Watchdog's back on air this week and as usual, we'll be exposing the companies and individuals that leave you out of pocket or offer appalling service. We'll be relying on your letters and emails to uncover bad practice and get results!
Memorable stories over the last run included the Nike trainers that mysteriously started smelling of cat wee, even after just one wear. Exactly why still isn't quite clear, but after our reports Nike promised a refund to people who had affected trainers.
We also sparked a change in online auction site eBay's knife policy. Soon after we revealed that our researchers were able to obtain illegal knives from the site - including one knife disguised as a pen - eBay stripped all knives apart from cutlery from its site.
Since we were last on air, there have been big developments on some of the other stories we covered. In May we investigated the company Digital Select Limited. They were charging callers to their information line on child benefit £1.50 a minute despite the information being freely available online. Since Watchdog investigated they've been fined £50,000 by regulator PhonepayPlus.
Many of you downloaded our template letters to ask your energy companies why they weren't passing on savings to you, the consumer, despite fuel costs dropping. Once again we'll be keeping an eye on energy firms and keeping the pressure on them to lower their prices.
In 2007, we revealed that estate agent Foxtons Ltd's letting agreements with landlords contained a number of unexpected terms buried in the small print. One of these terms was repeat renewal commission, which forced landlords to pay substantial sums of commission when a tenant stayed on in a property after the initial fixed period of the tenancy had expired - even if Foxtons had played no part in persuading the tenant to stay, and didn't collect the rent or manage the property.
In July this year a landmark High Court ruling found that the charging of repeat renewal commission by Foxtons represented a 'trap' or a 'time bomb' for consumers. OFT Chief Executive, John Fingleton, said: "This ruling sends out a clear and unambiguous message that businesses offering services need to ensure unexpected or surprising terms are not hidden away in small print." Result.
Some of our latest reports for the new series have already had results too, so don't miss our first programme on Thursday 10 September. And keep your stories coming in!
Got a story?
Leave your comments below.
Watchdog update
Memorable stories over the last run included the Nike trainers that mysteriously started smelling of cat wee, even after just one wear. Exactly why still isn't quite clear, but after our reports Nike promised a refund to people who had affected trainers.
We also sparked a change in online auction site eBay's knife policy. Soon after we revealed that our researchers were able to obtain illegal knives from the site - including one knife disguised as a pen - eBay stripped all knives apart from cutlery from its site.
Since we were last on air, there have been big developments on some of the other stories we covered. In May we investigated the company Digital Select Limited. They were charging callers to their information line on child benefit £1.50 a minute despite the information being freely available online. Since Watchdog investigated they've been fined £50,000 by regulator PhonepayPlus.
Many of you downloaded our template letters to ask your energy companies why they weren't passing on savings to you, the consumer, despite fuel costs dropping. Once again we'll be keeping an eye on energy firms and keeping the pressure on them to lower their prices.
In 2007, we revealed that estate agent Foxtons Ltd's letting agreements with landlords contained a number of unexpected terms buried in the small print. One of these terms was repeat renewal commission, which forced landlords to pay substantial sums of commission when a tenant stayed on in a property after the initial fixed period of the tenancy had expired - even if Foxtons had played no part in persuading the tenant to stay, and didn't collect the rent or manage the property.
In July this year a landmark High Court ruling found that the charging of repeat renewal commission by Foxtons represented a 'trap' or a 'time bomb' for consumers. OFT Chief Executive, John Fingleton, said: "This ruling sends out a clear and unambiguous message that businesses offering services need to ensure unexpected or surprising terms are not hidden away in small print." Result.
Some of our latest reports for the new series have already had results too, so don't miss our first programme on Thursday 10 September. And keep your stories coming in!
Got a story?
Leave your comments below.
Watchdog update