News in January 2008
- 31 Jan 2008Energy firms criticised over complaintsEnergy companies must be made to take customer complaints more seriously, says a consumer watchdog.
- 31 Jan 2008Currys axes patio heatersElectrical chain Currys has announced it’s to stop selling patio heaters.
- 31 Jan 2008Hundreds die each year as they won't buckle-upHundreds of people are being killed in road crashes every year because they're not wearing a seat belt.
- 31 Jan 2008EU backs GDA food label schemeWhich? has slammed the European Commission over plans to back a food labelling scheme that we've proven is flawed.
- 31 Jan 2008Banks raking in £111 a second in chargesUnfair overdraft fees are continuing to swell bank coffers by £111 every second – while a High Court test case questions the charges.
- 31 Jan 2008Site launched to help you find lost savingsThe banking industry has launched a new website to help reunite people with savings languishing in forgotten accounts.
- 30 Jan 2008Renault offers longer warranty on EspaceRenault has announced it is extending the length of warranty on its latest Espace MPV and new Laguna.
- 30 Jan 2008British Gas rapped over 'misleading' green claimsA British Gas television ad has been pulled for containing misleading green energy claims.
- 30 Jan 2008Tesco to stop taking chequesTesco will no longer accept cheques at its tills from next month.
- 30 Jan 2008Apple overhauls iPhone tariffsCall and text tariffs for the Apple iPhone are being overhauled less than three months after its UK launch.
- 30 Jan 2008More eBay sellers must offer PayPalInternet auction site eBay is forcing more of its users to offer PayPal as a payment method when they sell goods online.
- 30 Jan 2008Teenager finds blade in Warehouse bagA mother spoke of her shock after her teenage daughter found a blade inside a new bag.
- 30 Jan 2008Skype comes to the PSPSony has released a new upgrade which will allow PSP users to make phone calls using the internet.
- 29 Jan 2008Amazon MP3 store to hit UKOnline store Amazon has confirmed it will roll-out its MP3 music store across the globe this year.
- 29 Jan 2008New jab could help fight hospital bugBritish scientists are developing a new jab which could help in the fight against the hospital bug Clostridium difficile.
- 29 Jan 2008Woolworths ditches HD-DVDs from storesWoolworths has thrown its weight behind Blu-Ray high-definition DVDs by ditching the rival HD-DVD format from its stores.
- 29 Jan 2008Which? lawyers give tips on your rights at workWhich? lawyers have been receiving a record number of phone calls from people who need employment advice.
- 28 Jan 2008Campaign highlights salt in sweet foodsMany foods eaten by UK children contain a large amount of salt, new research has shown.
- 28 Jan 2008Virgin announces broadband speed boostVirgin Media says it will be able to provide 'superfast' broadband to millions of UK homes by the end of this year.
- 28 Jan 2008Passengers use fake tickets in cattle mask protestHundreds of commuters wore cattle masks as they boarded their trains in an angry protest against unreliable services and rising fares.
- 28 Jan 2008GE enters UK digital camera marketGlobal giant General Electric (GE) has announced it's entering the UK digital camera market with the launch of seven new models.
- 28 Jan 2008Speed bumps 'bad for the environment'New research from the AA claims introducing speed humps on some roads can actually damage the environment.
- 26 Jan 2008Charity cleared over fundraising complaintCancer Research UK has been cleared of bombarding a householder with more than a dozen unwanted mailings over a two year period.
- 26 Jan 2008Europe to tighten toy regulationsDangerous chemical substances will be banned from use in toys sold across Europe under new plans.
- 26 Jan 2008News quiz JanuaryHit the start button below to find out how much you know about the consumer stories hitting the headlines...
- 26 Jan 2008Warmer weather keeps birds in the UKHundreds of thousands of people will be in their gardens this weekend to take part in the world’s biggest bird survey.
- 25 Jan 2008Digital radio sales soaringRadio fans are still clamouring to pick up a new DAB digital set, according to the latest sales figures.
- 25 Jan 2008Disabled parking cheats targetedThe government has announced a crackdown on the fraudulent use of Blue Badges under the disabled parking scheme.
- 25 Jan 2008Baby scans 'failing to check for defects'Four in ten NHS trusts fail to do all the required checks for abnormalities in unborn babies, says a report out today.
- 25 Jan 2008New cars and hot deals, 25th January 2008M3 will have folding hardtop roof for first time
- 24 Jan 2008Waitrose is top of the shops, Which? survey findsWaitrose is the UK's favourite shop according to Which?’s biggest ever retailers survey.
- 24 Jan 2008Government obesity plan falls shortAn official review of new food and drink advertising rules will be pulled forward as part of the drive to cut obesity.
- 24 Jan 2008Independents beat Starbucks for valueIndependent coffee shops are often better value than big chains such as Starbucks, Which? reveals today.
- 24 Jan 2008Four in ten adults have high blood pressureAbout 40% of UK adults were found to have high blood pressure during a nationwide test of almost a quarter of a million people.
- 24 Jan 2008Some patients still strugging to see GPOne in five patients is still finding it difficult to get a convenient appointment to see their GP, a new Which? survey can reveal.
- 23 Jan 2008Train firm doubles compensationA train company which has been under fire over its services has announced it was doubling the amount of compensation it will give to passengers affected by delays and disruption.
- 23 Jan 2008Currys and Dixons ditch analogue TVsCurrys, Dixons and PC World are to stop selling analogue televisions in the run-up to digital switchover in the UK, the chains have announced.
- 23 Jan 2008Buying insurance online can slash billsShopping around for home, car and travel insurance online could cut your annual bill by more than a quarter, Which? Money reveals today.
- 23 Jan 2008BBC3 to relaunchThe BBC has announced the relaunch of embattled digital channel BBC3.
- 23 Jan 2008Bad landlords face new crackdownUnscrupulous landlords are facing a new crackdown after the government announced a major independent review of the rental market in England.
- 23 Jan 2008Finance victims get compensation green lightConsumers can claim compensation of up to £48,000 if they have lost money as a result of dealings with any one of 34 financial services firms.
- 22 Jan 2008Foreign Office relaxes Kenya travel adviceTourists booked to visit Kenya have been advised to contact their tour companies to see whether their holidays will still go ahead.
- 22 Jan 2008Consumers warned over new 'vishing' scamFraudsters are resorting to a new scam to get people to hand over their personal information.
- 22 Jan 2008John Lewis to get more fashion savvyJohn Lewis is stepping up its clothes collection in a bid to attract younger, more fashion-savvy shoppers.
- 22 Jan 2008Gadgets 'driving up energy use'The growth of high-tech entertainment devices in the UK living rooms is driving up the amount of energy used in the nation’s homes, according to a new report.
- 22 Jan 2008Councils relying more on extra chargesCouncils are increasingly reliant on income from charging for services such as parking, school meals and swimming pools, the local government watchdog said today.
- 22 Jan 2008Facebook being probed over privacyThe UK’s privacy watchdog is investigating how social networking site Facebook deals with users’ personal data.
- 22 Jan 2008Asda fined £200,000 over car park deathAsda has been fined more than £200,000 after admitting health and safety breaches that led to the death of a father-of-three.
- 22 Jan 2008Seawater spray 'may help common colds'A saline nasal wash solution made from processed seawater may help children suffering with the common cold, according to a report published today.
- 21 Jan 2008BT strikes Disney dealViewers who have signed up to BT’s TV over broadband service will be able to catch up with their favourite US shows after it agreed a deal with Disney-ABC International Television.
- 21 Jan 2008Thousands wasted on useless insurancePeople could be wasting thousand of pounds on useless and expensive insurance, according to the new Which? Money Saving Handbook.
- 21 Jan 2008Junk food companies 'target kids online'Most parents are unaware their children are being stalked online by junk food manufacturers, according to a new report.
- 21 Jan 2008Lib Dems slam 'rip-off' rail faresBritain’s rail fares are the most expensive in Europe according to new research by the Liberal Democrats.
- 21 Jan 2008Coffee 'increases risk of miscarriage'Even small amounts of caffeine should be avoided during pregnancy, experts in the US have warned.
- 18 Jan 2008British Gas confirms 15% price hikeBritish Gas owner Centrica today announced double-digit price rises for millions of its customers.
- 18 Jan 2008Consumers want simpler gadgetsMany people would rather ditch bells and whistles for a simple gadget they know how to use, a new poll by Which? has found.
- 18 Jan 2008New cars and hot deals, 18 January 2008New cars and hot deals: 18th January 2008. North American Motor Show news, BMW special editions, Fiat 500 and Lexus updates.
- 18 Jan 2008Scallop sales soar for Ramsay showThe Gordon Ramsay effect has already hit stores ahead of his live televised 'cookalong' a retailer has said.
- 18 Jan 2008'Stomach bug' holidaymakers sueA tour operator is being sued by 23 angry holidaymakers who allegedly suffered from a stomach bug while at a resort in Tunisia, solicitors representing them have said.
- 18 Jan 2008Banks defend overdraft charges in courtHigh street banks argued in court yesterday that consumer contract rules on fairness don't apply to their charges for unauthorised overdrafts.
- 18 Jan 2008Dyson launches smaller vacuum cleanersDyson has unveiled two new vacuum cleaners which cater for the trend towards smaller sized homes.
- 18 Jan 2008Doctors fear dangerous toy is still for saleA toxic toy recalled last November is still on sale in the UK, according to a report in the British Medical Journal.
- 17 Jan 2008Kenya holiday flight ban extendedUK major tour operators have extended the ban on holidays to Kenya to include all charter flights up to and including next Monday.
- 17 Jan 2008Swoop on illegal online medicine salesA Yorkshire man who used eBay to peddle medicines over the internet has been fined £97,000.
- 17 Jan 2008Vauxhall announces handbrake actionVauxhall has announced it is to modify the handbrakes on a quarter of a million cars – six months after Which? revealed it had a problem with runaway vehicles.
- 17 Jan 2008NHS trust fined over elderly patient fallAn English NHS trust has been fined £20,000 after an elderly patient fell out of an open window at a Swindon hospital.
- 17 Jan 2008Bank fined more than £1 million for PPI failingsHFC Bank has been fined more than £1 million for failings in the way it sold payment protection insurance (PPI).
- 17 Jan 2008Carphone Warehouse 'broke data laws'Carphone Warehouse and TalkTalk broke data protection laws by publishing customers' confidential details online, the privacy watchdog has said.
- 17 Jan 2008Crackdown on ID fraud launchedA scheme to crack down on criminals committing identity fraud by stealing dead people's details has been launched.
- 16 Jan 2008Cyber-criminals target MySpaceMySpace users have been warned to be on their guard against cyber-criminals who used the social networking site to try to spread a malicious ‘Trojan Horse’ program.
- 16 Jan 2008EDF announces energy price hikesEnergy firm EDF has become the second supplier this year to announce inflation-busting gas and electricity price rises.
- 16 Jan 2008Energy deals for poor 'more costly than others'Energy deals offered to help the poorest customers are in some cases more expensive than other deals, a new report has found.
- 16 Jan 2008Apple launches world's thinnest laptopApple CEO Steve Jobs unveils the MacBook Air
- 16 Jan 2008Apple unveils new film rental serviceEntertainment giant Apple has launched afilm rental service which will allow people to download movies to an iPod or computer.
- 16 Jan 2008Millions 'haven't seen dentist for two years'Millions of adults have not seen an NHS dentist for almost two years because they cannot find a practice that will accept them, according to research.
- 15 Jan 2008Banks in court for overdraft charge test caseThe long awaited High Court test case into unauthorised bank overdraft charges is set to start tomorrow.
- 15 Jan 2008Travellers name their top hotelsA British establishment has made it into the top ten of the world's best luxury hotels, it was revealed today.
- 15 Jan 2008Online food stores under fire for plastic bagsSome online retailers still use too many plastic carrier bags to deliver goods ordered over the internet, a new report suggests.
- 15 Jan 2008BBC sorry for 'unfair' competitionThe BBC has been rapped by Ofcom over a Comic Relief competition in which children who applied to meet pop band McFly had no chance of winning.
- 15 Jan 2008Road infrastructure 'not fit for purpose'Britain's transport infrastructure is ‘not fit for purpose’, with the cost of congestion likely to soon exceed the current figure of £20 billion a year, a report from a centre-right think tank said today.
- 15 Jan 2008Laptop problems blamed on festive bingesHome computers and laptops seem to be suffering the after-effects of festive excess, experts said today.
- 14 Jan 2008Sony launches 'lifestyle' TVsSony has launched a range of TVs aimed at people who want a second television for their home.
- 14 Jan 2008UK product recalls hit new highThe number of dangerous products recalled in the UK has hit a new high, according the latest figures.
- 14 Jan 2008Bright future predicted for online TVOnline TV services which allow viewers to catch up with their favourite shows are set to experience a surge in popularity in 2008, industry analysts say.
- 14 Jan 2008New drive to highlight traffic light labelsThe government is stepping up its bid to get shoppers to look for and use front of pack nutritional traffic light labels.
- 14 Jan 2008Interviewees urged to brush up on their rightsInterviewees are confused about what potential employers can and can't ask them and need to brush up on their rights, according to a new Which? essential guide.
- 12 Jan 2008Tata unveils world's cheapest carIndia's Tata Motors has unveiled the world's cheapest car.
- 12 Jan 2008Health conscious cooks boost sales of pulsesDried beans are enjoying a popularity boost as more shoppers choose to cook from scratch, according to a retailer.
- 11 Jan 2008Barclays chairman loses £10,000 in ID scamBarclays Chairman Marcus Agius
- 11 Jan 2008Stomach ailment link to sweetenerPeople who eat large quantities of a type of sweetener could be putting themselves at risk of an upset stomach, experts said today.
- 11 Jan 2008Two in five drivers 'suffered vandalism'More than two in five motorists have fallen victim to car vandalism, a survey out today showed.
- 11 Jan 2008Peat-free compost still lagging behindCompost producers need to produce better peat-free products, according to new research by Gardening Which?.
- 11 Jan 2008UK householders 'cleaning less often'Consumers are adopting a low-maintenance approach to cleaning by tackling domestic chores less often, a report out today said.
- 11 Jan 2008Marmite with champagne sold as lover's giftMarmite with a hint of champagne is hitting stores as a romantic gift.
- 11 Jan 2008Phone downloads from your radioA new service now allows radio listeners to download their favourite songs directly to their mobile phone.
- 11 Jan 2008Policyholders settle with Equitable LifeMore than 400 policyholders who had pensions with Equitable Life have reached a settlement with the mutual following a long-running mis-selling claim.
- 11 Jan 2008Asda to fine abuse of disabled parking spacesAsda will fine drivers £60 for parking in its disabled or parent and child spaces when they should not, it has announced.
- 10 Jan 2008Independent tour operators top surveyBig holiday companies are lagging behind independent tour operators when it comes to customer satisfaction,Holiday Which? reveals today.
- 10 Jan 2008Panasonic unveils world's largest TVPanasonic has unveiled the world’s largestTV – a 150-inch, plasma high-definition (HD) model.
- 10 Jan 2008MPs reject call for ban on web ticket toutsCalls for a ban on internet ticket touts were rejected today by MPs, who said artists and promoters should instead be given a share of the profits.
- 10 Jan 2008Village receives landmark water rebateHouseholders in a Staffordshire village wrongly charged for surface water drainage for many years are to receive more than £400,000 from Severn Trent Water.
- 10 Jan 2008Ban on holiday flights to Kenya extendedThe ban on UK holiday company charter flights to strife-torn Kenya has been extended up to and including Friday of this week.
- 10 Jan 2008Warning issued about bogus web pharmaciesMillions of people could be risking their health by buying dodgy prescription-only medicines from rogue websites.
- 10 Jan 2008Sainsbury's fined £15,000 for out-of-date foodA Sainsbury's store manager offered a customer £20 to 'pay for medication' when she complained that turkey sold past its use-by date had made her feel sick, a court heard yesterday.
- 09 Jan 2008Apple to slash UK iTunes pricesApple is to slash the price of its iTunes music downloads in the UK after Which? complained it was ripping off British consumers.
- 09 Jan 2008JJB to pay fans over football shirt rip-offSports chain JJB Sports has agreed to pay consumers who were unlawfully overcharged for football shirts.
- 09 Jan 2008Littlewoods ad broke rules, says ASAA leaflet sent to 75,000 Littlewoods group customers broke advertising rules by encouraging young women to spend excessively on credit, a watchdog said today.
- 09 Jan 2008Law may change to allow copying from CDProposed changes to copyright laws will allow owners to move their music legally from CDs to MP3 players.
- 08 Jan 2008BT seals Xbox 360 dealBT and Microsoft have announced a deal to make TV shows available through the software giant’sXbox 360.
- 08 Jan 2008Six week wait for a passportThe government says travellers may face a six-week wait to get a new passport under anti-fraud measures introduced last year.
- 08 Jan 2008Warner Bros exclusively backs Blu-RayEntertainment giant Warner Bros has announced it is to stop selling high definition (HD) DVD movies and will concentrate solely on the rival Blu-Ray disc.
- 08 Jan 2008New limit on cold remedy drugs announcedSome over-the-counter cold remedies will be limited to one pack per customer from April because of fears they can be used to make a class A drug.
- 08 Jan 2008Airports 'coping' with baggage changesAirports and the government say passengers have coped well with new baggage rules despite fears that changes would lead to confusion.
- 08 Jan 2008Motorists to get 'excellent' deals, say firmsUK motorists are set to benefit from a thriving new car market, the industry claims.
- 08 Jan 2008New mobile silenced by wave of handSony Ericsson has unveiled a mobile phone which you can silence with a wave of your hand.
- 08 Jan 2008Ryanair worst for extra fees, says Holiday Which?Travellers flying with no-frills airlines are still paying more than the advertised price of the ticket, Holiday Which? reports today.
- 07 Jan 2008More energy price hikes expected soonChancellor Alistair Darling has called for a meeting with energy regulator Ofgem following concerns over rising fuel prices.
- 07 Jan 2008Stomach bug sufferers urged to stay homePeople struck down with the winter vomiting bug sweeping across the UK have been urged to stay at home until the symptoms have disappeared.
- 05 Jan 2008Airline to stick with one bag luggage ruleA leading no-frills airline is to continue with the 'one piece of hand luggage' rule for passengers even though restrictions are being eased at some UK airports next week.
- 05 Jan 2008One in ten workers admit falling asleep at wheelAs many as 10% of people who use their vehicles for work have admitted falling asleep at the wheel in the past 12 months, according to a new survey.
- 05 Jan 2008Npower announces prices hikes in energy billsOne of Britain's biggest power companies has announced price hikes of 17.2% for gas and 12.7% for electricity in a move set to hit more than four million households.
- 05 Jan 2008Gadgets take the green routeConsumer electronics firms are getting ready to unveil the latest gadgets in their bid to go green.
- 04 Jan 2008Test your knowledge of what's in the newsCan you remember which consumer news stories have been hitting the headlines, and why?
- 04 Jan 2008New cars and hot deals, 4th January 2008Refreshed SLK
- 04 Jan 2008Bebo is best, says Computing Which?Social networking site Bebo has beaten rivals Facebook and MySpace in an independent analysis by Computing Which?.
- 04 Jan 2008Holidays to Kenya suspendedBritish tour operators have suspended holidays to Kenya up to and including tomorrow after the Foreign Office (FO) advised against all but essential travel to the strife-torn East African country.
- 04 Jan 2008Indigestion drugs 'overprescribed'The NHS is wasting at least £100 million a year on drugs for indigestion, doctors said today.
- 03 Jan 2008NHS Alliance concerned over hospital dischargesMany hospital patients are being put at risk because staff are discharging them without giving vital information to their GP, a health workers campaign group says.
- 03 Jan 2008Petrol prices have hit a 'record high'Petrol prices have reached a record high, the AA says.
- 03 Jan 2008Child left behind at hotelLucky charms, mayoral chains and even children are among items left behind in hotels, it was revealed today.
- 03 Jan 2008Tour firms meet to decide on Kenya holidaysThousands of people could miss out on dream sand-and-safari holidays because of the worsening situation in Kenya, holiday companies said today.
- 02 Jan 2008Scotland caps hospital parking chargesScotland has become the first part of the UK to cap charges at hospital car parks.
- 02 Jan 2008Rail closure prompts Network Rail probeRail travellers will be hit today by the continuing closure of part of one of Britain's busiest lines.
- 02 Jan 2008Rail passengers plan ticket 'strike'A rail users' group is planning a ticket boycott in protest at fare increases of more than twice the rate of inflation on many lines from today.
