News in February 2008
- 29 Feb 2008Which? publishes Best Buy tyresChoosing the right make of tyre could be the difference between stopping in the wet or careering into another vehicle, Which? warns today.
- 29 Feb 2008M&S to charge for plastic bagsMarks & Spencer (M&S) will charge customers 5p for every food carrier bag given out by its stores, it has announced.
- 29 Feb 2008Toys to get new warnings about magnetsNew warnings about magnets will be put on toys following a string of recalls in the UK.
- 29 Feb 2008Baby robot to 'learn' how to talkAcademics in the UK are preparing to teach a 'baby' robot how to talk.
- 29 Feb 2008News quiz FebruaryIt's been a busy month in the world of consumer news.
- 29 Feb 2008New cars and hot deals, 29 February 2008There are lots of 57-plate pre-registered cars still around, and with the new 08-plate arriving on 1 March – that’s this Saturday – do not be afraid to haggle on these cars.
- 29 Feb 2008Which? calls for action on nanotechnologiesWhich? has called on the government to deal with the big implications of nanotechnologies without further delay.
- 28 Feb 2008Viewers rap BBC for 'too much sport'TV viewers have hit out at the BBC for showing too much sport.
- 28 Feb 2008Fraudsters face jail over holiday scamFour fraudsters are facing jail after making millions from the misery of would-be holidaymakers across Britain.
- 28 Feb 2008Ofcom cracks down on 'unfair' phone chargesPhone companies have been warned they could face court action if they sting consumers with unfair extra charges.
- 28 Feb 2008Parents pay £6,000 for kids' first homeParents hand over an average of nearly £6,000 to help their children get on to the property ladder, research showed today.
- 28 Feb 2008Record fine for MicrosoftUS computer giant Microsoft has been hit with a record £650 million fine by the European Union for fleecing rivals who wanted information to make their software work with Windows.
- 27 Feb 2008Holiday scratchcards are sales trickHoliday Which?has exposed tricks being used to lure tourists into signing up for holiday clubs abroad.
- 27 Feb 2008Which? backs inherited estates inquiryWhich? has welcomed news that MPs are to probe the billions of pounds worth of 'inherited estates' held by life assurance companies.
- 27 Feb 2008New advice issued on protecting your chequesNumber of cheques the average person received in 2007
- 27 Feb 2008Transport Secretary raps First Great WesternRail company First Great Western (FGW) has been ordered to submit a plan to improve its performance after Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly ruled it had breached its franchise conditions.
- 27 Feb 2008ASA backs Which? over Nutella advertA TV commercial for Nutella chocolate spread has fallen foul of advertising watchdogs for misleading parents about its nutritional benefits.
- 27 Feb 2008O2 warned over 3G coverageMobile phonecompany O2 is facing a multi-million pound penalty unless it hits a target to roll out its 3G network across the UK.
- 26 Feb 2008Nissan Navara scores poorly in crash testAirbag fired late in Navara's crash test
- 26 Feb 2008Half of UK tyres 'dangerously under-inflated'Millions of UK motorists are putting their life at risk because their tyres are dangerously under-inflated, according to a new study.
- 26 Feb 2008Warning over climate change in South EastClimate change could have a dramatic impact on every area of life in the South East of England from work to health, leisure, gardening, holidays and farming, a booklet published today warned.
- 26 Feb 2008Borrowers will need to find bigger depositThe UK's second biggest mortgage lender has increased the deposit homeowners need to qualify for its best rates to 25% of a property's value.
- 25 Feb 2008'Strawberry' foods with barely any fruitSome strawberry-flavoured food and drinks contain barely a trace of the fruit, a report out today says.
- 25 Feb 2008National Grid fined £41.6 million over metersNational Grid's share of UK's gas meters
- 25 Feb 2008Charities tackle money adviceTwo UK charities are teaming up to offer young people advice on how to manage their money.
- 23 Feb 2008Sugar giant switches to FairtradeTate & Lyle is converting its sugar to Fairtrade, it announced today.
- 23 Feb 2008High street travel agents still very popularDespite more people than ever using the internet to book holidays independently, traditional high street travel agents are still an important part of the travel experience for many travellers, says Holiday Which?.
- 22 Feb 2008Beware the foreign faux pas, says Holiday Which?Tourists can avoid social gaffes when abroad by checking out local customs and traditions before they travel, says a new report from Holiday Which?.
- 22 Feb 2008Which? highlights Fairtrade food qualityAs Fairtrade Fortnight kicks off next week Which? asked experts to taste some Fairtrade foods.
- 22 Feb 2008Big supermarkets increase their holdThe battle among big supermarkets in 2007 got even more intense, according to a new report.
- 22 Feb 2008Government set to tighten road work rulesPlans to help reduce disruption caused by street works, including re-assessing workers' competence every five years, have been announced by the government.
- 22 Feb 2008Energy price probe launchedAn investigation into the UK's electricity and gas markets has been launched by the regulator in the wake of growing customer concern.
- 22 Feb 2008New cars and hot deals, 22nd February 2008
- 22 Feb 2008Plans to cut flight noise revealedPlans to change the flight paths planes take when operating in and out of major UK airports have been unveiled by air traffic control company Nats.
- 22 Feb 2008Drivers 'could save £100' with better techniqueMotorists could save themselves up to £100 each a year by opting for 'eco driving', the RAC said today.
- 21 Feb 2008New parking rules may make appeals harderNew parking charge rules could make it more difficult for motorists to appeal an unfair ticket, Which? Legal Service warns today.
- 21 Feb 2008Your privacy is at risk, warns Which?The amount of personal information shared by companies or available online could be exposing people to a greater risk of being scammed by fraudsters, Which? warns today.
- 21 Feb 2008Web offers motorists better new car dealsMotorists can make substantial savings when buying a new car online, Which? reveals today.
- 21 Feb 2008BT axes its helpline costs for landline callersBT is scrapping charges for landline callers contacting its consumer service and helpdesk numbers.
- 21 Feb 2008BA among worst for luggage delaysDelays to air passengers' luggage worsened last year, with British Airways (BA) one of the poorest-performing airlines, new figures showed.
- 21 Feb 2008Price of a pint 'to rise to £4'Current price of a pint in London
- 21 Feb 2008Government takes £30 billion in stamp dutyThe government has taken in nearly £31.5 billion in stamp duty in the first ten years since Labour came to power, new research shows.
- 21 Feb 2008British Airways hikes fuel surchargesNew fuel surcharge on longest flights
- 21 Feb 2008British Gas slammed over huge profitsBritish Gashas come under fire after the residential customer side of its business recorded a rise in profits of 500%.
- 20 Feb 2008Switch your bank and save hundreds, says Which?People who still have accounts with the ‘big five’ banks could save money and get better customer service by switching to another provider, according to Which? Money.
- 20 Feb 2008No refunds for HD-DVD customersToshiba says it doesn't intend to allow people to get refunds on HD-DVD players in the wake of its decision to pull the plug on the beleaguered format.
- 20 Feb 2008BBC puts programmes on iTunesHit BBC shows such as Life on Mars and Torchwood are now available to download via Apple’s online store.
- 20 Feb 2008More salmon withdrawn over taint fearsMore salmon products have been removed from sale over fears they could be contaminated with white spirit.
- 20 Feb 2008Eateries 'should serve tap water'Restaurants and cafes should serve tap water to customers as a matter of course, according to a consumer group.
- 20 Feb 2008TV phone-ins face tougher rulesBroadcast regulator Ofcom has unveiled a raft of new measures in a bid to stop consumers being ripped off by premium-rate phone-ins.
- 20 Feb 2008City watchdog to advise new parents on moneyThe City watchdog is to give special packs to pregnant women offering them advice on managing their finances once their baby arrives.
- 20 Feb 2008Drivers to get motorway picture warningsDrivers on a busy motorway are to become the first to get digital picture messages on overhead electronic signboards, it has been announced.
- 19 Feb 2008Toshiba ditches HD-DVD as Blu-Ray triumphsToshiba has finally conceded defeat in its battle for supremacy of the high-definition DVD market.
- 19 Feb 2008Charities help digital TV switchLeading UK charities have come together to support a multi-million pound initiative to help older and vulnerable people switch to digital TV.
- 19 Feb 2008Blu-Ray looks set to win format warElectronics giant Sony is emerging as the likely winner in a format battle for the next generation of DVD players.
- 19 Feb 2008Cruise poll shows Americans unpopular at seaDidn't want to mix with fellow Britons while at sea
- 19 Feb 2008Shoppers 'checking web before high street'Many UK shoppers are relying on the internet to seek the best deals, according to a new poll.
- 18 Feb 2008Diet not vitamins 'better for preventing cancer'People who take vitamin supplements to cut their risk of cancer may be wasting their money, a leading expert has warned.
- 18 Feb 2008Steer clear of will-writing scamsPeople have been warned not be conned by adverts and cold calls promising cut-price wills.
- 16 Feb 2008New scam reporting system launchedScam victims can now report crimes straight to the authorities thanks to a new online form.
- 16 Feb 2008Pensioners urged to claim heating grantsPensioners have been urged to claim government grants of up to £2,700 to help meet the cost of insulating their homes.
- 16 Feb 2008Supermarkets ombudsman to be appointedAn independent ombudsman is set to be appointed to oversee the UK's supermarkets.
- 15 Feb 2008Air passengers to get payout over price fixingBritish Airways and Virgin Atlantic are to pay around £100 million to passengers following a US lawsuit brought on behalf of UK and American travellers affected by fuel surcharge price-fixing.
- 15 Feb 2008Evans launches bridal wear in larger sizesA bridal collection with sizes up to a 32 has been launched by a high street chain.
- 15 Feb 2008New cars and hot deals, 15th February 2008Beat the queue
- 15 Feb 2008Identity fraud fears 'growing'More than half the British population now fears identity fraud, according to new research.
- 15 Feb 2008Cosmetic surgery spending soars in UKThe UK spends more on cosmetic surgery than anywhere else in Europe, according to new figures.
- 14 Feb 2008Online dating helps many find love, says Which?One in four dating website users have had a long-term relationship with someone they met through a site, a poll by Which? Online has found.
- 14 Feb 2008Phone giants trial mobile TVOrange and T-Mobile are to jointly pilot a 24-channel mobile phone TV service.
- 14 Feb 2008Car buyers have less to spend, says pollThe credit crunch is hitting car buying, with planned purchases plummeting to their lowest point for two years, according to figures out today.
- 14 Feb 2008Flight bag tracking trial has begunA six-month trial that could revolutionise the way luggage is tracked and monitored at the UK's biggest airport has started.
- 14 Feb 2008Botched cosmetic ops 'put pressure on GPs'A rise in the number of people undergoing cosmetic surgery is putting pressure on GPs, especially if operations are botched, a poll out today suggests.
- 14 Feb 2008Morrisons recalls salmon over white spirit scareMorrisons has recalled fresh Scottish salmon due to possible white spirit contamination.
- 14 Feb 2008Insurers call for tougher planning controlsTougher planning controls are needed if flood insurance is to remain widely available for new homes, an insurance trade body warned today.
- 14 Feb 2008Text service tells you local doctors and dentistsMobile phoneusers in England will now be able to get details of local NHS services via text message.
- 14 Feb 2008Ryanair misses 'misleading prices' deadlineNo-frills airline Ryanair has missed a deadline for removing misleading prices from its website.
- 14 Feb 2008Pensions advice service for women launchedA pensions advice service has launched a helpline specially for women.
- 14 Feb 2008Hotel guests win £2.5 million claimMore than £2.5 million in compensation is to be paid to hundreds of holidaymakers who fell ill at a Spanish hotel.
- 13 Feb 2008Illegal downloaders could face internet banPeople who illegally download music and films may have their internet access stopped under moves being considered by the government.
- 13 Feb 2008Cars to get 'anti-crash' technologySome new cars are being fitted with new technology which could make low-speed crashes a thing of the past.
- 13 Feb 2008NHS to pay out to those wrongly charged for careThe NHS will have to pay out at least £180 million to people wrongly charged for nursing care.
- 13 Feb 2008Budget airlines 'least child friendly'Budget carriers Ryanair and Easyjet have been voted the least child-friendly airlines in a new poll.
- 13 Feb 2008GM crops 'increasing pesticide use'Genetically-modified crops are not delivering on the promised benefits of increased yields, reduced pesticide use or tackling world hunger, Friends of the Earth claimed today.
- 13 Feb 2008Gas guzzlers to pay £25 congestion chargeGas-guzzling vehicles such as 4x4 'Chelsea tractors' will have to pay a daily charge of £25 to enter London's congestion charge zone from October this year, Ken Livingstone has announced.
- 13 Feb 2008Home CCTV sales riseA growing number of householders are turning to CCTV cameras to keep their homes secure, a retailer said.
- 13 Feb 2008Noise 'raises blood pressure even in sleep'Intrusive noise such as aircraft, traffic, or a snoring partner, causes blood pressure to rise even as we sleep, new research has shown.
- 12 Feb 2008Jamie Oliver show rapped over product plugJamie Oliver’s Channel 4 cookery series has been criticised for breaching TV rules after the celebrity chef plugged a product in his own kitchen utensil range.
- 12 Feb 2008Texts and emails may replace Valentine's cardsTexts and emails could gradually be replacing the traditional Valentine's Day card, a new poll suggests.
- 12 Feb 2008EU warns firms over foreign textsMobile phonecompanies have been warned they face action if they don't slash the costs of sending text messages or accessing the internet from abroad.
- 12 Feb 2008Faulty hospital scales 'could risk lives'Inaccurate hospital weighing scales could be putting patients’ lives at risk, trading standards officers (TSOs) have warned.
- 12 Feb 2008John Lewis trials cheque banDepartment store group John Lewis is the latest major high street chain to signal it may phase out cheques as a method of payment.
- 12 Feb 2008Morrisons to 'sue OFT'Supermarket chain Morrisons is taking legal action against the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) over the naming of the retailer in a dairy price-fixing probe, reports claim.
- 11 Feb 2008Mac users to get iPlayer in 2008The BBC has said Apple Mac users will be able to download programmes from its iPlayer on-demand TV service later this year.
- 11 Feb 2008OFT credit card action falls short, says Which?The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has missed an opportunity to make it easier for consumers to choose the best credit card for them, Which? says today.
- 11 Feb 2008Radio giant axes two digital stationsThe UK's largest commercial radio broadcaster, GCap Media, axed two of its stations today after labelling digital radio 'economically unviable'.
- 11 Feb 2008Pepsi launches 'healthier' colaSoft drinks giant Pepsi has launched a new ‘healthier’ cola made from natural ingredients.
- 11 Feb 2008Flyers warned over connecting flight pitfallsAir passengers have been warned they could be left out of pocket if they try to book their own connecting flights.
- 09 Feb 2008Southern Water fined £20 millionSouthern Waterhas been fined £20.3 million for poor service and deliberately misreporting information.
- 09 Feb 2008Britons ignorant of inheritance taxMore than half of Britons have no idea what inheritance tax is or what steps they can take to limit the amount they pay, a survey showed today.
- 09 Feb 2008New system for health complaintsHealth officials have unveiled a new system which they say will make it easier for patients to complain when things go wrong.
- 09 Feb 2008Ryanair to shut booking system for weekendBudget airline Ryanair is to shut down its entire booking system for a whole weekend later this month.
- 08 Feb 2008Free directory enquiries launchedA free directory enquiries service which plays adverts before giving out numbers was launched today.
- 08 Feb 2008New cars and hot deals, 8th February 2008
- 08 Feb 2008Eon announces energy price risesEoncustomers will see bills rise by more than £100 as the company became the fifth supplier to hike prices in the latest round.
- 08 Feb 2008More homes may be forced to have water metersAll homes in the south east of England may be forced to have water meters, according to Environment Secretary Hilary Benn.
- 07 Feb 2008Nikon adds to its Coolpix rangeNikon has announced seven new models in its Coolpixcompact camerarange.
- 07 Feb 2008Garmin unveils smartphoneSatellite navigation (sat nav) company Garmin is to launch a smartphone later this year.
- 07 Feb 2008MRSA found on 15% of hospital's curtainsThe super-bug MRSA has been discovered on 15% of a hospital's curtains, a new medical study has found.
- 07 Feb 2008Food watchdog to review advice on fishOfficial advice about eating fish will be reviewed due to environmental concerns, the food watchdog has announced.
- 07 Feb 2008BBC iPlayer credited with online TV surgeThe online TV market in the UK is predicted to almost double in 2008 thanks in part to the growing popularity of the BBC iPlayer free catch-up service.
- 07 Feb 2008Disney and Tesco launch healthier kids' foodsWhich? has welcomed news that Disney and Tesco have joined forces to launch a range of kids' foods designed to promote healthier eating.
- 06 Feb 2008Mobiles don't raise tumour risk, says studyMobile phone use does not lead to a greater risk of brain tumours, according to a new study released today.
- 06 Feb 2008Norwich Union announces £2 billion payoutMore than a million Norwich Union with-profits policyholders are to share a bonus of £2.1 billion.
- 06 Feb 2008Sky predicts 10 million customers by 2010Satellite broadcaster BSkyB says it’s on track to reach 10 million customers by 2010.
- 06 Feb 2008We send 5,000 texts a second in UKNearly 5,000 text messages are sent every second in the UK, according to an industry report out today.
- 06 Feb 2008Food watchdog calls for saturated fat cutFood firms should cut saturated fat levels and reduce portion sizes to help improve the nation's health, a watchdog has said.
- 06 Feb 2008Joining up debts isn't 'quick fix' solutionSweeping debts into one consolidated loan is not a ‘quick fix’ solution and could be the start of serious financial problems, warns a new Which? essential guide
- 06 Feb 2008Half of holidaymakers 'anxious' before flightHalf of all holidaymakers are anxious about air travel, according to a new poll.
- 06 Feb 2008Apple launches larger memory iPhoneApple has launched a new version of its iPhone which has double the memory of the original device.
- 05 Feb 2008No link between MMR and autism, new study saysThere is no link between the controversial MMR jab and autism, according to the largest ever published study on the issue.
- 05 Feb 2008Thames Water to charge by size of homeThames Waterhas announced a shake-up of the way it charges customers that will see those who live in smaller homes paying less.
- 05 Feb 2008Utility companies slated over customer serviceGas, electricity and telecoms companies have been slated for the poor way they deal with customer problems and complaints.
- 05 Feb 2008New 'Scambuster' teams announcedNew 'scambuster' teams are to go to war on cowboy builders, cold-call conmen, rogue traders and e-mail swindlers, it has been announced.
- 04 Feb 2008Health watchdog raps trusts over target focusThe NHS is being urged to learn lessons from inquiries into poor patient care.
- 04 Feb 2008Egg customers reassured over credit ratingsCredit rating agencies have sought to reassure anxious Egg customers that the lender's decision to cancel their credit cards would not affect their credit reports.
- 04 Feb 2008Surgeons report big increase in faceliftsFacelifts and other anti-ageing surgical procedures are proving increasingly popular, according to the latest statistics.
- 04 Feb 2008New digital SLRs unveiledSony, Canon and Nikon have marked the start of 2008 by unveiling a host of new digital SLRs.
- 04 Feb 2008Millions listening to internet radioMore than eight million people are listening to radio over the internet each week, according to the latest industry figures.
- 02 Feb 2008Scottish Power confirms double-digit price hikeScottish Powerhas became the latest energy supplier to announce inflation-busting price rises.
- 02 Feb 2008BBC to show Six Nations on iPlayerThe Six Nations rugby tournament which starts today will be the first major sporting event to be shown on the BBC iPlayer.
- 02 Feb 2008Free weekend calls for BT customersBT is changing its call prices in a shake-up that will give customers free weekend calls - but there are also price rises.
- 02 Feb 2008Asda recalls microwavesSupermarket Asda has recalled around 300,000 of its own brand microwaves over concerns they could overheat and burst into flames.
- 01 Feb 2008New cars and hot deals, 1st February 2008C30 savings
- 01 Feb 2008Watchdog offers text service on call chargesYou can check premium-rate call costs through a new text messaging service.
- 01 Feb 2008Broken low energy bulbs dangerous, says ministerThe government is urging consumers to exercise care when handling broken low energy light bulbs, which contain mercury.
- 01 Feb 2008Pop goes fizzy drinks market, says reportThe fizz is going out of soft drinks as consumers opt for more juices and bottled water, a report out today says.
- 01 Feb 2008Elderly scam victims 'lose twice as much'The plight of elderly victims is being highlighted in Scams Awareness Month, launched today.
- 01 Feb 2008Speed cameras 'in the wrong place'A blunder has meant that 'yellow vulture' speed cameras set up on a Hampshire motorway cannot be used because they have been put in the wrong place, the Highways Agency admitted.
- 01 Feb 2008Tax deadline moved after site crashHM Revenue & Customshas extended the deadline for people to complete their self-assessment tax returns following problems with its website.
