http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/ One of the leading forums for UK consumers. en Wed, 22 May 2013 22:00:03 GMT vBulletin 60 http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/ ConsumerForumhttp://feedburner.google.com http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23953-video-couples-163-000-mobile-bill-shock.html Wed, 22 May 2013 20:30:21 GMT An electrician and his wife had a shock when they received a mobile phone bill for £163,000, then fought for months to have the debt cleared. BBC... An electrician and his wife had a shock when they received a mobile phone bill for £163,000, then fought for months to have the debt cleared. BBC Watchdog investigated

VIDEO: Couple's £163,000 mobile bill shock (External link to BBC) ]]> Consumer News Tony http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23953-video-couples-163-000-mobile-bill-shock.html http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23952-rise-uk-job-vacancies-over-past-six-months-says-search-engine-adzuna.html Wed, 22 May 2013 17:21:47 GMT Salford, Wirral and Hull top list of most difficult places to find work, but website says more posts advertised in UK as a wholeThe number of job... Salford, Wirral and Hull top list of most difficult places to find work, but website says more posts advertised in UK as a wholeThe number of job vacancies in the UK has risen in the past six months, but in some areas of the country there are more than 50 jobseekers for every advertised position,...

Rise in UK job vacancies over past six months, says search engine Adzuna (external link to Guardian Consumer Affairs) ]]> Consumer News Tony http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23952-rise-uk-job-vacancies-over-past-six-months-says-search-engine-adzuna.html http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23951-energy-giant-sse-warns-bill-price-hike-after-profits-shoot-up.html Wed, 22 May 2013 16:50:07 GMT Image: http://images.dailyexpress.co.uk/img/dynamic/1/590x/401747_1.jpg ...

CUSTOMERS of energy provider SSE have been warned their bills will rise despite the firm's profits jumping by a third today following the cold winter.

Energy giant SSE warns of bill price hike after profits shoot up (External link to Express) ]]> Consumer News Tony http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23951-energy-giant-sse-warns-bill-price-hike-after-profits-shoot-up.html http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/furniture/23950-b-q-kitchen-problems.html Wed, 22 May 2013 14:44:14 GMT We bought a kitchen from and had it designed by B&Q. Unfortunately the measurements were so poorly done and the order was completed in an appalling way that we have since had many problems thanks to their design consultant. The problems we have faced include:

Ø Full size dishwasher not included in plans, slimline dishwasher and extra cupboard included instead. Had to return our full size dishwasher and miss a day’s work to wait in for new slimline dishwasher.

Ø Gap left between cupboards and appliances due to poor measurements. Incorrect measurement of wall and door mean that we have had to have a new door specially made to accommodate the overhang of worktop and end panel of one of end cupboards which now hangs over the doorway causing the previous door to scrape against worktop and end panel as well as get stuck every time you try to close the door.

Ø Sink pipes left exposed, therefore small cupboard had to be moved to accommodate this leaving us with a large and a small cupboard next to each other which look ridiculous as don’t match in size. Following consultant’s plans would have been dangerous as pipes cannot be too close to appliances.

Ø Only been given one drawer despite requesting around four in plans. We were not given choice over size or number of cupboards but had requested that these were similar to our previous kitchen which they weren’t.

Ø Mixture of white gloss (more expensive) and white country cupboards ordered. Additional panels and various kitchen bits ordered and charged for unnecessarily.

Ø Missing item from order.

Ø Dent in worktop.

Ø No cupboard handles ordered.

Ø Rude customer service.

As a result of these issues we have found ourselves trailing backwards and forwards to store many many times to try and resolve these issues and are now left with a kitchen that is not as we ordered or discussed with the 'designer'. B&Q have been partly helpful in that they have refunded extra parts ordered, etc. and not all staff have been rude, however they are fobbing us off with the excuse that their designer is not a tradesman and therefore our builder should notice all these problems from opening the boxes, etc. apparently it is written on the invoice. Due to all these problems we have been charged extra by our builder to rectify what he can, I've had to lose a day's wages waiting in all day for the delivery of the slimline dishwasher after having to send back our full size dishwasher thanks to the poor measurements of the designer. We have also lost a large chunk of our expensive worktops which we were planning on using as a breakfast bar because of the dent and had to buy a new door to fit the smaller gap thanks to the overhang created by the incorrectly measured cupboard, which was not a standard size and therefore had to be custom made! Finally the job has taken much longer than necessary and may I also add that I am expecting a baby in two weeks time and still do not have a fully completed kitchen thanks to B&Q which is why we did not have the time to send everything back and wait for the alterations, etc. to be made. The baby could arrive at any time and unfortunately the house is currently full of dust, we cannot use our kitchen, etc. it is a very unnecessarily stressful time. B&Q accept they have made mistakes and are therefore willing to offer us £165 compensation which we think is absolutely appalling and have therefore threatened Watchdog and the Furniture Ombudsman. Am I being unreasonable? ]]> Furniture annoyed28 http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/furniture/23950-b-q-kitchen-problems.html http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23948-one-ten-uk-households-asset-millionaires.html Wed, 22 May 2013 13:13:09 GMT One in ten households in the UK are sitting on assets of around £1m, according to research from the London School of Economics.Image:... One in ten households in the UK are sitting on assets of around £1m, according to research from the London School of Economics.


One in ten UK households are asset millionaires (External link to Telegraph) ]]> Consumer News Tony http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23948-one-ten-uk-households-asset-millionaires.html http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23947-dirty-business-boss-amrik-johal-nicked-runway.html Wed, 22 May 2013 12:21:09 GMT The boss of an illegal waste company has been dramatically arrested at Heathrow Airport as he tried to flee the country. Amrik Johal has now been... The boss of an illegal waste company has been dramatically arrested at Heathrow Airport as he tried to flee the country. Amrik Johal has now been jailed for three years after he was stopped just before the flight to Delhi...

Dirty business boss Amrik Johal nicked on the runway (External link to Mirror Blog) ]]> Consumer News Tony http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23947-dirty-business-boss-amrik-johal-nicked-runway.html http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/other-goods-services/23946-tablet-gone-missing.html Wed, 22 May 2013 12:02:19 GMT I bought a pc tablet from a company online for my 7yr olds birthday I paid £64'99 for it, she only had it 3 days and the screen broke I contacted the company and was told to return it to them and pay £20 and it would be returned back to me fully repaired which I did it was posted on the 17th of April and according to royal mail track and trace they received it on the 18th of April the problem is the company are still maintaining they haven't received it, nobody seems to be able to help me HELP ]]> Other Goods and Services taratlc http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/other-goods-services/23946-tablet-gone-missing.html http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23945-sap-autism-recruitment-drive.html Wed, 22 May 2013 08:11:58 GMT German software company SAP says it hopes to recruit hundreds of people with autism, saying they have a unique talent for information technology. ... German software company SAP says it hopes to recruit hundreds of people with autism, saying they have a unique talent for information technology.

SAP in autism recruitment drive (External link to BBC) ]]> Consumer News Tony http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23945-sap-autism-recruitment-drive.html http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23944-100bn-lost-tax-avoidance-individuals.html Wed, 22 May 2013 07:12:30 GMT People using tax havens have deprived governments worldwide of £100bn in revenue, enough to end extreme poverty twice over, according to new figures... People using tax havens have deprived governments worldwide of £100bn in revenue, enough to end extreme poverty twice over, according to new figures published today by Oxfam.


£100bn lost in tax avoidance by individuals (External link to Telegraph) ]]> Consumer News Tony http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23944-100bn-lost-tax-avoidance-individuals.html http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23942-microsoft-unveils-xbox-one-console.html Wed, 22 May 2013 01:00:37 GMT Microsoft unveils the third generation of its video games console in an event at its headquarters at Redmond, Washington. Microsoft unveils Xbox... Microsoft unveils the third generation of its video games console in an event at its headquarters at Redmond, Washington.

Microsoft unveils Xbox One console (External link to BBC) ]]> Consumer News Tony http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23942-microsoft-unveils-xbox-one-console.html http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23941-how-do-shawbrook-kent-reliances-savings-bonds-rate.html Tue, 21 May 2013 21:30:20 GMT Money MoT: Shawbrook Bank and Kent Reliance have launched new issues of their fixed rate bonds. We look at how they shape up.Image:... Money MoT: Shawbrook Bank and Kent Reliance have launched new issues of their fixed rate bonds. We look at how they shape up.


How do Shawbrook and Kent Reliance's savings bonds rate? (External link to Telegraph) ]]> Consumer News Tony http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23941-how-do-shawbrook-kent-reliances-savings-bonds-rate.html http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23940-mark-carney-warns-europe-against-lost-decade-austerity.html Tue, 21 May 2013 19:30:24 GMT Fall in UK consumer prices index gives incoming Bank of England governor room to manoeuvreThe incoming governor of the Bank of England has warned... Fall in UK consumer prices index gives incoming Bank of England governor room to manoeuvreThe incoming governor of the Bank of England has warned Europe it must make "sustained and significant reforms" if it is to avoid a Japanese-style lost decade caused by austerity measures.Mark Carney, in his...

Mark Carney warns Europe against lost decade of austerity (external link to Guardian Consumer Affairs) ]]> Consumer News Tony http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23940-mark-carney-warns-europe-against-lost-decade-austerity.html http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23939-cement-firms-warned-over-competition.html Tue, 21 May 2013 16:00:16 GMT Lack of competition in the UK cement market is costing consumers millions of pounds, the Competition Commission says. Cement firms warned over... Lack of competition in the UK cement market is costing consumers millions of pounds, the Competition Commission says.

Cement firms warned over competition (External link to BBC) ]]> Consumer News Tony http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23939-cement-firms-warned-over-competition.html http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23938-five-steps-avoid-being-victim-id-theft.html Tue, 21 May 2013 15:30:06 GMT Experian's Joanne Leahy tells Emma Wall five easy ways to protect yourself from ID fraud online.


Five steps to avoid being the victim of ID theft (External link to Telegraph) ]]> Consumer News Tony http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23938-five-steps-avoid-being-victim-id-theft.html http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23933-twelve-things-you-dont-need-pay.html Tue, 21 May 2013 09:21:27 GMT From reclaiming PPI to building a website, here are a dozen services you could end up paying for but don't have toOne of the best ways to save money is to never pay for anything you can get for free. Here are 11 things that you could end up paying for but don't need to.1. Reclaiming PPI There...

Twelve things you don't need to pay for (external link to Guardian Consumer Affairs) ]]> Consumer News Tony http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/consumer-news/23933-twelve-things-you-dont-need-pay.html