News in August 2009
- 31 Aug 2009Hot car deals, 31 August 2009We've found some cracking bank holiday discounts from the likes of Mazda and Land Rover...
- 28 Aug 2009Frankfurt Motor Show 2009: Saab 9-5 breaks coverCombining classic Saab design with modern cues and high technology, the all-new 9-5 saloon might prove a worthy alternative to premium rivals from the likes of BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes.
- 28 Aug 2009Older people cut energy use amid rising pricesWhen those over 50 face energy price increases, rich and poor alike cut their consumption – but middle-income households cut back the most, according to figures released today.
- 28 Aug 2009Best car dealers revealed in new Which? pollThe biggest car brands aren’t always best when it comes to sales and servicing, according to the results of a new Which? survey.
- 28 Aug 2009Hot car deals, 28 August 2009Hot car deals from Which? - just ahead of the September 1st number plate change
- 28 Aug 2009Consumers opt for variable-rate mortgagesLarge jump in numbers choosing variable-rate home deals rather than fixed-rate mortgages, despite expectations that interest rates are set to rise
- 28 Aug 2009Netbooks are university essential Budget conscious students favour netbooks over laptops for producing course work
- 28 Aug 2009Little Chef makes it into The Good Food GuideLittle Chef Popham, which was turned around by chef Heston Blumenthal, has made it into The Good Food Guide 2010.
- 28 Aug 2009Child Trust Fund boost Child Trust Funds pass an important milestone this Septermber as the first children to hold them turn 7. The government will top up over 51,000 CTF accounts by £250, bringing the minimum investment to £500 for every seven year old child.
- 28 Aug 2009Microsoft says fashion gadgets now beat GucciHaving the 'right' gadgets is more important than having the latest clothing
- 28 Aug 2009August consumer news quizTest your knowledge of August's news with the Which? consumer news quiz.
- 28 Aug 2009Bank advisers warningWhich? confirms mis-selling by bank advisers appears to be on the increase. Recent cases echo concerns voiced by the Financial Ombudsman Service. Elderly clients account for 22% of investment complaints received by FOS. 1,809 cases since April 2009
- 27 Aug 2009Persil tops 'eco-index' for green productsPersil's laundry products have topped a new 'eco-league' which ranks branded products on their environmental and eco-friendly credentials, while Haribo sweets came bottom of the list.
- 27 Aug 2009Sony announces three new Alpha digital SLRsSony due to launch the Alpha A500 and A550 this October, with the high end Alpha A850 following in November
- 27 Aug 2009Frankfurt Motor Show: Vauxhall Astra detailsThe all-new Vauxhall Astra is set to make its public debut at the Frankfurt motor show next month. Now we have details of the engine line-up.
- 27 Aug 2009Frankfurt Motor Show: new three-door VW Polo Which? looks at Volkswagen's newly-announced Polo three-door. We know about the five-door VW Polo, so what's new on this three-door model?
- 27 Aug 2009Frankfurt Motor Show: Mini Coupé ConceptWhich? takes a closer look at the new Mini Coupé Concept, which will be on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
- 27 Aug 2009PC World disappoints in satisfaction survey High street computer retail giant PC world beaten by supermarkets in annual customer satisfaction survey
- 27 Aug 2009Online banking security risks revealedWhich? Computing exposes big differences in the security features of online banks
- 26 Aug 2009Seven cars get top Euro NCAP scoreEuro NCAP has released crash safety scores for eight new cars – and just one of them failed to bag a five-star rating.
- 26 Aug 2009Sony S540 Walkman has built-in stereo speakersSony has released the Walkman S540 series - its first MP3 music and MP4 video player with built-in stereo speakers.
- 26 Aug 2009Fuel prices forcing drivers to downsizeA third of the UK’s would-be car buyers are planning to downsize to a more efficient model, according to new research.
- 25 Aug 2009Which? reveals holes in eco-car claims'Eco' cars can save you cash, but you’re just as likely to cut your motoring bills by improving the way you drive, a Which? investigation has revealed.
- 25 Aug 2009Sony launches touchscreen ebook ReadersSony has announced two new ebook readers - the Reader Pocket Edition and Reader Touch Edition - both available in the UK.
- 25 Aug 2009Hot car deals, 25 August 2009Super savings on Citroën, Renault and Saab. Which? reveals the biggest discounts on the Citroën C5, Renault Mégane and Saab 9-5
- 25 Aug 2009Frankfurt Motor Show 2009: Citroen DS3 revealedMini’s premium supermini supremacy was always going to come under attack. But who’d have thought the latest challenge would come from Citroen?
- 25 Aug 2009Illegal file sharers to be cut off the internetThe government plans to tackle file sharers by suspending their accounts
- 25 Aug 2009Rising internet sales reflect growing confidenceWeb sales of clothes and electrical items increase
- 25 Aug 2009Nokia launches netbook rangeMobile phone manufacturer to enter netbook market with the launch of the Nokia Booklet 3G, which claims a 12-hour battery life
- 25 Aug 2009Microsoft Windows 7 Family Pack on sale soonMicrosoft announces the pricing of its upgrade and full versions of Windows 7
- 24 Aug 2009Duracell myGrid wireless charger to launch in USDuracell joins the wireless charging bandwagon with the introduction of the Duracell MyGrid universal charging pad
- 23 Aug 2009Frankfurt Motor Show: Seat Leon Cupra RSeat Leon Cupra R revealed. Ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show, Which? gets a preview of the Seat Leon Cupra R, the most powerful Seat hot hatch ever.
- 22 Aug 2009BMW reveals most efficient 3 Series ever. AgainIn June, BMW unveiled the 316d, its greenest ever 3 Series. Two months on and that car is already out of date...
- 22 Aug 2009University students face increased costsStudents could end up owing £23,000 at the end of their degree course according to the latest Push Student Debt Survey. Which? reviews student accounts and assesses what the deals on offer
- 21 Aug 2009Smeg launches Linea-elite ovensSmeg has launched a new range of ovens claiming to boast one of the largest cavities on the market.
- 21 Aug 2009Upward turn in mortgage lendingNew mortgage lending rose from £12.7 bn in June to £16 bn in July, but still lagged behind the £24.9 bn loaned to consumers in July last year.
- 20 Aug 2009200 IS is Canon's first touchscreen Digital IxusCanon has unveiled its latest additions to the Ixus range of digital cameras, including the first touchscreen Ixus - the Ixus 200 IS.
- 20 Aug 2009Hot car deals, 20 August 2009Summer is a great time to bag a bargain off-roader – we’ve found great deals on the Land Rover Discovery and Volvo XC90. If you prefer something more compact, how about a Kia Cee’d or an ex-demo Renault Twingo?
- 20 Aug 2009Sainsbury's launches non-food catalogueSainsbury's has launched a catalogue to promote its new non-food online store, featuring kitchen appliances, electrical goods and home products.
- 20 Aug 2009Train passengers not getting fare pricePoor advice from rail staff means that some passengers could be paying more than double the cheapest train fare, an investigation published today by Which? has found.
- 20 Aug 2009Electrolux issues oven safety warningElectrolux has issued a safety warning for some of its Electrolux, Moffat and Tricity Bendix brand electric ovens bought since March 2007.
- 20 Aug 2009Petrol prices rising again, AA reportsAverage UK petrol prices have gone up by almost 1.5p a litre in the last month, the AA said on Thursday, and more increases are on the way.
- 20 Aug 2009Boiler services not up to scratchA Which? investigation into boiler servicing uncovered incompetence and corner cutting.
- 20 Aug 2009Tesco Personal Finance creates 800 new jobsNew customer service centre in Glasgow is a big step towards full banking service, says Tesco
- 20 Aug 2009NS&I raises Isa savings rate to 2.5%Cash Isa from National Savings & Investments (NS&I) now offers Best Buy rate of 2.5%
- 20 Aug 2009Lloyds reviews Cheltenham & Gloucester closureC&G reprieved as Lloyds announces a halt to its branch closure programme
- 20 Aug 2009Canon announces four new PowershotsCanon has unveiled its Autumn range of Powershot cameras, featuring the latest model in the G-series, the SX20 with its 20x superzoom, the SX120 and the novel Powershot S90
- 19 Aug 2009Web searches for discount vouchers soar 50%Internet searches for discount vouchers have increased by 50% over the last 12 months, according to data from internet research company Hitwise.
- 19 Aug 2009Frankfurt Motor Show 2009: Peugeot RCZ coupéWhich? takes a closer look at Peugeot's Peugeot RCZ coupé as part of our Frankfurt Motor Show Preview.
- 19 Aug 2009Frankfurt Motor Show 2009: Kia and Hyundai debutsKia and Hyundai announce brand-new models ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show - the Kia Venga and Hyundai ix35.
- 19 Aug 2009BT reaches halfway point of 1 million Wi-Fi targetBT announced today that it is halfway towards its goal of building a million-strong Wi-Fi hotspot network, with high-speed public wireless broadband now available at 500,000 homes, businesses and city centres in the UK and Ireland.
- 19 Aug 2009Sony launches 'TV scrappage' schemeSony has launched a 'scrappage' scheme for old TVs, offering up to £150 off a new Bravia TV in exchange for an old TV set.
- 19 Aug 2009New Sony PlayStation 3 Slim launchesSony has unveiled its latest version of the PS3, a slimmed down and cheaper model with 120GB HDD
- 19 Aug 2009The best restaurants in the UK announcedThe Good Food Guide 2010 announces the two best restaurants in the UK
- 18 Aug 2009Fully comp car insurance now 'cheapest option'Fully comprehensive car insurance policies are cheaper than third-party alternatives despite offering much better cover, new research shows.
- 18 Aug 2009Vax celebrates with 30% off anniversary rangeTo celebrate 30 years of producing home carpet cleaning products, Vax has launched a limited edition anniversary range of carpet and vacuum cleaners with introductory prices 30-50% below RRP.
- 18 Aug 2009BMW ups economy and valueUpdates for BMW range - car news from Which?. BMW has announced changes to its 1 Series, 6 Series and 7 Series ranges, bringing greater value and improved environmental performance.
- 18 Aug 2009Drivers 'spending more' on new carsDrivers are becoming more confident in the new-car market and have started ordering expensive models again, according to figures released this week.
- 18 Aug 2009Hot car deals, 18 August 2009If you’re after a new car and don’t want to pay list price, we’ve found big discounts on Toyotas and Saabs. And if you’re looking for a used bargain how about a BMW 3 Series for half the new price?
- 18 Aug 2009Parking rules and charges 'not fine', says Which? Which? is calling for an end to unfair charges and unclear signs in the private parking industry.
- 18 Aug 2009Slimline TVs 'deliver poor sound quality'The latest batch of Which? test results suggest that slim TVs are failing to deliver good-quality audio.
- 17 Aug 2009Retailers call for appliance scrappage schemeA car-industry-style scrappage scheme for appliances, and removing VAT on energy efficient fridges, freezers and washing machines would help homes to become more environmentally friendly, it was claimed today.
- 17 Aug 2009TomTom launches Apple iPhone applicationTomTom has launched a satnav application, bringing TomTom turn-by-turn navigation to the Apple iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS
- 17 Aug 2009Which? PPI campaign successMore than 31,000 payment protection insurance claims were made in 2008/09. But many more could complain. Read the Which? guide to PPI to find out how.
- 15 Aug 2009John Lewis unveils top five eco toys for XmasJohn Lewis have unveiled its top five greener toys for children this Christmas, including eco toys that are biodegradable, powered by green energy and made from sustainable materials.
- 15 Aug 2009Improvement in repossession figuresThe number of homes repossessed in the UK dropped by 10% in the second quarter of this year compared with the previous three months.
- 14 Aug 2009MPV updates from Volkswagen and ToyotaUpdates for VW Golf Plus Bluemotion and Toyota Verso diesel. Which reports on the new diesel engine for the Volkswagen Golf Plus Bluemotion and the new auto gearbox for the Toyota Verso diesel.
- 14 Aug 2009Samsung announces dual-LCD digital cameras Samsung has announced the ST550 and ST500 digital cameras, designed with front facing LCDs to aid self portrait photography.
- 14 Aug 2009Burglary hotspots revealedThe top 20 postcode areas targeted by burglars highlights the need for Which? Best Buy buildings and contents insurance.
- 14 Aug 2009Dualit adds peek function to Lite toasterYou can now check your toast in progress on Dualit's cheaper Lite models, retailing at John Lewis for £59 for the two slice or £79 for the four slice model. The Dualit Lite is almost a Which? Best Buy, but others did better in tests.
- 14 Aug 2009FTSE100 hits 2009 highThe FTSE 100 index has reached a 10 month high, aided by a faster than predicted exit from recession for France and Germany.
- 14 Aug 2009Amex changes credit card cashback rulesNew and existing customers hit by changes to cashback rules and 'dormant' accounts
- 14 Aug 2009Charity Bank celebrates triple award nominationFormer Best Buy Charity ISA recognised on Institute of Financial Services awards shortlist
- 13 Aug 2009Most car crashes 'happen near home'Two thirds of road accidents occur within five miles of a motorist’s home, a new poll has revealed.
- 13 Aug 2009Frankfurt Motor Show 2009: new Mazda CX-7 New Mazda CX-7 diesel will debut at Frankfurt Motor Show. Which? has the first details of the fuel-efficient new Mazda CX-7 diesel 4x4.
- 13 Aug 2009Boots stores offer Kodak facial photo retouchingKodak has launched a facial photo retouching service exclusively in Boots stores, that lets consumers edit their photos prior to printing, to remove facial blemishes and make themselves appear more beautiful.
- 13 Aug 2009Hot car deals, 13 August 2009Which reveals big savings on the new Renault Scenic and Vauxhall Zafira MPVs, plus more han £3,000 off a bew Mazda MX-5 Soft Top
- 13 Aug 2009Seatbelts 'have saved a million lives'The three-point seatbelt is 50 years old this week and Volvo, the company that designed it, claims it has already saved a million lives.
- 13 Aug 2009High streets to get £3m boostThe government announced today that it will provide £3m to help high streets hit by the recession. Local shops given a boost.
- 12 Aug 2009Sony Blu-ray home cinema systems unveiledSony has launched an extensive range of Blu-ray home cinema systems ranging from simple compact 2.1-speaker systems to high-end wireless 7.1-speaker packages.
- 12 Aug 2009New Kias set for Frankfurt debutUpdated Kia Cee'd and new Kia Sorento due for Frankfurt Motor Show. Which? brings you the first details of the revised Kia Cee'd hatchback and the all-new Kia Sorento 4x4.
- 11 Aug 2009Baxi extends LPG boiler rangeBoiler manufacturer Baxi has extended its range of LPG boilers for homes not connected to mains gas.
- 11 Aug 2009Londoners given 5.5m parking tickets in a yearLondoners were issued with nearly 5.5 million parking tickets between April 2008 and March 2009, it was revealed this week – 11% fewer than in the previous 12 months.
- 11 Aug 2009Hot car deals, 11 August 2009Why pay the full price for the all-new Volkswagen Polo when car brokers are already offering discounts? Alternatively, it pays to think bigger if you want even more money off a new Ford Mondeo, or a used BMW 3 Series or Chrysler 300C
- 11 Aug 2009Car scrappage scheme reaches half-way pointMore than half of the government money set aside for the car scrappage scheme has already been used up, new figures show.
- 11 Aug 2009Sainsbury's launch Best Buy 2.9% savings accountNew rate applies to balances of over £1,000 and offers 1,000 Nectar points if deposit made in first 30 days
- 10 Aug 2009Genealogy website unlocks criminal past Ancestry.co.uk posts criminal records online
- 10 Aug 2009Toshiba to launch Blu-ray products this yearToshiba to support Blu-ray format with Blu-ray products to hit the shop shelves later this year
- 10 Aug 2009Firm unveils boilers designed to cut billsCeres Power, in which British Gas has a 10 per cent stake, hopes to launch boilers which produce electricity from gas in 2011. It says they will pay for themselves 'within three to five years'; feed-in tariffs will start in the UK from April 2010.
- 09 Aug 2009Customers demand price rise warningNew research from Which? has found that 98% of people feel that gas and electricity suppliers like British Gas, Eon, ScottishPower, Scottish & Southern, EDF Energy and Npower should tell customers about price rises before they take effect.
- 08 Aug 2009VW announces new Polo pricingPrices announced for new VW Polo. Which? has details of the new Volkswagen Polo pricing - and it compares well to the Ford Fiesta.
- 08 Aug 2009Audi S5 Cabriolet now on saleAudi S5 cabriolet now on sale. Which? takes a closer look at the powerful and stylish new Audi S5 cabrio.
- 08 Aug 2009Mortgage report urges FSA actionA report published by the Treasury Select Committee on mortgages paints a bleak picture of the impact the recession on households struggling with mortgage arrears and at risk of repossessions
- 08 Aug 2009Sony launches automatic photography cradleCompatible with the new DSC-WX1 and DSC-TX1 Cyber-shot cameras, this cradle will take pictures for you
- 07 Aug 2009'Clearer' energy direct debits to be enforcedThe energy watchdog Ofgem announced moves today to ensure customers paying for their gas and electricity by direct debit get a fair deal.
- 07 Aug 2009Toyota Avensis gains leaner enginesThe Japanese carmaker is adding two new engines to its Avensis line-up, offering wider availability of the existing engines and offering extra equipment on various models.
- 07 Aug 2009Hot Car Deals, 7 August 2009The latest new-car deals from Which?. Save money on your next car with big savings on the VW Golf, Chevrolet Epica and Ford Focus.
- 07 Aug 2009Celebrity chef launches executive rangeCelebrity chef James Martin has launched a new range of executive products - including kettle, blender and hand mixer - made by Wahl.
- 07 Aug 2009Dulux launches 'Perfect Painting' paint brushesDulux has launched a new range of painting accessories designed to help make painting quicker and more convenient.
- 07 Aug 20091.8m shoppers fail to get goods they've paid for Almost 10% of consumers have not received goods they've already paid for, according to a survey conducted by the government's consumer body, Consumer Focus.
- 07 Aug 2009Personal insolvencies spiral by 27.4%Over 33,000 new insolvencies in third quarter as number of bankruptcies, IVAs and debt relief orders soars
- 06 Aug 2009Orange launches sub-£5 per month mobile broadbandOrange has unveiled new additions to its mobile broadband services, including a price plan for £4.89 per month, called Orange Internet Everywhere, available to existing Orange mobile or home broadband customers.
- 06 Aug 2009BT offers customers free broadband speed boostersBT is offering Total Broadband customers its I-Plate broadband speed booster for free. The device can improve broadband speeds and connection reliability according to BT.
- 06 Aug 2009TV and internet 'more essential than holidays'Technology products and services such as digital TV, broadband and mobile phones are third only to basic food and toiletry needs in a list of items that people prioritise spending their money on in a downturn.
- 06 Aug 2009Panasonic launches drop-proof DECT cordless phonePanasonic has unveiled its newest model of cordless phone, that it claims is 'fully prepared to deal with an array of household dangers with no fuss, due to its rugged design and IP54 compliance'.
- 06 Aug 2009Zanussi launches six place compact dishwasherThe ZSF2450S can fit under a sink but can take six places settings. It costs around £315 and has a comprehensive range of settings. Quieter than previous Zanussi-Electrolux models, the cleaning power of this worktop-sized model remains to be seen.
- 06 Aug 2009Car sales up for the first time in 15 monthsSales figures for new cars went up by more than 2% last month, official figures show, marking the first uplift in registrations since April 2008.
- 06 Aug 2009Mazda MX-5 Superlight conceptJapanese carmaker Mazda has announced it will unveil a special lightweight version of its MX-5 roadster at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
- 06 Aug 2009Insurers fire warning about fake holiday claimsInsurers' organisation warns of a rise in premiums if holidaymakers submit fake claims on their insurance
- 06 Aug 2009HMRC issues warning over rebate fraudGangs of criminals are stealing passwords to hack into self-assessment tax email accounts to get rebates
- 06 Aug 2009Sony announces two new Cyber-shot camerasTwo new Sony Cyber-shot cameras are launched, featuring a new CMOS sensor and a promise of better dim light images.
- 06 Aug 2009ITV parts company with FriendsITV offloads social networking website Friends Reunited for £25m after it faced competition from the rise of sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Bebo.
- 06 Aug 2009New bank enters Best BuysNewly launched British bank, Aldermore, has entered the Best Buy tables with its cash ISA, and offers high-paying five year fixed-rate bond and top-rate two year bond.
- 05 Aug 2009Fortnightly bin services 'pose little health risk'Fortnightly rubbish collections hold no extra health risk to householders compared to weekly collections, but instances of maggots, flies and mould are more likely, a new study has concluded.
- 05 Aug 2009Hot car deals, 5 August 2009Save on Mercedes, Land Rover, Toyota and Hyundai. Which? looks at the latest deals on the Mercedes CLS, Land Rover Freelander, Toyota Prius and Hyundai i30.
- 05 Aug 2009Mercedes reveals details of new E-class estateMercedes has revealed details of its new E-class estate. It's expected to have class-leading luggage space. It will go on show for the first time at the Frankfurt motor show in September
- 05 Aug 2009Emails from beyond the graveService allows you to send emails after you die
- 05 Aug 2009Pound bounces back against the dollar The pound is worth more against the US dollar than at any time since October 2008, suggesting that the days of unfavourable exchange rates are within sight.
- 05 Aug 2009Fight the fat, using your TVNew TV service could help fight obesity
- 05 Aug 2009Sharp reveals fridge freezer range Sharp has launched its first fridge freezers – the A+ energy rated SJF79PSSL, SJPT690RS and SJPT690RS.
- 04 Aug 2009Young drivers 'most positive' about speed camerasNew research shows young drivers are more positive about speed cameras than over 45s.
- 04 Aug 2009Thousands of child car seats 'need replacing'The market for second-hand child car seats is alive and well, according to new research – but consumers are being urged not to buy them.
- 04 Aug 2009Nissan reveals all-electric LeafNews of Nissan's all-electric Leaf, a medium car entirely powered by electricity - and boasting a 'real-world' range of 100 miles. Which? delves under the skin of the prototype.
- 04 Aug 2009‘Last chance’ for garages to clean up their actWhich? has warned that the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair is the last opportunity for the sector to get its house in order – or else face legislation.
- 04 Aug 2009Northern Rock makes huge half year lossesNationalised lender Northern Rock posts half yearly losses of over £700m
- 04 Aug 2009Nikon reveals its S1000pj projector cameraThree new Coolpix cameras have been unveiled by Nikon, including the S1000pj - the world's first projector camera
- 04 Aug 2009Moneysupermarket feels the pinchResults for the first half of the year for moneysupermarket.com show that the aggregator sector is suffering in the current climate.
- 04 Aug 2009Microsoft u-turn over Windows 7 'E' versionMicrosoft changes mind over web browserless version of Windows 7 for Europe, adds Internet Explorer to operating system after all
- 03 Aug 2009Waitrose to sell new kitchen products onlineWaitrose is to sell its own and John Lewis's kitchen and homewares products at its online shop from tomorrow (4 August).
- 03 Aug 2009Tesco unveils exclusive Tricity kitchen appliancesTesco has launched an exclusive range of kitchen appliances under the Tricity brand.
- 03 Aug 2009Firefox downloads reach one billionConsumers prefer alternatives to Windows Internet Explorer browser
- 02 Aug 2009Switching energy supplier saves customer £1,100Now is a good time to consider switching energy suppliers according to Which? Switch, Which?'s free and independent switching service - with one customer saving over £1,100 by changing his energy company.
- 01 Aug 2009Low mortgages boost homeowners' spending powerHalifax research shows people with mortgages have on average nearly £100 more disposable income than last year.
