 0870 numbers could hit phone users' pockets.
- 06 Nov 2007Apple confirms iPhone launch dateApple confirmed today that the UK launch time of its iPhone will be 6.02pm this Friday.
- 06 Nov 2007Banks pile on credit card chargesThere have been 125 fee and rate increases on credit cards in just two months, financial analysts revealed yesterday.
- 06 Nov 2007M&S to charge 5p for a bagShoppers at many Marks & Spencer (M&S) stores in England will be charged 5p for a plastic bag, the company announced today.
- 06 Nov 2007Setanta confims sports news launchSetanta is to launch a new sports news channel at the end of November.
- 05 Nov 2007Drivers reminded of card fraud dangersMotorists are being targeted by a new campaign highlighting what steps they can take to avoid becoming victims of card fraud.
- 05 Nov 2007Pure launches in-car digital radioPure has launched what it describes as the world’s first in-car DAB digital radio that doesn't require complicated installation.
- 05 Nov 2007O2 prepares for iPhone stampedeMobile phone giant O2 is reported to have taken on more than a thousand extra staff as it prepares for this week’s launch of the Apple iPhone.
- 05 Nov 2007Britons sending record numbers of textsBritons are sending more than a billion text messages each week, according to the latest industry figures.
- 03 Nov 2007Guilt making people more eco-friendlyLiving a ‘green’ lifestyle is becoming increasingly important for many people, according to new research.
- 03 Nov 2007Brits splash out almost £400 on festive giftsBritons spend an average of £384 on Christmas presents, buying around 18 gifts each, research shows today.
- 02 Nov 2007Questions over future of 101 police numberThe government is set to cut funding for one of its flagship law and order measures due to 'severe financial pressures', it has admitted.
- 02 Nov 2007UK firms see internet business soarUK firms sold £130.4 billion worth of goods and services over the internet during 2006 - a 29% year-on-year increase, latest figures show.
- 02 Nov 2007Brighten up food with edible flowersCooks wanting to brighten up simple salads, shop-bought herbal teas, cakes and jam should look no further than their garden for inspiration, says Gardening Which?.
- 02 Nov 2007Books gave wrong pesticide adviceSome titles in an acclaimed series of gardening books have been giving out the wrong information on pesticides, Gardening Which? can reveal.
- 02 Nov 2007Britons to save £1 trillion by 2012The amount of money Britons have saved looks set to hit £1 trillion by 2012, research claimed today.
- 02 Nov 2007Drop in number of speed camera ticketsCampaigners have claimed a victory after figures showed the first fall in the number of tickets for motorists caught by speed cameras.
- 02 Nov 2007New cars and hot deals, 2nd November 2007Environmentalists may not like them, but the buying public still can’t get enough: it’s 4x4s on our radar this week…
- 01 Nov 2007The time wasted hanging on the linePeople waste 60 million hours each year on hold on customer service lines, new research suggests.
- 01 Nov 2007Scotland next for digital switchoverScotland will be the next region of the UK to begin the switchover to digital television, it has been announced.
- 01 Nov 2007Watchdog bans low-alcohol wineThe UK's wine watchdog has banned the sale of a low-alcohol drink in a row over manufacturing rules.
- 01 Nov 2007Refurbished laptop triumphs in bargain huntWhen it comes to buying a bargain laptop you could do a lot worse than a refurbished model, saysComputing Which? today.
- 01 Nov 2007Millions of renters don't know their rightsMillions of people who rent their home are in danger of being turfed out on to the street or plunged into debt because they don't know their rights, new research warns.
- 01 Nov 2007Co-op card launches for ethical shoppersThe Co-operative Bank today launched a new credit card that aims to reward consumers for ethical shopping.
- 01 Nov 2007Watchdog issues diet tips for over-50sBritain’s food watchdog is issuing ‘straightforward, practical’ advice to the over-50s on how to eat more healthily.
- 01 Nov 2007Tesco recalls seed mix in salmonella scareSupermarket chain Tesco has recalled a batch of its Whole Foods Natural Seed Mix after it was found to contain the potentially deadly salmonella bug.
- 01 Nov 2007Broadcasters set for TV football battleBritain's biggest broadcasters are set to battle it out to win the rights to screen Champions League football.
