News in September 2008
- 30 Sep 2008Personal details found in a fifth of used gadgetsAt least one in five second-hand mobile devices still contain sensitive or personal information, says a BT and University of Glamorgan study.
- 30 Sep 2008Online Viagra service offers drug without GP visitMen will be able to buy Viagra online without having to visit their GP using a new service from Lloydspharmacy and website DrThom.
- 30 Sep 2008One in six drivers break child seat lawMany drivers are putting children's lives at risk by ignoring child seat legislation.
- 30 Sep 2008Gas and electricity profits should be paid backMLAs in Northern Ireland have said recent gas and electricity price hikes by Northern Ireland Electricity and Phoenix Gas are unfair
- 30 Sep 2008Which? calls for sweeping PPI reformsWhich? has written to the Financial Services Authority (FSA) calling for an overhaul of the PPI market.
- 30 Sep 2008Renault reveals price of new MéganeAs already reported, the new Renault Mégane makes its debut at the Paris Motor Show next month.
- 30 Sep 2008Volkswagen Golf GTI concept unveiledThis is the new Volkswagen Golf GTI, although VW is calling it a ‘concept’ when it’s unveiled at the Paris Motor Show later this week.
- 29 Sep 2008Bradford and Bingley nationalisedBradford & Bingley is to be nationalised to prevent the bank collapsing. The government will take control of the bank's mortgage and loan business.
- 29 Sep 2008MFI saved by buy-out
- 27 Sep 2008Thousands in debt missed off official figuresUp to 600,000 people who are struggling with their debts are being missed off official insolvency figures, a trade body warned today.
- 27 Sep 2008Financial complaints - new name and shame dealThe Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) has unveiled plans to give further details about companies that are the recipients of regular complaints by consumers.
- 27 Sep 2008EU upholds tough CO2 targetsEnvironmental campaigners claimed a victory over carmakers, with the news that Euro MPs have rejected car industry pleas for more time to meet tough CO2 targets.
- 27 Sep 2008Barclaycard fined for 'silent' phone callsBarclaycard has been fined £50,000 for breaching rules on silent and abandoned sales calls to consumers.
- 26 Sep 2008Beware rip-off student lets - warns Which? bookStudents looking for university accommodation should be on their guard against dodgy landlords and agents just out to make a quick buck, says a new Which? book.
- 26 Sep 2008New builds create problems for homebuyersBuyers of new homes need more protection, according to the Office of Fair Trading
- 26 Sep 2008Passwords are an easy giveaway60% of consumers still complacent about online security, as survey reveals UK online habits.
- 26 Sep 2008A third of crashes due to losing controlNew statistics reveal that a driver losing control was a factor in a third of all fatal road accidents in 2007.
- 26 Sep 2008Switch with Which? gets watchdog's approvalWhich? gas and electricity switching site Switch with Which? has been accredited to the Energywatch code for the third year running
- 26 Sep 2008Audi's new S4 is powerful and efficientAudi has announced its new S4 will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show next month.
- 26 Sep 2008Hot car deals, 26 September, 2008Our deal-hunters scour UK forecourts for massive savings
- 25 Sep 2008Diners tip despite bad service Half of consumers wouldn't ask for a service charge to be reduced or removed from their bill if they received bad service in a restaurant, says a Which? survey.
- 25 Sep 2008Energy suppliers worst for customer satisfactionEnergy suppliers are bottom of the league for customer satisfaction, according to a new Which? survey
- 25 Sep 2008Pharmacies get test of own medicineUnsuitable and potentially dangerous advice is being given by poorly-trained staff in some pharmacies, according to an undercover investigation by Which?
- 25 Sep 2008Super fuels are a waste of money, says Which?Super fuels don’t save you money, improve your car’s performance, or help to protect the environment, a study by Which? Car shows.
- 24 Sep 2008Proton offers attractive discountsProton is currently discounting its GEN-2 by up to £2,800
- 24 Sep 2008Renault revises Scenic rangeFacelift Renault Scenic due in October
- 24 Sep 2008Saab 9-X: Parisienne Fresh AirNews of Saab's latest head-turning concept, the 9-X Air
- 24 Sep 2008Mortgage interest rates can be misleadingSwitching to a better mortgage deal can save people thousands of pounds, but with the average arrangement fee now in excess of £1,000 it’s vital that people compare the total cost and don’t get sucked in by a low interest rate, says Which? Money.
- 24 Sep 2008Costs to be slashed for texting abroadThe European Commission today announced plans to cut the cost of sending texts (SMS) from your mobile when travelling in European Union (EU) countries by up to 60%.
- 24 Sep 2008Two-hour mobile phone number transfer plan stallsVodafone wins appeal against Ofcom’s plans to speed up mobile number porting.
- 24 Sep 2008T-Mobile and Google launch first Android phoneGoogle and T-Mobile have launched the G1 mobile phone – a new smartphone that features Google’s innovative Android mobile operating system.
- 24 Sep 2008Consumer data protection healthcheck launchedPersonal data protection check-up scheme available free online
- 24 Sep 2008Ryanair to allow mobile phone calls on flightsPassengers onboard some Ryanair flights will soon be able to use their mobile phones while in the air.
- 23 Sep 2008Bentley Ego laptop breaks price barrierLuxury car manufacturer Bentley has released its exclusive laptop range, costing £10,000.
- 23 Sep 2008Mortgage rates on the rise againRises in the inter-bank lending rate (3-month Libor) and the swap rate (on which fixed rate deals are based) have meant that consumers are now facing higher borrowing costs.
- 22 Sep 2008Cost of fuel 'making car sharing more popular'An increasing number of motorists are turning to car sharing in an attempt to save money, a survey by AA Insurance shows.
- 22 Sep 2008MP3 albums to be available on Slotmusic SD cardsSanDisk has teamed up with several leading music labels to bring MP3 albums to consumers on SD cards.
- 22 Sep 2008Equity release is a last resortPensioners struggling to make ends meet should only turn to equity release if there is no other option, warns Care Options in Retirement, a new Which? essential guide published today.
- 20 Sep 2008Expensive loan deals warningPrice comparison websites promote themselves as great places to find cheap deals, but Moneysupermarket, the UK’s biggest comparison site, has started advertising an unsecured personal loan with an eye-watering rate of 59.6%.
- 19 Sep 2008Hot car deals, 19 September 2008We unearth some red-hot deals from the UK's forecourts
- 19 Sep 2008Junk food ads still shown to childrenResearch released today by Which? shows that TV adverts for foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar are still being shown during the programmes most watched by children, despite rules designed to prevent this having been in place since January.
- 19 Sep 2008Nissan introduces all-new MuranoThe market for petrol SUVs isn’t exactly buoyant right now. But this isn’t about to stop Nissan introducing an all-new Murano.
- 19 Sep 2008New Skoda Superb now on saleThe new Skoda Superb is now on sale, offering big car motoring on a budget.
- 19 Sep 2008Toshiba announces its first NetbookToshiba has announced the the launch of the NB100 Netbook, which will become available in the UK in October 2008.
- 18 Sep 2008Texting at wheel 'riskier than drink-driving'Reactions and lane discipline seriously affected by phone use
- 18 Sep 2008Voip services provide 999 call accessAll Voip services that enable users to call regular phone numbers must also now offer emergency 999 and 112 access, says telecoms industry regulator Ofcom.
- 18 Sep 2008XL customers in line for extra payoutsStranded customers of failed holiday firm XL who paid by credit card should be able to reclaim extra costs incurred in getting back to the UK
- 17 Sep 2008Petrol prices 'should fall in line with oil'Falls in the world price of oil have not been reflected at petrol pumps, the AA said today.
- 17 Sep 2008Citroën revises its C4 hatchCitroën has face-lifted its C4 hatchback, updating the looks, the interior, and the engine line-up.
- 17 Sep 2008Tax-free Kia SportageBuy a Kia Sportage before 31 October, and the Korean carmaker will pay for your road tax (VED) for the next three years.
- 17 Sep 2008Free safety check for Volvo driversVolvo is offering a free, 40-minute safety inspection for any of its cars built after 1999.
- 17 Sep 2008Millions of British internet users watching online
- 17 Sep 2008More pet owners are getting pet insuranceIncreasing numbers of pet owners are insuring their four-legged friends, a report claimed today.
- 17 Sep 2008Pay as you go Apple iPhone launched
- 17 Sep 2008Kodak unveils world’s first OLED photo frameOLED promises thinner and brighter digital photo frames for Christmas 2008.
- 17 Sep 2008Which? book steers you to hassle-free rentingA new Which? book will steer you away from dodgy agents and landlords
- 17 Sep 20087digital.com goes DRM-free for MP3 downloadsMP3 download sites to rival iTunes. 7digital.com goes DRM-free for digital downloads, amid Amazon and Tesco MP3 site launch rumours.
- 17 Sep 2008Alliance & Leicester takeover approvedShareholders in Alliance & Leicester (A&L) have approved its takeover by Banco Santander, the Spanish bank that already owns Abbey.
- 16 Sep 2008Credit card transfers rise as recession loomsMore than one in five credit card holders will switch to a new credit card to save money in the next 12 months according to a survey by Abbey.
- 16 Sep 2008Barclays bank clerk jailed over ID fraudA bank clerk from Enfield who was at the centre of an 'alarmingly simple' £500,000 identity fraud against customers has been jailed for 18 months.
- 16 Sep 2008Fines for not wearing seatbelts set to doubleFines for not wearing vehicle seatbelts are set to double under Government plans announced today.
- 16 Sep 2008Credit card scam exposedThree members of a gang which bought petrol stations and bribed insiders as part of a £254,000 credit card scam have been jailed.
- 16 Sep 2008New Mini concept to be unveiledMini is set to unveil an SUV concept at the Paris Motor Show next month.
- 16 Sep 2008Paris debut for Citroën’s new C3 Picasso MPVThe new C3 Picasso will appear at the Paris Motor Show next month.
- 16 Sep 2008Passionato - classical MP3 download site launched High quality rival to iTunes focuses on the classics
- 15 Sep 2008Digital radio unites Europe An end to DAB, DAB+ and DMB confusion?
- 15 Sep 2008Blue lasers found inside miceMicrosoft updates mouse technology with blue laser
- 15 Sep 2008Parties told to put consumers at top of agendaAs the party conference season approaches, Which? has today launched its own manifesto: ‘Consumers Vote - Priorities for the next Government’ highlighting the issues it believes the political parties should tackle.
- 15 Sep 2008Car CO2 regulations back under spotlightAn environmental regulation forcing carmakers to produce greener cars has been declared illegal by the European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee.
- 15 Sep 2008Moving abroad is no holiday, says Which? bookEmigrating is far from a long summer holiday, warns a Which? book published today.
- 12 Sep 2008Advice for passengers grounded by XL collapseMany holidaymakers affected by XL's collapse will be able to claim a full refund - but it depends on how they booked their trip.
- 12 Sep 2008Hot car deals, 12 September 2008
- 12 Sep 2008Panasonic shrinks Digital SLR cameraPanasonic has announced the world’s smallest and lightest digital interchangeable-lens camera - the Lumix DMC-G1.
- 12 Sep 2008FOS calls for action over selling of PPIThe Financial Ombudsman Services (FOS) has called on the City watchdog to take action over the way Payment Protection Insurance is sold following a 10-fold rise in complaints.
- 12 Sep 2008Drug ad plan could cost NHS millionsWhich? is calling on the European Commission to scrap plans that could needlessly cost the NHS millions.
- 12 Sep 2008Which? Holiday reassures Seguro customersWhich? Holiday is reassuring thousands of customers of the failed tour operator Seguro that they'll be brought home or get their money back.
- 11 Sep 2008Toyota launches Plug-in hybrid carA hybrid car which can be charged from a normal domestic electricity supply has been launched.
- 11 Sep 2008Free insulation and energy bill help announcedA £1bn package of help measures for households struggling to cope with soaring energy prices was unveiled today by Gordon Brown.
- 11 Sep 2008Hope of cheaper petrol as oil price dropsVolatile trading pushed the price of crude oil back below US$100 a barrel this week, offering motorists hope of cheaper fuel.
- 11 Sep 2008iPlayer goes mobile with Nokia N96The BBC's popular iPlayer media streaming and download service will be available on Nokia's new N96 phone, set for a UK launch in early October.
- 11 Sep 2008Traffic officers could get vehicle removal powersHighways Agency traffic officers could be able to remove broken down and abandoned vehicles from England’s busiest roads under new plans to free up police time.
- 11 Sep 2008Driving test candidates given fuel-efficiency tipsDriving test candidates are getting fuel-efficiency tips from their examiners for the first time, following changes to the practical test this week.
- 10 Sep 2008Volvo’s economy driveVolvo is the latest manufacturer to jump on the eco trend, and is introducing new DRIVe versions of the C30 hatchback, S40 saloon, and V50 estate at the forthcoming Paris motor show.
- 10 Sep 2008New Volkswagen Golf BlueMotionUpstaging just-announced Volvo’s DRIVe models, is the new Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion Concept.
- 10 Sep 2008Northern Ireland’s car market slumps in crunchNorthern Ireland’s car market has been worst affected by the economic downturn, detailed figures show, with new car registrations down 13.4% over the year to date.
- 10 Sep 2008Unused bank accounts contain millionsTwo of the biggest banks in the UK are today announcing a drive to reunite customers with millions of pounds left in unused accounts.
- 10 Sep 2008Advice group offers digital TV switch helpAn advice group has launched a TV ad campaign offering to help older people to cope with the analogue TV signal switch-off.
- 10 Sep 2008PPI mis-sold on credit cardsMore than a million people have been lured into taking out loan cover for a credit card through misleading advice, Which? reveals today.
- 10 Sep 2008All-new Renault Mégane revealedThe all-new Renault Mégane is set to be one of the highlights of next month’s Paris Motor Show – and here it is.
- 09 Sep 2008Apple reveals new iPod line-up and iTunes 8US computer company Apple has launched a range of new iPod music players and a new version of its iTunes music software in a special event held in San Francisco.
- 09 Sep 2008Big rise in complaints about water firmsA report released today by the Consumer Council for Water reveals that specific problems within a few water companies caused an 11 per cent rise in complaints last year.
- 09 Sep 2008Nissan to launch solar-powered city carThe Nissan Note has been given a face-lift
- 08 Sep 2008Bogus sweepstakes are most common scamEvery year, 3 million people in the UK lose money to scams. The Office of Fair Trading warns people about the most common ones.
- 06 Sep 2008Consumers warned to get used to high food pricesThe era of falling food prices is over and households will have to get used to spending more of their budget at the checkout, experts say.
- 06 Sep 2008Most parents still helping grown-up kids with cashMore than half of parents are continuing to help their adult children meet day-to-day living costs, a survey shows.
- 05 Sep 2008Petrol is overpriced, says AAThe price of petrol is still too high and cuts in oil prices are not being passed on to motorists, the head of a motoring campaign group has said.
- 05 Sep 2008Abbey cuts mortgage ratesThe changes will leave a two-year fixed-rate mortgage for someone with a 25% deposit costing 5.79%.
- 05 Sep 2008Drivers warming to greener carsThe Seat Ibiza Ecomotive is exempt from annual road tax
- 05 Sep 2008Vodafone raises call pricesVodafone mobile phone customers have been hit by price rises for certain types of call.
- 05 Sep 2008New cars and hot deals, 5 September 2008For your weekly fix of car news and reviews, sign up to ourWhich? 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.
- 05 Sep 2008News quiz SeptemberTest your knowledge of the latest consumer news with our against-the-clock interactive quiz. Just hit start to begin.
- 05 Sep 2008Economic slowdown hits new car salesThe Ford Focus is 2008's most popular car so far
- 05 Sep 2008Honda gives Insight into budget hybridHonda claims its new hybrid will be cheaper than rival models
- 04 Sep 2008Minister rapped over Which? Holiday interviewMinister hits headlines after saying that UK hotels were expensive and rush-hour on the Tube was 'dreadful'.
- 04 Sep 2008Good Food Guide announces top eateriesThe Fat Duck is still number one but we reveal the exciting crop of young talent who could be challenging for the top spots soon.
- 04 Sep 2008Air passengers to get fairer deal on ticket pricesAirline passengers could soon be paying less for flights thanks to new EU rules approved by MEPs yesterday.
- 04 Sep 2008Warning over food bugs in packed saladThe growing popularity of pre-packed salads is likely to lead to an increase in food poisoning cases, scientists have warned.
- 04 Sep 2008PVRs are 'essential', says pollOver 70% of Brits who own a personal video recorder (PVR) say that they can’t live without it, according to a new survey.
- 04 Sep 2008Which? thinks Google's Chrome is a hitGoogle has launched a test version of a browser that's designed to make searching the web easier.
- 04 Sep 2008Sony electronic book reader goes on saleAn electronic book with enough memory to hold up to 160 novels will go on sale in the UK today.
- 04 Sep 2008Water firm apologises over email blunderSouthern Water has apologised to hundreds of its customers after sending their personal details out in a mass email.
- 03 Sep 2008Hospitals scrap car park chargesCar parking charges are to be scrapped at 14 NHS hospitals across Scotland, it's been announced.
- 02 Sep 2008Garages charge 'up to £200 an hour' New research claims that garages are charging labour rates of up to £200 an hour. London was the most expensive, in the Warranty Direct research.
- 02 Sep 2008Energywatch raps gas and electricity hikesNpower and Scottish Power have hiked their gas and electricity prices by up to 34%.
- 01 Sep 2008Booking 2009 holiday now could save £1,000Families could save more than £1,000 by booking their summer 2009 holiday now, new research from Which? Holiday shows.
