News in December 2009
- 31 Dec 2009Inheritance tax (IHT) figures disputedThe Conservative party has claimed that millions of people could be hit by inheritance tax. Citing an ONS report of Wealth in Britain, they say many more could be hit by IHT than official estimates suggest.
- 31 Dec 2009Plan now for next Christmas say OFT and CABCitizen's Advice and OFT launch 240m financial workshop sessions in the new year to help consumers save effectively for Christmas.
- 31 Dec 2009New site helps you avoid cowboys abroadA government service will help you find a decent plumber, builder or car hire firm based in another EU state.
- 30 Dec 2009Revised Mazda5 MPV range for 2010Which? takes a look at the latest Mazda5, which has been revised for 2010. The Mazda5 has always been one of our favourite MPVs, but now it's got even more equipment.
- 30 Dec 2009Year ends with UK share price recovery The stock market provided festive cheer to end 2009, with share prices recovering to reach higher levels than they had enjoyed before the Lehman Brothers collapse in September 2008. The FTSE 100 fell to 3500 in March 2009 but is now at over 5,400.
- 30 Dec 2009Consumers spending more on 'ethical' goodsConsumer spending on green and energy efficient products has continued to rise over the last decade, according to a new report from the Co-operative Bank.
- 30 Dec 2009Which? reveals 10 ways to save money in 2010Save £1,000 in 2010 with our money-saving top tips. Whether it's getting a competitive credit card, switching gas and electricity provider or getting a broadband and telephone bundle, Which? tips can save you up to £1,000 in just one year.
- 29 Dec 2009Credit cards give extra protection in winter salesSection 75 and Visa chargeback offer vital cover if you're shopping in the sales
- 29 Dec 2009Britons slash almost £5bn from mortgage debtNew statistics from the Bank of England show consumers repaying £4.91bn of mortgage debt during the third quarter of 2009
- 29 Dec 2009New Best Buy dishwasher revealed by Which? testsA new Best Buy dishwasher has been revealed by the latest Which? dishwasher review. Which? has reviewed nine of the latest dishwashers, from manufacturers Bosch, Hotpoint, Ikea, Matsui, Siemens, Smeg, and Zanussi.
- 28 Dec 2009Electric BMW 1 SeriesWhich? takes a closer look at BMW's interesting 'Concept ActiveE' 1 Series, an all-electric concept car that brings the useable electric car one step closer...
- 28 Dec 2009Which? finds washing powder is cheapestThe latest Which? washing detergent test results have shown that it's much cheaper to do your laundry using washing powder than liquitabs or tablets - and have also revealed the latest Best Buy products.
- 27 Dec 2009Which? success as online shops amend return rulesWhich? has succeeded in getting several regularly visited online stores to change their terms and conditions after we found they appeared to break rules that protect your rights.
- 27 Dec 2009Londoners use more chequesA new online interactive map produced by the Payments Council shows how cheque usage, internet banking and plastic card ownership varies across the country. 39% of Londoners use cheques compared with just 20% of Scots. National average is 31%.
- 26 Dec 2009Kia Venga UK specs revealedWhich? picks apart the details of Kia's forthcoming Venga MPV. It might not be the most exciting car but it'll be practical and good value - just what real car buyers are after.
- 26 Dec 2009Which? to lobby for nanotech regulationWhich? has concerns that regulation isn’t keeping with nanotechnology used in some products – and that the public may be at risk.
- 26 Dec 2009Sky offers six months' free 'Broadband Unlimited' TV, phone and broadband provider Sky is offering its fastest broadband package - 'Broadband Unlimited' - free for six months to new and existing Sky TV customers taking out a 12 month contract.
- 26 Dec 2009Which? tests reveal budget Best Buy cameraThe latest Which? tests have found a budget Best Buy digital camera for under £100 - read the reviews to find out which model it is
- 26 Dec 2009Buy now to avoid VAT hike on 1 JanuaryThe standard rate of VAT goes back up to 17.5% from 1 January 2010, so you could save by buying this month
- 25 Dec 2009BBC HD 'in the clear', says Which? LabsThe Which? Labs have proven that there has been no significant loss in picture quality on the BBC satellite HD channel
- 25 Dec 2009Which? reveals scores for latest kettlesWhich? has just published its latest batch of kettle results, with three Best Buys and one Don't Buy out of the 15 models on test.
- 24 Dec 2009Citroen prices DS3 luxury superminiWhich? takes a look at Citroen's forthcoming DS3 line-up: we've got pricing and specs for the eagerly-awaited 'luxury supermini'.
- 24 Dec 2009New Which? Best Buy freezer unveiledHotpoint, Whirlpool and Beko freezers in our latest test
- 23 Dec 2009New Mini Beachcomber ConceptWhich? reveals details of Mini's latest spin-off, a wacky concept that harks back to the classic Moke. There's no roof, but who needs one with the UK's balmy climate?!
- 23 Dec 2009Ikea recalls Leopard high chair after child hurt Safety concerns trigger Ikea Leopard high chair recall
- 22 Dec 2009Hot Car Deals, 22 December 2009Great winter deals on everything from MPVs to sports cars - including the Renault Grand Scénic and Mazda RX-8.
- 22 Dec 2009BBC Project Canvas given go-ahead for 2010The BBC Trust, governing body of the BBC, has given a provisional green light for a project to develop an Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) standard partly funded by the BBC license fee.
- 22 Dec 2009Sporty Land Rover Freelander for 2010Which? investigates Land Rover's latest Freelander model, the Sport. Big wheels and spoilers mean it's very definitely on-road oriented...
- 22 Dec 2009'Only 3%' of batteries are currently recycledA new study has estimated that only 3% of batteries are currently recycled - but it also found that over three-quarters of people would recycle batteries if it was easier to do so. Find out how to recycle batteries here.
- 22 Dec 2009OFT abandons legal fight The OFT will not pursue further legal action over unfair bank charges. After last month's unexpectedly negative Supreme Count verdict, it has conceded that a further challenge to unarranged overdraft charging terms has 'low prospects of success'.
- 21 Dec 2009Green Flag iPhone app launchedWhich? spots an intriguing (and free) new iPhone app: from Green Flag breakdown rescue. So what does it do, and how does it work? Read the Which? news story to find out...
- 21 Dec 2009Vodafone announces iPhone launch dateVodafone offers new deals on iPhones for 14th January launch date
- 21 Dec 2009AA offers easy access savings rate of 3.15%-3.30%3.15% rate available on balances of £1+, but watch out for FSCS limits on higher amounts
- 20 Dec 2009Which? PPI campaign reclaims successPayment protection insurance mis-selling victims are reaping the benefits of a Which? campaign, with hundreds getting their money back. But many more could still get compensation.
- 18 Dec 2009Energy bills to rise by a third by 2020The energy bill for a poorly-insulated home could rise by over a third by 2020, leaving four million households in fuel poverty, according to new research from Which?.
- 18 Dec 2009More 20mph zones on the way20mph zones are set to increase as the government allows wider usage without traffic calming measures.
- 18 Dec 2009Sony Ericsson launches Elm and Hazel mobile phonesSony Ericsson has shown off two new mobile phones in its 2010 GreenHeart range
- 18 Dec 2009Mortgage lending drops 10% Mortgage lending in the UK fell by 10% during November, according to a new report. £12bn worth of home loans were advanced to consumers last month, compared with the £13.3bn made available to borrowers during October.
- 18 Dec 2009Nokia Booklet 3G netbook available onlineNokia's first netbook, the Nokia Booklet 3G is now available online to pre-order in the UK.
- 18 Dec 2009Tiscali to rebrand as TalkTalk in JanuaryWhich? has discovered that phone and internet provider Tiscali is to officially rebrand as TalkTalk in January.
- 18 Dec 2009The economy is more stable, says Bank of EnglandThe UK economy is in a better shape than it was six months ago, according to a Bank of England report.
- 18 Dec 2009Annuity choice boosts retirement income by 20%A report from the Pensions Income Choice Association (PICA) shows that shopping around for an annuity can increase your retirement income by up to 20%. It calls for better communication between annuity providers and those about to retire.
- 17 Dec 2009Hot car deals, 17 December 2009The Which? deal-hunters have unearthed a Ford Focus with a realistic price tag (under the scrappage scheme), a bargain-priced diesel Avensis and a couple of big savings on the Peugeot 4007 and 407 SW models.
- 17 Dec 2009Mflow to pay users to recommend MP3 downloadsA new MP3 download service has been announced that pays users when people purchase music tracks that they have recommended.
- 17 Dec 2009New Mercedes E-class Cabriolet first detailsMercedes has announced details of its new E-Class Cabriolet, which enters the range as a replacement for the CLK Cabriolet.
- 17 Dec 2009New range-topping BMW Z4 announcedBMW has announced a new range-topping version of its Z4 sports car - the Z4 sDrive35is.
- 17 Dec 2009Ford S-Max and Galaxy revised for 2010Ford has released the first details of revised versions of its range-topping people carriers, the Galaxy and the S-Max.
- 17 Dec 2009Hoover vacuums are the least reliable, says Which?Hoover has come bottom of the Which? kitchen product reliability survey for its upright vacuum cleaners, cylinder vacuum cleaners, tumble dryers and second from bottom for washing machines and fridge freezers.
- 17 Dec 2009Which? launches Future of Banking CommissionCommission will bring together MPs, banks and consumers to discuss the future of banking in the UK
- 17 Dec 2009Cuisinart launches Elite kitchen gadgetsCuisinart has released three appliances for your kitchen. The Elite Mini Processor, the Elite Jug Blender, and the Elite Food Processor.
- 17 Dec 2009FlyGlobespan flyers could be covered by insuranceThe Scheduled Airline Failure Cover offered by some insurers may cover flights with FlyGlobespan
- 17 Dec 2009Kids searching for YouTube, Facebook and sexChildren searching for adult content as well as YouTube, Facebook and Google in 2009, reveals Norton
- 17 Dec 2009TV-watching and texts on the up as UK prices fallUK consumers' use of digital TV, mobile, broadband and home phone services is among the highest in the world and the cost of digital services is among the lowest, according to new research from phone, TV and broadband watchdog Ofcom.
- 17 Dec 20093D Blu-ray discs will work with Sony PS3The Blu-ray disc association has decided on a specification that allows future 3D films to be played on the Sony PS3
- 17 Dec 2009Advice for passengers grounded by airline collapseWhich? Holiday gives advice for passengers and holidaymakers caught up in collapse of Scotland's FlyGlobespan
- 16 Dec 2009Hot car deals, 16 December 2009Which? checks out the latest car deals from across the UK. Cheap cars galore in this season of goodwill - check out our savings on the VW Golf, Ford Ka and Fiat 500
- 16 Dec 2009New 59g/km CO2 Toyota PriusWhich? reveals news of Toyota's latest Prius, a plug-in hybrid apparently emitting just 59g/km. It's Toyota's first use of high-tech lithium-ion batteries, but the new Prius will be on a limited trial only.
- 16 Dec 2009Most popular YouTube videos of 2009 revealedSusan Boyles tops most watched YouTube video clips; we reveal your top picks of Which? YouTube clips
- 16 Dec 2009Cheques to be phased out in 2018 Paying for goods and services by cheque will be impossible after 31 October 2018, if an announcement made today by the UK Payments Council comes into force.
- 15 Dec 2009Advice for BA passengers BA workers have voted to hold strike action between 22 December and 2 January. This could affect up to 900,000 passengers planning to travel this Christmas.
- 15 Dec 2009Bugaboo Bee brake fault triggers bracket offerBugaboo has issued brake brackets to be fitted to all Bugaboo Bee pushchairs purchased before May 2009.
- 14 Dec 2009Suzuki Swift range update for 2010Suzuki is revising its Swift supermini range for 2010 with the introduction of three new equipment grades.
- 14 Dec 2009Telephone virus scam alertConsumers warned against giving cold callers remote access to their PCs and their bank account details
- 12 Dec 2009Which? launches 'Vote with your feet' campaignWhich? magazine is launching a new campaign to encourage consumers to ditch companies that offer bad customer service.
- 12 Dec 2009FSCS to start paying structured product claims The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) has announced that it will soon start paying out compensation to some investors who held Lehman-backed structured products from three UK firms.
- 12 Dec 2009Banking map of shameResidents of Hackney in London top a Which? poll of consumers who are unhappy with their banks.
- 11 Dec 2009Blackcircles.com branches out into servicingOnline tyre retailer Blackcircles.com is branching out into car servicing. Which? asks if is this good or bad news for the consumer.
- 11 Dec 2009INQ Chat 3G launches on ThreeMobile manufacturer INQ has launched the INQ Chat 3G - its first handset with a Qwerty keyboard, similar to that found on many BlackBerrys.
- 11 Dec 2009Scrappage scheme hits 250,000 registrationsWith the scrappage scheme accounting for 21.6% of sales in November, the total number of new vehicle registrations through scrappage has now passed a quarter of a million.
- 11 Dec 2009More fixed-rate savings deals withdrawnNS&I, the government’s savings organisation, has withdrawn its popular Guaranteed Growth and Guaranteed Income Bonds from sale.
- 11 Dec 2009Panasonic cures Viera TX-L37V10's poor audioIn our initial lab-tests the Panasonic V10 scored woefully for its audio. We met Panasonic, who repaired the TV, and the new results are in
- 10 Dec 2009Hot car deals, 10 December 2009Whether you’re after a compact shopper, a frugal diesel or a rip-snorting hot hatch, we’ve bagged discounts on models that may suit: the Honda Jazz, Audi A4 turbodiesel and Ford Focus RS.
- 10 Dec 2009Water meters set to be in 80% of homes by 2020Up to 80% of homes should be fitted with water meters by 2020 to encourage people to use water more efficiently, says an independent review commissioned by the government.
- 10 Dec 2009Mortgage lending hits 22-month high 55,300 mortgages were granted to home buyers in October 2009 – the highest number since December 2007, accorsing to the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
- 10 Dec 2009Facebook privacy changes draws criticismNew Facebook privacy changes have sparked privacy fears from campaigners
- 10 Dec 2009Tesco sells iPhone at 'UK's lowest contract price'The Apple iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS will be available to Tesco Mobile customers from just £20 a month on a 12 month contract, the lowest monthly contract price in the UK market, when Tesco starts selling the iPhone on 14th December.
- 10 Dec 2009Free flash with each Olympus E-P1 this ChristmasOlympus is offering a free FL-14 flash to all UK customers who buy an Olympus E-P1 camera this Christmas
- 10 Dec 2009Regulator warns on pension transfers The Pensions Regulator has voiced concern that firms with final salary pension schemes may be advising employees to transfer to less adantageous arrangement. Individuals could be mislead into surrendering valuable benefits. FSA highlights this risk.
- 09 Dec 2009Underground energy to heat homesGround source heat pumps that convert energy from the ground into electricity could be installed in hundreds of thousands of homes within 10 years, a government report says.
- 09 Dec 2009116mpg Volkswagen Up! Lite Concept revealedRadical Volkswagen Up! Lite Concept promises nearly 116mpg - and is not quite as far fetched as you might immediately think.
- 09 Dec 2009Charity calls for parking amnesty over ChristmasThe Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is calling for car park penalty charges to be postponed this Christmas to cut drink driving
- 09 Dec 2009Banks to pay ‘super-tax’ on bonuses Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling has announced that bankers’ bonuses will be subject to a one-off ‘super-tax’ in his pre-budget report.
- 09 Dec 20093view announces Freeview HD set-top box3view has announced what it claims is the world's first internet-connected HD set-top box capable of receiving free-to-air broadcasts.
- 09 Dec 2009Cheaper, greener Hyundai i30 for 2010Hyundai i30 update for 2010 brings start-stop option and lower prices to this Which? Best Buy family hatchback.
- 09 Dec 2009New nose for Nissan QashqaiNissan is updating its popular Qashqai and Qashqai+2 models for 2010 with new looks and improvements in quality.
- 09 Dec 2009Humax launches UK's first Freeview HD set-top boxHumax will unveil the UK's first Freeview HD set-top box on 9 December, and Which? will be liveblogging from the launch event.
- 09 Dec 2009Darling freezes tax but raises National InsuranceThe Chancellor today confirmed previously announced income tax rates and thresholds for 2010-11 but revealed that National Insurance contributions would rise by an additional 0.5% from April 2011, taking the employee Class 1 rate from 11% to 12%.
- 09 Dec 2009Darling's new for old boiler scheme Alistair Darling used the pre-budget report to introduce a boiler scrappage scheme, which will help homeowners cut carbon emissions.
- 09 Dec 2009Maclaren sued over pushchair injury claimsFifteen UK families are suing Maclaren for compensation following injuries they claim their children have sustained from Maclaren pushchairs.
- 09 Dec 2009Government announces broadband taxA new tax on landline users will hit millions of homeowners. The Landline Duty will pay for a significant upgrade to the UK's broadband network.
- 08 Dec 2009Hot Car Deals, 8 December 2009Our deal-hunters have tracked down big discounts on the new Mazda CX-7 turbodiesel and Best Buy Mazda 6, plus the Kia Pro Cee'd and Saab 9-5.
- 08 Dec 2009Shopping site shows London's West End in 3DNear Global is testing the beta version of its 3D West End shopping site on the public via Facebook. Users can explore London's Oxford Street and Regent Street, clicking through to shops' websites to make purchases
- 08 Dec 2009New Citroen C3 is bright and greenCitroen has announced the pricing and specification details for its all-new C3 supermini, on sale in January.
- 08 Dec 2009Scammers exploit brand loyaltyBig brands such as banks, social networks and music sites are being used by cybercriminals to tempt you to download malware
- 08 Dec 2009Charity Bank backs Which? banking campaignThe Britain Needs Better Banks campaign welcomes endorsement from ethical financial services provider Charity Bank.
- 08 Dec 2009Government targets internet safety for childrenInternet safety for children is top priority in a new government strategy - 'Click clever, click safe' - aimed at protecting children online.
- 07 Dec 2009Energy firms warned over profitsEnergy regulator Ofgem has warned that energy firms may be forced to pass on the benefit of falling wholesale gas prices to their customers in the New Year.
- 07 Dec 2009Car sales up in NovemberThe scrappage scheme has helped boost new car sales in November 2009, which are up 57% compared to last year.
- 06 Dec 2009Nissan Cube arrives in the UKThe Nissan Cube is a worldwide phenomenon that proves it is hip to be square. Now this cult car is coming to the UK.
- 05 Dec 2009New Ford Focus Econetic achieves 99g/km CO2 Which? news: Latest Ford Focus Econetic achieves 99g/km CO2. The greenest Ford Focus yet uses green technology for low CO2 emissions - but it comes at a high price.
- 05 Dec 2009Latest Eco Kettle model unveiledEco Kettle has launched the latest kettle model in its range, the Eco 3, which includes a temperature selector that lets you heat water at either 80, 90 or 100 degrees to save energy.
- 05 Dec 2009Annuity rates at record lows New research has revealed that annuity rates have fallen to an all time low, dropping 45% since 1994. Which? offers important advice for anyone approaching retirement, on how to find the best deal on an annuity.
- 04 Dec 2009Vax unveils Life cordless vacuum cleanerVax has launched what it's claiming is the 'UK's most advanced cordless upright vacuum cleaner' - the Vax Life.
- 04 Dec 2009New Alfa Romeo Giulietta revealedWhich? news: Alfa Romeo Giulietta revealed. the new Alfa Giulietta, the replacement for the ageing 147, is set for a Geneva Motor Show debut.
- 04 Dec 2009Hot Car Deals, 4 December 2009With Christmas and the end of the year approaching, car dealers are keen to shift stocks and get some orders on the books for 2010. That means rich pickings for car buyers, as our deal hunters have been finding out...
- 04 Dec 2009Sainsbury's to sell solar panels and heat pumpsSainsbury's has partnered with EDF Energy to open home energy centres in three stores as part of a trial to sell energy saving products and renewable energy technology including solar panels and heat pumps.
- 04 Dec 2009American Express launches reward credit cardNew Amex card pays the equivalent of up to 1.5% cashback on supermarket spending, paid out in high street vouchers
- 03 Dec 2009Yorkshire Bank launches 5.10% fixed-rate savingsNew 5-year savings bond from Yorkshire Bank pays over 5% interest for 5-year fixed term. Shorter terms are also available.
- 03 Dec 2009Charity Bank launches new 2% children's account100% of deposits into the new Charity Bank account, which pays up to 2% AER, are used to support charities and community organisations
- 03 Dec 2009‘Alarming increase’ in cases of identity fraud CreditExpert.co.uk, the online credit monitoring and identity fraud protection service from Experian, has reported a 12% increase in identity fraud. Protect yourself from ID crime with free, easy-to-follow advice from Which?
- 02 Dec 2009Turbo engines suffer more breakdownsTurbocharging helps cars perform better and use less fuel. But it may also reduce reliability. This is according to the latest research by Warranty Direct, a company that specialises in aftermarket vehicle warranties
- 02 Dec 2009New Audi A8 greenest luxury saloon everWhich? news: 2010 Audi A8 is the greenest luxury saloon ever. Advanced technology and light weight will help the new Audi A8 compete with rivals such as the Mercedes S-class and BMW 7 Series.
- 02 Dec 2009Energy smart meter roll-out unveiledThe government has today outlined plans to have smart meters installed in every household in the UK between 2012 and 2020.
- 02 Dec 2009Chelsea and Yorkshire BS announce merger The Chelsea and Yorkshire Building Societies announced today that they will merge, creating a building society big enough to rival the UK’s most dominant mutual, Nationwide.
- 01 Dec 2009Hot Car Deals, 1 December 2009Which? Hot Car Deals: We spot big savings on the Chrysler Sebring, Ford Mondeo, Nissan Micra and Renault Mégane.
- 01 Dec 2009New Mégane Sport Tourer and Laguna CoupéWhich? news: Renault launches new Mégane Sport Tourer and Laguna Coupé. New entry-level Mégane Sport Tourer Extreme and Laguna Coupé Tomtom will attract new car buyers on a budget.
- 01 Dec 2009VW Polo voted European Car of the Year 2010The new Volkswagen Polo has been voted the European Car of the Year 2010, narrowly beating the Toyota iQ and pushing the new Vauxhall Astra into third place.
- 01 Dec 2009Misleading energy labels uncoveredNew research has shown some top-selling household appliances - including washer-dryers, ovens and energy saving light bulbs - may not be as energy efficient as claimed on their energy labels.
- 01 Dec 2009Magimix unveils see-through Vision toasterMagimix has launched what it claims is the world’s first see-through toaster, the Magimix Vision. Read our first look review of the Magimix Vision toaster now.
- 01 Dec 2009BlackBerry Curve 8520 available on Virgin MediaThe BlackBerry Bold 8520 is now available through Virgin Media on a variety of tariffs
- 01 Dec 2009Chelsea and Yorkshire Building Societies in talks Chelsea Building Society today confirmed it is in advanced merger talks with Yorkshire Building Society. Chelsea is the UK's fourth largest building society, while Yorkshire is the second largest. Between them they have 178 branches and 2.7m members.
