New Which? research finds that, as mortgage fees spiral, 99.5% of homeowners and homebuyers struggle to identify the total cost of a mortgage deal. While interest rates on many mortgages are at an historic low, arrangement fees have rocketed in the last two years and our analysis of around 2,800 mortgages finds that only 19% [...]
The best in business have been celebrated at a ceremony in central London as the Which? Awards 2013 winners were crowned. The Which? Awards, launched in 2007, were co-hosted by TV presenter Natasha Kaplinsky and Which? Chief Executive Peter Vicary-Smith. The Awards publicly recognise and celebrate the very best businesses in the UK that consistently [...]
Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd, said: “For years Which? has been calling for food companies to use traffic light labels so we welcome this big step forward towards making it easier for consumers to make healthy choices. With levels of obesity and diet-related disease on the increase, it’s vitally important that people know what is [...]
Peter Vicary-Smith, Which? chief executive said: “These proposals could signal the start of the big change in banking that consumers have been crying out for, but more will need to be done to transform the toxic culture at the heart of this industry. “We welcome the measures on competition and greater senior accountability. But while the [...]
Extra charges are the biggest source of complaint for consumers when it comes to car hire and six in 10 people are unhappy with the way their car hire complaint was handled, a survey by Which? reveals. The new research follows our investigation into car hire charges in May when we found that some car [...]
In response to the Information Commissioner’s Office issuing fines to two companies for PPI nuisance calls, Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd, said: “Thousands of people have told us they are sick and tired of being bombarded with nuisance calls and texts, so it’s good to see the Information Commissioner’s Office doing more to punish companies who are breaking the rules. “Given the scale of this problem, it’s time for the Government and telecoms providers to step in too, with new laws and new technology to tackle this scourge on people’s everyday lives. The ICO and other regulators must be given more power to properly police how our personal data is used, so we can call time on nuisance calls and texts.” Notes to editors Which? launched the Calling Time on Nuisance Calls and Texts campaign in March 2013. It has received almost 62,000 votes of support from consumers so far. Consumers can also pledge their support for the Calling Time campaign at www.which.co.uk/campaigns/nuisance-calls-and-texts
Richard Lloyd, Which? executive director, said: “It’s good to see a bank sorting out its problems without the need for a taxpayer bailout and the Co-operative have assured their retail customers that they will not be affected. Their money, up to £85,000, or £170,000 for a joint account per licenced financial institution, is protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). [...]
Backing Mike Crockart MP’s Private Members’ Bill which aims to change the laws around how personal data is used and to give regulators more powers to tackle companies which breaks the rules, Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: “People are sick and tired of being bombarded with nuisance calls and texts. The current system is [...]
New research from Which? has revealed a change in shopping habits since the start of the financial downturn with consumers less likely to make impulse buys and more likely to seek advice before buying. Six in 10 (62%) consumers say their shopping habits have changed since before the economic downturn, with seven in 10 (70%) [...]
Which? has found some businesses are jacking up the prices for weddings, charging more than they would for an equivalent event. We asked for a quote for the same day at the same time of year with the identical number of people for a wedding and a family reunion party. Snapshot research revealed all three [...]