Tag: which
Computer takeover scams cost users over £16 million a year
Consumer watchdog Which? is warning of the dangers of fraudsters using computer takeover scams to steal money and personal details from unsuspecting victims, as data shows reported losses reached more than £16 million in the last year. The consumer organisation has heard from people who have lost thousands of pounds to this convincing scam where…
ICO fines Marriott £18.4million for data breach
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has fined Marriott International Inc £18.4million for failing to keep millions of customers’ personal data secure. Marriott estimates that 339 million guest records worldwide were affected following a cyber-attack in 2014 on Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc. The attack, from an unknown source, remained undetected until September 2018, by…
Mobile firms banned from selling locked handsets
Mobile phone companies will be banned from selling locked handsets, under a range of new rules from Ofcom designed to make switching suppliers even simpler. Some companies – including BT/EE, Tesco Mobile and Vodafone – still sell mobile phones that cannot be used on other networks unless they are unlocked, a potentially complicated process which…
Tech giants should do more to protect users from online scams, warns Which?
Social media users are seriously underestimating their chances of falling victim to online scams and face devastating emotional and financial consequences because tech giants are not doing enough to warn and protect them, Which? claims. The consumer watchdog's latest research showed that a majority of Facebook users were lulled into a false sense of security…
Which? calls for Tesla and others to recall faulty models
The Tesla Model S outside the company's Oxford Street store Which? is calling for seven models from well-known car brands including Nissan, BMW, Tesla and Land Rover to be recalled as it exposes faults faced by such a high proportion of drivers that it indicates serious production issues. In a…
Printer ink pricier than 32-year-old Scotch Whisky, claims Which?
Despite being more expensive than 32-year-old Scotch whisky, Chanel No. 5 and high-end champagne, most people buy branded printer ink rather than cheaper third-party alternatives which are just as good, according to new Which? research. The consumer watchdog found that just one set of replacement cartridges for the Epson Expression Premium XP-900 costs £96. This…
Fake reviews make consumers choose poor-quality products, Which? reveals
Consumers could be more than twice as likely to choose poor-quality products when shopping online if they have been boosted by fake reviews, a behavioural experiment from Which? has revealed. The consumer watchdog simulated fake reviews and endorsement labels and found they were hugely effective at manipulating consumers into picking Don’t Buy products - items…
8 out of 10 UK hotel rooms cheaper booked directly rather than online
Holidaymakers can get a better deal if they book their hotel rooms directly rather than through an online travel agent like Booking.com or Expedia, a new Which? travel investigation has revealed. Online travel agents (OTAs) are often thought to be the most convenient way to get the best price on a hotel room, with many…
Which? reveals true scale of unreported energy complaints
New research from Which? reveals that industry data vastly underestimates the true scale of energy complaints - with consumers feeling let down by suppliers on billing, payments, customer service and switching. Analysis from the consumer watchdog found that if every customer who had reason to complain to their supplier in the last year had done…
Two-thirds of online marketplace products fail safety tests
Two-thirds of the 250 products tested from Amazon Marketplace, AliExpress, eBay and Wish fail safety tests, according to the latest research from Which? and consumer groups across Europe. The pan-European investigation found 66% of the products bought from online marketplaces including Amazon, eBay, AliExpress and Wish failed safety tests, including carbon monoxide alarms, baby toys…
