Lovers of good food everywhere in the UK have been depending on the Good Food Guide for nearly sixty years now, to guide them in their quest to find the best places to eat. Moving along with the age of mobile technology, the Good Food Guide has now launched an iPhone application that will make [...]
February 7th, 2010 | Clare | 0 comments | ContinuedConsumer Guides
Faulty Playstation 3 Rights
We have received many complaints regarding the so-called YLOD (Yellow Light of Death Fault) that is affecting a number of Sony Playstation 3 (PS3) owners and have created this guide to help them get their consoles fixed for free.
In the UK consumers have statutory rights that give them six years from the date of purchase [...]
Credit and Debit Cards, Part 2
Increasing the APR
The hundreds of complaints What Consumer receives each year about a well known credit provider all relate to the same thing. The hiking of interest rates to astronomical levels at the end of a low or 0% APR introductory period. Card providers are quite within their rights to make these increases, but will [...]
Credit and Debit Cards
An increasing number of us are routinely paying for goods with plastic. Using credit and debit cards has undeniable benefits: It allows us to track and manage our spending, it provides automatic proof of purchase, it enables us to collect rewards or points, and perhaps most significantly it gives us some protection against dodgy traders [...]
April 4th, 2009 | Catriona | 0 comments | Continued
Paypal Consumer Protection Inadequate
Astute UK consumers shouldn’t rely on the Paypal’s Protection for Buyers. This includes Paypal Buyer Protection for eligible ebay sales and their Buyer Complaint Policy.
A quick search of the internet will confirm that Paypal has a tendency to close disputes for reasons only known to themselves. In addition, their Protection for Buyers [...]
Five-Step Financial Health Check
NS&I has launched , The Five Questions, with Sir Alan Sugar, to help the British public to give their personal finances a health check.
Research from NS&I has revealed that 40 per cent of us have no long-term financial plan and 17 per cent don’t seek information on managing our money because it is too confusing. [...]
Buying Broadband Top Tips
It has never been more important to get expert advice prior to signing a broadband contract.
The Daily Mail reported this week on the story of Will Pierce who took his son on a skiing trip for five days and came home to a £22,000 mobile broadband bill from Vodafone. He had used [...]
Debt Management Companies
In the current climate, debt management is big business. Dozens of debt management companies (DMCs) have sprung up over the last few years, having found a way to capitalise on this growing market, while at the same time claiming that they can help you out. There are two questions to ask yourself when thinking about [...]
March 12th, 2009 | Catriona | 1 comment | Continued
How to avoid being scammed?
This short guide has been produced to help people avoid being scammed and to help carers protect the elderly and vulnerable.
OFT Scam Video – Tricks of the Trade
This section is presented by Angela Rippon who warns consumers about lottery scams. Scammers tend to target the vulnerable such as the elderly, but not exclusively – [...]
February 27th, 2009 | Tony | 0 comments | Continued
Debt Collection Agencies
Debt collection is big business. As the use of Debt Collection Agencies (DCAs) increases, so have the number of complaints from the general public regarding the underhand, intimidating and often unlawful practices they are resorting to. Complainants also cite frequent examples of being mixed up with debtors who used to live at the address where [...]
February 25th, 2009 | Catriona | 0 comments | Continued
Save Money on your Utility Bills
Savvy consumers should check that they are on the best tariff from the cheapest energy supplier at least every year or after any market changing event. For example, British Gas announcing that it will reduce it prices by 10% a couple of weeks ago, but be warned the market hasn’t settled down [...]
February 5th, 2009 | Tony | 0 comments | Continued
Consumer rights when buying a sofa
If you have experienced problems buying a sofa or having one upholstered, then you are not alone. Complaints relating to sofas feature significantly in Consumer Direct’s top ten and the problem shows no sign of improving. So what do you need to watch out for and what are your rights?
Cooling off?
Buying a sofa is a [...]
Delivery and Collection of Goods
With the increase in online shopping comes an obvious increase in the number of complaints regarding delivery of goods – whether this is non-delivery or delivery of damaged items. So where do you stand?
The first point to distinguish is whether you ordered the goods under a distance selling contract, or whether you arranged delivery after [...]
Gym Membership Advice
For years, the OFT have been keeping a close eye on health and fitness clubs with specific reference to the fairness of their gym membership contracts. Typically, consumers have been required to sign agreements which commits them to a 12 month minimum term, which absolutely ties them in to making the monthly payments for that [...]
December 8th, 2008 | Catriona | 36 comments | Continued
Accessing your Credit File
If you have been turned down for a credit agreement such as a loan or a credit card, you have the right, under the Consumer Credit Act, to request that the lender provides you with details of the credit reference agency they used to access your credit file. You must do this in writing within [...]
September 16th, 2008 | Catriona | 1 comment | Continued
