Household Bills
Consumer confidence crashes in London
Consumer credit confidence fell sharply in the second quarter of 2007, according to the Personal Credit Index from CreditExpert.co.uk. The Index, which measures financial confidence as a simple, single figure, slumped by four points (from 100 to 96) – the largest quarterly fall so far recorded.
Mobile operators cash in on summer holidaymakers
With a month to go until mobile phone operators are forced to cap roaming charges, SimplySwitch.com can reveal that thousands of customers are still in the dark about when they will be able to take advantage of the new rates.
Brits still paying for last year’s summer holiday
Summer holidays may only last two weeks – but paying for them takes a lot longer, new MoneyExpert.com research reveals. Its research shows around 1.4 million holidaymakers are still paying interest on debts run up on their 2006 summer break.
BT introduces new call charges from 1 August
BT recently cut the price of its Option 2 and 3 call packages, sparking a mini price war in the home phone market.
SimplySwitch: Sky announces full year results
British Sky Broadcasting today gave its full-year trading update. BSkyB's operating profit fell 7% to £815 million because of heavy investment in new services such as broadband and home phone.
BSKYB and Virgin Media take battle onto football pitch
Two weeks to go before the start of the football season, Sky and Virgin Media have locked horns – again.
uSwitch.com: Ofcom to force VoIP providers to allow 999 calls
Following today’s announcement by Ofcom to force VoIP providers to enable calls to be made to 999 numbers, Steve Weller, Head of Communication Services at independent price comparison service and switching service, uSwitch.com, comments on the importance and the impact it may have:
Ofcom says VoIP providers must offer access to 999
Ofcom today published proposals to require certain types of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers to allow users to call 999 by early 2008.
moneysupermarket.com: BT well placed in broadband market
Commenting on BT's results for April 1 to June 30, Jason Lloyd, head of broadband at moneysupermarket.com, said: “BT is in the best position in the broadband market, with its share of the net additions in the last quarter at 38 per cent.
What is the price of your conscience?
While some may believe we live in a less moralistic society than ever before, it seems that the majority of people still have a conscience when it comes to being given excess change, according to new research.
Cracks in ‘green’ consumer conscience when it comes to tax
Despite many UK consumers being prepared to adopt a more ‘green’ lifestyle, 50 per cent are still not prepared to pay more tax to help combat green issues believing they already pay too much tax, according to figures from Unbiased.co.uk.
Digital TV switchover adults still not ‘tuned in’
Three months to go until the first UK TV region loses its analogue signal to digital and the latest uSwitch.com poll shows that overall awareness is up – but only just.
Rate rise caution leads to switching slump
A new climate of financial caution caused by consistent interest rate increases has led to a slump in switching, according to MoneyExpert.com. The independent financial comparison website believes providers are also getting tougher and withdrawing better deals.
Innovative new energy plan needs a ‘buyer beware’ stamp
British Gas’ new wholesale market tracker will allow consumers to peg their energy bills to the wholesale energy market.
The £1,425 cost of ‘Pottermania’
Parents of Harry Potter fans may be forgiven for not feeling the world famous wizard is all that ‘magic’, as research reveals the £1,425 cost of being an official fan.