Spending Habits
OFT obtains assurances from South African prize draw promoter
A South African prize draw promoter has given assurances to the OFT that it will no longer send misleading prize draw mailings to UK consumers.
Poor packing costs £350 million
Absent-minded British travellers wasted over £350 million last year, re-purchasing items in airports that they had forgotten to pack, according to research from Abbey Current Accounts.
Disposable income at lowest level in 10 years
While the UK enjoys a rise in overall income, disposable income hits its lowest level since 1997 due to rising taxes and essential living costs.
PayPal, eBay and Yahoo! join forces to fight phishing scams
Phishing scams claiming to be from PayPal and eBay are being targeted by a new secure email service launched today. PayPal, the online payments provider and eBay have announced a collaborative effort with Yahoo! to use the firm's anti-phishing technology.
Brits want partners to show them the money
Love certainly does not come cheap nowadays, as new research from Abbey Current Accounts finds that 5.9 million people (18 per cent) say their partners do not spend enough money on them.
The baby debt trap
Parents of children under 18 end up an average £1,140 in debt a year after the birth of their first child, new research from MoneyExpert.com says.
Consumer confidence rises
The Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index rose five points in September in spite of the unrest in the financial markets. However, the index does not cover the period when there was the initial run on Northern Rock which is likely to impact on consumer sentiment.
Brits risk financial future to start a ‘second life’
More than 8.5 million Brits are risking their savings, pensions and financial future when they split with one partner and begin a ‘second life’ with someone else, according to a major new report from Standard Life.
Elderly parents receive £21 billion of unpaid care a year
Elderly parents will receive £21 billion in unpaid care and assistance from their adult children this year alone, according to a report from the UK’s largest friendly society LV= (formerly Liverpool Victoria).
Job security buoys consumer confidence
Rising job security is helping to maintain consumer confidence, despite the ongoing credit market turmoil according to the latest Consumer Barometer from Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets.
Businesses losing out on customers due to poor data security
Two thirds of UK consumers will walk from a company that has poor security measures in place.
Which? celebrates half a century as the consumer champion
This month Which? celebrates half a century of independently testing products and services and campaigning on behalf of the consumer.
Supermarkets accused of diary price fixing
The Office of Fair Trading has provisionally found that large supermarkets and dairy processors have colluded to increase the prices of dairy products which led to an estimated cost to consumers of around £270 million.
Christmas shopping season online
Commenting on 100 days till Christmas and the start of the Christmas shopping season online, Jason Lloyd head of broadband at moneysupermarket.com said: “On Sunday 16th September we will be 100 days from Christmas. Looking ahead to Christmas
Inflation rises for the young
Latest figures show that the rate of inflation facing the under-30s has jumped, putting young adults’ inflation rate on a par with the elderly as both face inflation rates above the official headline rate.