News in March 2008
- 31 Mar 2008Drivers won two in three parking appealsNew parking regulations come into force today as new figures reveal that over two thirds of parking tickets appealed in 2006 were cancelled.
- 31 Mar 2008Banks will have to contact struggling customersBanks and building societies will have to do more to help customers who get into financial difficulties under the new Banking Code.
- 31 Mar 2008Which? tackles football stars over PepsiWhich? is asking some of the world’s top footballers to reconsider their support of a new website from soft drinks giant Pepsi.
- 29 Mar 2008New help for early retirement workersThe government has unveiled plans to help workers who have to retire early due to ill health but who lost their company pensions when their employer went bankrupt.
- 29 Mar 2008Strasberry signals the start of summerA new berry resembling a cross between a raspberry and a strawberry goes on sale this weekend.
- 28 Mar 2008Travel chaos overshadows terminal's first dayWhat was supposed to be a triumphant opening for Heathrow's new £4.3 billion Terminal 5 (T5) descended into travel chaos, with cancelled flights and long baggage-collection delays yesterday.
- 28 Mar 2008Royal Mail needs to make 'sweeping changes'Royal Mail needs to make sweeping changes to meet the needs of its customers and secure a future for itself, says the postal regulator.
- 28 Mar 2008Ship passenger archives go onlineNumber of passengers listed in newly released records
- 28 Mar 2008New cars and hot deals, 28 March 2008For your weekly fix of car news and reviews, sign up to our NEW Which? Car email. We'll drop you a line every Friday with what's hot in the world of motoring - and some very tempting deals, too…
- 28 Mar 2008Move to stop pupils having lunchtime fast-foodSchools should consider banning kids from leaving school grounds at lunchtime to stop them filling up on junk food, according to a new report.
- 28 Mar 2008News quiz MarchSee how closely you've been paying attention to the latest consumer news - hit the start button below to find out...
- 27 Mar 2008Toddler cough syrups pulled from shelvesCough and cold remedies for children are being pulled from shelves amid fears that under-twos could get an an accidental overdose.
- 27 Mar 2008Fingerprint plan for T5 suspended in legal rowAirport operator BAA will not be taking fingerprints of passengers using Heathrow's £4.3 billion Terminal 5 (T5) which opens today following doubts over the legality of such a move.
- 27 Mar 2008New plan allows mobiles on planesHaters of mobile phones could soon be able to add 'I'm on the plane' to 'I'm on the train' as their least-favourite overheard phrase following a new ruling.
- 27 Mar 2008Tata buys Jaguar and Land RoverIndian conglomerate Tata has bought the car brands Land Rover and Jaguar in a deal worth around £1.15 billion.
- 27 Mar 2008Roberts says new radio is world firstRoberts has launched what it claims is a world first – a DAB, FM and internet radio rolled into one.
- 27 Mar 2008Cyclist exposes bad driving on YouTubeA cyclist who films motorists driving dangerously and posts the videos on the internet has said he was simply trying to get the road safety message across.
- 26 Mar 2008Honda Civics hit by handbrake problemThousands of Honda Civics are to have handbrakes replaced after the company discovered a problem that appears similar to the one affecting some Vauxhall cars.
- 26 Mar 2008Drink advice to pregnant women tightenedA health watchdog has strengthened its advice to pregnant women on how much alcohol they should drink.
- 26 Mar 2008Web ticket touts closed downFour companies which operated as internet ticket touts have been wound up in the High Court following a host of consumer complaints.
- 26 Mar 2008Dodgy car sales site shut downA Barnet-based 'vehicle matching' company has been wound up in the High Court after an investigation found it was lying about its services.
- 26 Mar 2008Mazda 2 is World Car of the YearThe Mazda 2 has beaten off competition from the Ford Mondeo and the Mercedes-Benz C-class to be crowned World Car of the Year.
- 26 Mar 2008Tired drivers mis-read a yawnThree-quarters of motorists open a window to keep themselves awake on a long journey, while 4% shake their head vigorously and 3% slap their face, according to new research.
- 26 Mar 2008Jaguar and Land Rover set to be sold to TataThe sale of two distinguished motoring marques - Land Rover and Jaguar - is expected to be announced today.
- 25 Mar 2008Cod liver oil can help arthritis painA scientific study has found evidence that cod liver oil can help rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.
- 25 Mar 2008Comet cuts price of 'greenest' white goodsElectrical chain Comet is knocking off the cost of VAT on the most energy-efficient white goods.
- 22 Mar 2008Gardeners urged to shun peat productsGardeners have been urged to avoid buying peat products when they head out to garden centres this weekend.
- 21 Mar 2008Scottish and Southern raises fuel billsScottish & Southern Energy (SSE) is hiking up gas and electricity prices for its 8.5 million customers from the start of next month.
- 21 Mar 2008Cost of diesel hits record highThe cost of diesel at the pumps has risen to a record high, it's been announced.
- 21 Mar 2008New cars and hot deals, 21 March 2008For your weekly fix of car news and reviews, sign up to our NEW Which? Car email. We'll drop you a line every Friday with what's hot in the world of motoring - and some very tempting deals, too…
- 21 Mar 2008BBC wins Formula One TV rightsSports chiefs at the BBC are jubilant after the broadcaster won back the rights to show Formula One motor racing.
- 20 Mar 2008M&S pants top our briefs encounterPants rated: first came M&S, bottom right; then Asda, top right; Tesco, bottom left, and last was Calvin Klein
- 20 Mar 2008Standards at dry cleaners 'alarmingly poor'A Which? undercover probe has found that standards at many dry cleaners are alarmingly poor.
- 20 Mar 2008Which?'s longest serving editor diesTributes are flooding in today for Which?’s longest serving editor, Eirlys Roberts, who has died aged 97.
- 20 Mar 2008Specialist websites top shopper surveyShopping websitesthat offer a more specialist service have the happiest customers, says a new survey from Which? Online.
- 20 Mar 2008We expose medical tourism pitfallsPeople who travel abroad for medical treatment should do their homework beforehand or risk problems later on, Which? warns today.
- 20 Mar 2008Hips need a shake-up, says Which?A Which? investigation has found few signs that home information packs (Hips) are making it easier and cheaper to sell a property.
- 19 Mar 2008Electrolux reveals dishwasher safety probeElectrolux has said that there is a very small risk that some of its dishwashers could overheat and catch fire.
- 19 Mar 2008Magnet toys recalled over safety fearsAbout 280,000 toys sold in the UK have been recalled amid safety fears over detachable magnets.
- 19 Mar 2008Hammer film released on MySpace next monthThe executive producer of the first Hammer horror film in more than 30 years has urged fans to move with the times.
- 19 Mar 2008Millions of customers want ethical financeMillions of Britons are taking ethical and environmental issues into account when choosing a financial services company, research showed today.
- 19 Mar 2008Wine taster insures nose for £4 millionA leading European wine maker and taster has insured his nose for 5 million euros (£3.9 million), the Lloyd's of London insurance market has revealed.
- 19 Mar 2008Carbon offsetting schemes 'very confusing'Schemes which help you offset your ‘carbon footprint’ are often inconsistent and confusing for consumers, according to Which? Money.
- 18 Mar 2008Crackdown planned on mobile cashback dealsPhone companies are facing fines if they don't clamp down on unacceptable sales practices and dodgy mobile cashback deals.
- 18 Mar 2008Mussolini's car sold for half a millionAn Alfa Romeo once owned by fascist dictator Benito Mussolini has sold for a world record price of £550,000.
- 18 Mar 2008More estate agents in ombudsman schemeThe number of estate agents who are members of redress schemes has soared on the back of the introduction of home information packs, a new report shows.
- 18 Mar 2008Unwanted text tricked people to respondA crackdown on unsolicited text messages has seen one company pick up a massive £100,000 fine.
- 18 Mar 2008O2 signs massive music download dealO2 customers are to get access to the UK’s largest full-track mobile music download service.
- 17 Mar 2008Additives study 'no basis for curbs'EU food watchdogs have decided that a major study linking certain additives to hyperactivity in children is no basis for curbs.
- 17 Mar 2008Nissan improves Navara safetyA Nissan truck has been given an improved safety rating after initial crash tests highlighted serious safety concerns.
- 17 Mar 2008Web users 'need protection from tracking'The man dubbed the 'Father of the Web' has said consumers need to be protected against systems which can track their activity on the internet, it was reported today.
- 17 Mar 2008Energy users don't know how much they payEight out of ten people have no idea how much they pay for their gas and electricity, a survey showed today.
- 15 Mar 2008Hygiene scores scheme to go nationwidePlans have been announced for a nationwide scheme to help diners check out the cleanliness of their favourite restaurants.
- 15 Mar 2008Don't get caught by energy postcode lotteryWhere you live can determine how much you pay for gas and electricity, Switch with Which? warns today.
- 15 Mar 2008Fresh bid to ban junk food marketing to kidsWhich? and other consumer groups from across the globe have launched proposals to drastically cut the amount of junk food marketing to children.
- 14 Mar 2008Passengers warned of teething problems at T5The Queen will officially open a £4.3 billion new terminal at the UK's biggest airport today, but customers were warned to expect a 'bedding down period' with the new facility.
- 14 Mar 2008Cost of delays to passengers revealedRail delays cost train passengers around £1 billion in terms of time lost in 2006/07, a report from a government spending watchdog said today.
- 14 Mar 2008New cars and hot deals, 14 March 2008Well priced Galaxy diesel
- 14 Mar 2008Wedding costs force couples to postponeThe spiralling cost of getting married is forcing thousands of couples to postpone their wedding or even abandon it altogether, a survey showed today.
- 13 Mar 2008Chancellor declares war on gas guzzlersChancellor Alistair Darling yesterday went to war on owners of gas-guzzling cars by imposing swingeing future taxes on the most-polluting vehicles.
- 13 Mar 2008Gordon Brown urges EU tax cut on green productsPrime Minister Gordon Brown urged EU leaders today to back a British plan to cut VAT on 'green' products - from fridges to floor cleaners.
- 12 Mar 2008Credit and debit card fraud soarsFraud on credit and debit cards soared by 25% last year to reach a record high despite the introduction of chip and Pin, figures showed today.
- 12 Mar 2008Privacy watchdog probes surfing 'spy' technologyBritain’s privacy watchdog is examining new technology that tracks the websites you surf and sells the details to advertisers.
- 12 Mar 2008Fairtrade sales soar in the UKThe Fairtrade market in the UK is set to more than double over the next four years, analysts have predicted.
- 12 Mar 2008Black & Decker car battery advert falls flatA TV ad for a Black & Decker battery booster has been criticised for implying it could start a car with a dead battery.
- 12 Mar 2008Moscow 'hottest property' in EuropeMoscow and Istanbul are the hottest property markets in Europe as industry branches out of traditional capitals, according to a new survey of 27 cities.
- 11 Mar 2008Anger over airport landing fee hikeThe UK's biggest airline today reacted with fury to a new price regime that will drive up fares at Britain's two busiest airports.
- 11 Mar 2008Hotel rooms in UK are most costly in EuropeThe UK has the most expensive hotels in Europe, according to a price index out today.
- 11 Mar 2008BBC revamps mobile siteSports fans will be able to catch up with this summer’s Olympics coverage on their mobile phones, the BBC has revealed.
- 11 Mar 2008Ocado takes on Tesco with price match promiseA price war looks set to break out between the online food delivery service Ocado, and Tesco.
- 11 Mar 2008No key needed for new Ford carsFord has announced that its new Focus and Mondeo cars will be keyless.
- 11 Mar 2008Scam warning after laptop switched for potatoesA student bought what he thought was a laptop for £600 but it turned out to be a bag of potatoes, police have warned.
- 11 Mar 2008Food prices are soaringHard-pressed households faced more misery last month as food costs soared to record rates in February, new official figures show.
- 11 Mar 2008Air passengers face fare risesPassengers at the UK's two biggest airports could face fare rises after today's announcement of how much airlines can be charged for using Heathrow and Gatwick.
- 10 Mar 2008Man was bankrupted 'over 88p tax bill'The Inland Revenue accidentally bankrupted a man who owed it only 88p in taxes, a television programme claims tonight.
- 10 Mar 2008Chancellor 'to crack down' on energy firmsChancellor Alistair Darling is to crack down on energy companies profiting from those in fuel poverty when he delivers his first Budget later this week, it was reported today.
- 10 Mar 2008Profit still possible from propertyYou can still make a healthy profit from property despite the current falls in the market, according to a new Which? book.
- 08 Mar 2008BBC iPlayer goes mobileThe BBC has launched a version of its iPlayer catch-up TV service for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch.
- 08 Mar 2008Plans for motorway car-sharing lane scrappedPlans for a car-sharing lane on a busy stretch of Britain's longest motorway have been scrapped by the Government.
- 08 Mar 2008Prescription costs up by 25p in EnglandThe cost of a prescription in England will rise by 25p to £7.10 from the start of next month.
- 07 Mar 2008Japanese eaterie wins Good Food Guide awardLondon’s best new restaurant is Japanese ‘temple of cool’ Sake No Hana, says The Good Food Guide London.
- 07 Mar 2008Share scam victims get £1 million backConsumers who lost more than £1 million in a share scam have got most of their cash back following a transatlantic crackdown on the fraudsters.
- 07 Mar 2008Blue is 'most popular' choice for carMany motorists can tell what other drivers are like just from the colour of their car, it's been claimed.
- 07 Mar 2008Ikea recalls high chairsSwedish furniture chain Ikea is recalling more than 900 high chairs after the discovery of a safety issue.
- 07 Mar 2008Gardeners urged not to move frogspawnWildlife-lovers may not think twice about handing over 'excess' frogspawn from their urban ponds to other gardeners to give frogs a new home.
- 07 Mar 2008John Lewis staff share record bonusAround 69,000 staff at department store chain John Lewis will share a record bonus pot of £181.1 million after annual profits rose 19%.
- 07 Mar 2008New cars and hot deals, 7 March 2008Match this - VW Golf
- 06 Mar 2008Pre-pay energy users charged £255 extraEnergy firmsare charging pre-pay meter users an average of £255 a year more than online customers, it was revealed today.
- 06 Mar 2008Buy-to-let mortgages 'drying up'The credit crunch has begun to hit investment landlords as buy-to-let mortgages 'dry up', research showed today.
- 06 Mar 2008Computer recycling advice is 'rubbish'Some councils are giving out bad advice on computer recycling which could lead to sensitive personal data falling into the hands of identity thieves, says Computing Which? today.
- 06 Mar 2008Millions of computer users risk data lossMany people are at risk of losing important information because they don't back up their computer regularly, warns Computing Which?.
- 06 Mar 2008Wildlife crashes injure 500 motorists a yearMotorists have been warned to watch out for wildlife after new research showed that an estimated one million animals were killed on Britain's roads every year.
- 06 Mar 2008Complaints about NHS dentistry 'rising'Complaints about NHS dental treatment are on the rise and there is widespread confusion about access to dentists, a report said today.
- 06 Mar 2008Call for government helplines to be freeGovernment helplines should be free to call from mobile phones, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has said amid evidence making a claim costs some people more than a week's benefit.
- 06 Mar 2008Anti-depressant drug firm criticisedHealth regulators have criticised drugs firm Glaxosmithkline (GSK) for withholding information over the risk of suicide relating to one of its anti-depressant drugs.
- 05 Mar 2008Which? warns drivers over insurance catchesWhich? Legal Servicelawyers are warning drivers of the pitfalls in ‘comprehensive' car insurance.
- 05 Mar 2008Banks have refunded £550 million in chargesThe major high street banks have so far paid out more than £550 million in refunds to customers who complained about unauthorised overdraft charges.
- 05 Mar 2008Warner unlocks music downloadsApple’s dominance of the music download market is facing a fresh challenge after Warner Music signed a deal to sell its tracks in the UK without copy protection.
- 05 Mar 2008EasyJet slammed over refund gimmick adNo-frills airline EasyJet has been criticised over a ‘misleading’ newspaper advert which promised holidaymakers ‘double the difference’ back if they found a cheaper fare.
- 05 Mar 2008Hard shoulder to be used to ease trafficDrivers could be allowed to use the hard shoulder on the busiest stretches of motorway in a bid to tackle congestion, the government has announced.
- 05 Mar 2008Government laptop losses revealedLaptops a month went missing from government bodies in 2007
- 05 Mar 2008Litter survey shows fag ends still a problemFigure for streets found littered with cigarette buts
- 04 Mar 2008Parking at hospitals to be free in WalesCar parking at most Welsh hospitals will be free from next month, it's been announced.
- 04 Mar 2008First GP surgery opens in a supermarketAn NHS GP surgery is running from a supermarket for the first time ever.
- 04 Mar 2008Morgan unveils hydrogen roadsterA British hydrogen fuel cell sports roadster is set to be one of the major draws at the Geneva motor show, which opens to the press today.
- 04 Mar 2008O2 launches 'simple' back up for phonesMobile company O2 has launched a service to enable its customers to store numbers and pictures in case their phone gets lost or stolen.
- 04 Mar 2008City watchdog offers mortgage helpThe City watchdog has launched a £2 million advertising campaign offering help to people worried about their mortgage.
- 03 Mar 2008Financial advice set to be freeA government review has recommended a free national financial advice service.
- 03 Mar 2008Ryanair website still under fireA travel industry body has accused Ryanair of breaking website pricing rules despite repeated warnings.
- 01 Mar 2008Plant roots 'have a sense of touch'Plantroots have a sense of touch and are able to ‘feel’ their way past obstacles in the soil, a study has shown.
- 01 Mar 2008Girls 'outperform boys with computers'Girls are better than boys at using a computer, according to a new survey.
