News in April 2008
- 30 Apr 2008Competition watchdog unveils shake-upThe UK's competition watchdog today unveiled a planning shake-up in a bid to boost competition in the £95 billion grocery market.
- 30 Apr 2008Bank slashes mortgage ratesRoyal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is today slashing its fixed-rate and tracker mortgages by up to 0.3% in a bid to boost its market share.
- 30 Apr 2008Savings rates break through 7% rateSavings rates broke through the 7% barrier today with the launch of a new bond from Icelandic bank Icesave.
- 30 Apr 2008OFT contacts top brands in probeOffice of Fair Trading (OFT) investigators have contacted manufacturers of leading household brands as part of an inquiry into alleged price fixing.
- 30 Apr 2008Record number of ads draw complaintsA record 14,080 adverts drew complaints last year, according to new figures which show objections about environmental claims have doubled.
- 30 Apr 2008British Airways hikes surcharges againBritish Airways is to increase its fuel surcharges with passengers on the most-distant long-haul routes paying £30 more for a return flight.
- 29 Apr 2008Tesco launches carbon footprint labelsTesco launched a labelling system today showing the carbon footprint of grocery items.
- 29 Apr 2008Which? Holiday reveals hire car extrasHolidaymakers can be driven to distraction when trying to hire a car abroad, Which? Holiday says today.
- 29 Apr 2008Cash warning as people live longerPeople in the UK are leaving themselves open to financial hardship in the future because they 'massively' under-estimate how long they will live, a new survey says.
- 28 Apr 2008Supermarkets confirm OFT probeMajor supermarket chains have confirmed that they had received visits from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), which is said to be investigating allegations of price fixing.
- 28 Apr 2008Anticipation growing over Freesat launchSpeculation is growing about the imminent launch of Freesat, the free-to-air satellite service jointly provided by the BBC and ITV.
- 26 Apr 2008One in 10 would keep cash under the mattressThe number of people who think the best place to keep their money is under their mattress has nearly trebled during the past year, figures showed today.
- 26 Apr 2008Bid to restrict junk food ads blockedA bid to tackle growing obesity by tougher controls on advertising junk food to children has been blocked by Tory backbench critics in the Commons.
- 25 Apr 2008New cars and hot deals, 25 April 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…
- 25 Apr 2008New all-in-one printer from KodakKodak has announced the latest addition to its family of inkjet printers – the ESP5.
- 25 Apr 2008Mobiles for a fiver from AsdaSupermarket chain Asda says it's launching Britain's lowest ever priced pay-as-you-go (PAYG) mobile phone.
- 25 Apr 2008Rail fares shake-up announcedThe first part of a major shake-up of the rail fares system designed to make it easier for passengers to buy train tickets is to be introduced next month, it was announced yesterday.
- 25 Apr 2008News quizHow much do you know about the latest consumer news stories? Find out with our monthly quiz.
- 24 Apr 2008Banks lose overdraft charges court caseConsumers are closer to reclaiming millions of pounds worth of bank charges following a historic High Court judgement today.
- 24 Apr 2008Safety watchdog wants sunbed ban for kidsThe Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has called for a ban on under-18s using sunbeds.
- 24 Apr 2008Food fraud costing shoppers £7bn a yearAs much as 10% of the food we buy is not what it seems, a Which? report reveals today.
- 24 Apr 2008Hidden faults cost homebuyers dearNot viewing a property thoroughly could cost buyers up to £10,000, according to new Which? research.
- 24 Apr 2008Bank charges test case decision dueThe continuing furore over bank charges will move a step closer to being resolved today with a landmark judgement by the High Court.
- 24 Apr 2008Two in three lenders have failed to pass on cutNearly two-thirds of mortgage lenders have so far failed to pass on April's interest rate reduction to borrowers, two weeks after the Bank of England base rate was cut.
- 24 Apr 2008Best age to pass driving test 'is 25'The best age to pass the driving test is 25, according to research figures out today.
- 24 Apr 2008Vodafone and Orange bottom of Which? surveyBritain’s mobile phone networks fared so poorly in a Which? Online customer satisfaction poll that not one has achieved Best Buy status.
- 24 Apr 2008Sandwich shop fruit prices can send you bananasThe price of fruit at a national sandwich chain can cost you 20% more than if you shop at their local rivals, a Which? study has found.
- 23 Apr 2008ITV puts classic shows on iTunesITV is the latest broadcaster to announce it’s making programmes available to download via Apple’s online store.
- 23 Apr 2008Families spend £15 a week more on foodThe average family is spending £15 a week more on food than they were a year ago, new figures revealed today.
- 23 Apr 2008Morrisons gets apology over milk price claimThe Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has apologised to Bradford-based Morrisons and agreed £100,000 damages after the retailer was wrongly identified in a price-fixing probe.
- 23 Apr 2008Volkswagen unveils car that parks itselfVolkswagen has unveiled a new system which will allow cars in the future to park themselves.
- 23 Apr 2008Credit crunch worry for four in tenPeople can save thousands of pounds and reduce the impact of the credit crunch by dodging poor value mortgage deals, says Which? Money.
- 23 Apr 2008Adnams launches 'carbon-neutral' beerA brewer has launched what it claims is the UK's first carbon-neutral beer.
- 22 Apr 2008Skype offers 'unlimited' landline calls dealWeb phone calls firm Skype has unveiled three new packages which allow you to make internet calls to landlines all over the world for a set monthly fee.
- 22 Apr 2008Lenders 'will curb mortgages' despite Bank helpHomeowners faced with dearer mortgage deals and first-time buyers struggling to gain a foothold on the property ladder can only hope that yesterday's £50 billion initiative will ease a squeeze on lending among banks.
- 22 Apr 2008Two in three drivers 'want drink drive limit cut'Two in three motorists support a lowering of the legal drink-drive limit, according to a poll of more than 17,000 drivers.
- 22 Apr 2008Ford takes action over Focus issueCarmaker Ford has promised to take action after some Focus drivers complained of faulty instrument displays.
- 22 Apr 2008BAA airport ownership criticisedA new report has said that BAA's ownership of seven UK airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, ‘may not be serving well the interests of either airlines or passengers’.
- 22 Apr 2008PayPal to block 'unsafe' browsersInternet payment company PayPal is to block people accessing its site through ‘unsafe browsers’ as part of a clampdown on phishing.
- 21 Apr 2008Paying by cash is 'making a comeback'Cash is making a comeback as a method of payment because customers fear spending money they haven't got, according to a new report.
- 21 Apr 2008London resturants vie for top food awardThe Good Food Guide today reveals the top contenders for its London Restaurant of the Year award.
- 21 Apr 2008US politicians want ban on in-flight callsThe prospect of mobile phone use on European flights is moving closer but the backlash against in-flight calls has already begun in the United States.
- 19 Apr 2008New guides to 'eco-friendly' compostTwo new guides have been launched to help inform gardeners who want to use composts and soil conditioners containing recycled garden materials.
- 19 Apr 2008Pound goes further on long-haul holidaysAs the pound plunges against the euro, a new report says British holidaymakers will get more value for money travelling to far-flung destinations.
- 18 Apr 2008Britons want tougher rogue trader lawsAlmost all Britons want tougher laws governing aggressive and unfair sales practices, according to research.
- 18 Apr 2008Rise in dangerous product recallsThe number of dangerous products taken off European markets rose by 53% last year, a new consumer safety report revealed today.
- 18 Apr 2008Wii Fit already selling outNintendo's much anticipated virtual fitness centre, the Wii Fit, is already selling out in the UK - a week before it's even launched.
- 18 Apr 2008Thames Water fined £9.7 millionThames Water has been fined £9.7 million for poor service and misreporting information to the regulator.
- 18 Apr 2008New cars and hot deals, 18 April 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…
- 18 Apr 2008Marketing makes it hard to get kids to eat wellIrresponsible marketing makes it hard to encourage children to eat a healthy diet, according to a Which? survey.
- 18 Apr 2008Third of meat products wrongly labelledA third of meat products on the shelves in supermarkets and shops could be misleadingly labelled, a new survey has found.
- 17 Apr 2008Broadband speeds still fall short of claimsBroadband customers are still receiving less than half the download speed they pay for, according to new research.
- 17 Apr 2008Sainsbury's announces plans to cut bag useSainsbury's does not believe that charging for...bags is the only answer
- 17 Apr 2008Good Food Guide offers tips for bargain dealsThe Good Food Guide London has revealed the bargain deals to be enjoyed at London's top restaurants.
- 17 Apr 2008Delays hit holiday flightsPassengers on holiday flights had to put up with less-punctual services in the last part of 2007, new figures show.
- 16 Apr 2008Price of iPhone slashed by £100Retailers will today slash the price of the Apple iPhone by £100 for the next month.
- 16 Apr 2008Tesco Digital to take on iTunesBritain’s biggest supermarket is going head-to head-with Apple's iTunes site by launching a music and film digital download service.
- 16 Apr 2008Two BA bosses pay price for T5 chaosTwo top British Airways (BA) executives have paid the price for the Heathrow Terminal 5 (T5) fiasco.
- 16 Apr 2008New Fords check tyre pressure on the moveMotorists buying some of the latest Fords can opt for a system that will check tyre pressure while they drive.
- 16 Apr 2008Online shopping continues to boomOnline shopping is continuing to boom, with analysts predicting a 32% growth in web sales this year.
- 16 Apr 2008AA wants traffic lights rephased to cut queuesAmount that AA says would be saved by cutting car queues
- 15 Apr 2008Bad products and services cost public £6.6 billionProblems with shoddy goods and services cost UK consumers around £6.6 billion last year - but over third of people didn't bother to complain.
- 15 Apr 2008New study links pneumonia deaths with pollutionThousands of people have died in recent years from pneumonia caused by pollution, a study out today suggests.
- 15 Apr 2008Protection to be boosted for company pensionsThe government has set out plans to increase protection for people whose company pension schemes are involved in a buyout.
- 15 Apr 2008Green fuel demand is 'threat to wildlife'Demand for 'green' fuels which aim to cut emissions from transport is contributing to climate change, destroying habitats and pushing wildlife towards extinction, conservationists claimed today.
- 15 Apr 2008Bank silent on rate as PM urges cutsRecently nationalised bank Northern Rock has yet to announce whether it is passing on last week's interest rate cut to borrowers despite calls from the Prime Minister for lenders to reduce their rates.
- 14 Apr 2008One in three drivers admit to radio distractionMore than a third of motorists are unaware of changes to the Highway Code, according to a new poll.
- 12 Apr 2008Extra cash to help with fuel billsUp to 100,000 households are to be helped with their fuel bills under a deal with power companies brokered by the government.
- 12 Apr 2008Food watchdog wants E numbers banChildren's campaigners have welcomed a recommendation by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to ban six artificial food colourings.
- 12 Apr 2008New borrowers unlikely to benefit from rate cutNew borrowers are unlikely to see much benefit from yesterday's interest rate cut, commentators have warned.
- 12 Apr 2008BA delays Terminal 5 long-haul switchBritish Airways has announced it’s postponing moving most of its long-haul flights to Heathrow Terminal 5 (T5).
- 11 Apr 2008Internet users must 'opt in' to advertising systemInternet users must give their consent if a service provider wants to send them targeted adverts, the Information Commissioner (ICO) has ruled.
- 11 Apr 2008New cars and hot deals, 11 April 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…
- 11 Apr 2008Half of us suffer from back painMore than half the British population now suffers from back pain, according to a report out today.
- 10 Apr 2008BBC iPlayer joins forces with Nintendo's WiiNintendo Wii owners will be able to watch the BBC’s catch up-TV service – the iPlayer- on their TV by streaming programmes through their games console.
- 10 Apr 2008Review calls for financial ombudsman to be openAn independent review has called for the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) to become more open.
- 10 Apr 2008Holidaymakers stranded as airline goes bustHundreds of British holidaymakers have been left stranded after a low-cost airline operating from Gatwick Airport to Hong Kong went into liquidation.
- 10 Apr 2008Probe announced into Britain's 'worst road'A former transport boss is to chair an inquiry into 'Britain's worst road' - six months after he and his wife were caught in a traffic jam on the route.
- 10 Apr 2008Sugar-power cars 'could sort out pollution'Sugar-powered cars could be the sweet solution to traffic pollution, say scientists.
- 10 Apr 2008Ofcom tightens TV phone-in rulesBroadcast regulator Ofcom has announced plans for a crackdown on TV phone-ins which could force some programmes to change or disappear.
- 09 Apr 2008HSBC offers to match your fixed rate dealHSBC bucked the squeeze in the mortgage market today by offering to match homeowners' existing fixed-rate deals.
- 09 Apr 2008Ryanair referred to OFT over ad complaintsNo-frills airline Ryanair has been referred to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) over accusations it’s continually flouted advertising rules.
- 09 Apr 2008Bank details are 'being sold online'Criminals are buying and selling bank account details online for as little as £5, according to a new report.
- 09 Apr 2008Vauxhall revamps its famous GriffinVauxhall has announced it is to revamp its distinctive Griffin symbol.
- 09 Apr 2008Households throw away third of foodBritons throw away 4.4 million whole apples every day, almost a third of all those bought, according to new figures.
- 09 Apr 2008Police investigating YouTube footagePolice have been investigating footage posted on the YouTube website showing a series of clips of children and young people fighting each other.
- 09 Apr 2008Three million drivers 'at risk of ID theft'Three million motorists are putting themselves at risk of identity theft by leaving bills and statements lying around in their car, according to new research.
- 09 Apr 2008Costa coffee to go 'green'High street chain Costa Coffee today announced plans to buy all of its coffee from sustainable sources.
- 09 Apr 2008Bus passengers to get championNumber of bus journeys each year in UK
- 08 Apr 2008Water company facing £35.8 million fineSevern Trent Water is facing a £35.8 million fine for deliberately providing false data to industry regulator Ofwat and providing poor customer service.
- 08 Apr 2008Blaupunkt unveils basic sat navBlaupunkt has unveiled a stripped-down, ‘back to basics’ satellite navigation (sat nav) system.
- 08 Apr 2008Retirement 'won't make us happy', says surveyThe government today advised people to start preparing for the retirement 'cliff edge' after new research showed that some adults felt anxious or sad when they stopped work.
- 08 Apr 2008Car buyers wary about doing the deal onlineA new survey has revealed that many motorists are wary of buying a second-hand car on the internet.
- 08 Apr 2008Bent solicitor jailed over £1.2 million theftA bent solicitor has been jailed for ten years after enjoying a life of 'obscene extravagance' on £1.2 million he stole from a disabled client.
- 07 Apr 2008Hospitals should learn to say 'sorry'Hospitals should learn to say sorry more often when things go wrong with patient care, the health watchdog said today.
- 07 Apr 2008Sony unveils 'world's smallest' HD camcorderSony’s has unveiled a new high definition (HD) camcorder which it claims is the smallest of its kind in the world.
- 07 Apr 2008New rules to tackle loan sharksThe government says that tough new rules will now give consumers greater protection from loan sharks and debt collectors.
- 05 Apr 2008Terminal 5 chaos costs BA £16 millionThe Heathrow Terminal 5 opening debacle is expected to cost British Airways about £16m, the airline has announced.
- 05 Apr 2008ISPs may bid for TiscaliBT Group, BSkyB and Carphone Warehouse are said to be considering offers for the UK arm of Tiscali, the Italian telecoms firm.
- 05 Apr 2008TalkTalk slams web piracy planOne of the UK’s largest internet service providers (ISPs) has said it’s not its job to police the web against music pirates.
- 04 Apr 2008Three free HD channels to launchThree free high-definition (HD) TV channels are to be launched by the end of next year, it's been announced.
- 04 Apr 2008Wrong airport bag scales led to overchargingAirline passengers have been left out of pocket by dodgy airport weighing scales.
- 04 Apr 2008Dangerous driver left baby brain damagedA motorist could face up to two years in jail after being convicted of causing a crash which left a baby brain damaged and in need of 24-hour care.
- 04 Apr 2008Sweet pea has sweet smell of successThe sweet pea has been rated the best scented summer annual in a new study by Gardening Which?.
- 04 Apr 2008New cars and hot deals, 4 April 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…
- 03 Apr 2008AA uses motorbikes to beat trafficThe AA is to use electric scooters and motorbikes so its patrols can beat traffic jams in central London.
- 03 Apr 2008Cruise ship passengers strandedMore than 450 passengers on the last leg of a round-the-world cruise spent a second night stranded in Madeira.
- 03 Apr 2008Third of shoppers won't complainOne in three consumers don't think it’s worth complaining if they get lumbered with shoddy goods or services, according to a new poll.
- 03 Apr 2008VW releases more powerful TiguanVolkswagen (VW) has released a faster and more powerful version of its compact 4x4, the Tiguan.
- 03 Apr 2008KidStart scheme helps parents save as they shopA new scheme was launched today to help parents save for their children while spending money.
- 02 Apr 2008Record numbers switch energy supplierA record number of customers switched their energy supplier last year in search of a cheaper deal, according to new figures.
- 02 Apr 2008Store card charges to plungeLate and over-limit fees on some store cards will drop by £10 after action by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
- 02 Apr 2008Parents 'must monitor kids' on Bebo and FacebookParents are unaware of the dangers their children face by posting details about themselves on social networking sites and must do more to monitor their use of sites such as Bebo and Facebook, watchdog Ofcom said today.
- 02 Apr 2008First Direct closes mortgages to new customersFirst Direct has announced that it's withdrawing its mortgage range from new customers, while two other lenders have raised their rates for existing ones.
- 02 Apr 2008Energy Saving Trust gives green tipsWith more than a quarter of emissions coming from domestic users, tackling climate change starts at home.
- 02 Apr 2008New health checks could save 2,000 lives a yearPeople aged 40 to 74 will be offered health checks under government plans aimed at saving 2,000 lives a year in England.
- 02 Apr 2008Drivers have to dodge 3 million holes in roadDrivers are having to contend with more than 3 million holes in local authority roads in England and Wales, it was revealed today.
- 02 Apr 2008Welsh hospitals scrap parking feesFree parking at many hospitals in Wales began yesterday.
- 02 Apr 2008Too may road signs may slow driver's reactionToo many road signs could be making motoring more hazardous instead of safer, a study suggests.
- 01 Apr 2008Pensioner loses £230,000 in worthless sharesA trading standards chief has sent out a warning after a pensioner was tricked into buying £230,000 of worthless shares.
- 01 Apr 2008Boys find answer to lost keysFour 12-year-old boys have won a top prize for an invention that lets you keep tabs on items that often get lost around the home.
- 01 Apr 2008More flights cancelled at Terminal 5The atmosphere in Heathrow's Terminal 5 (T5) yesterday was calm as passengers saw an end to snaking check-in queues and delays at departures.
- 01 Apr 2008Buses 'not equipped' for free bus passesCost of bus pass scheme
