Which? Conversation

What would it take to make you switch current accounts?

Jon Date — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:54:12 +0000

It’s an often quoted fact that you’re more likely to get divorced than switch your current account. But is the new seven working-day switching service going to change people’s minds? Most people rarely switch their current accounts, if ever. In fact, our research found that 55% of people had never switched their main bank or... Read more »

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Your view: will we ever get rid of the ‘Microsoft’ scam?

Jennifer Davis — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:14:11 +0000

Once again, mention of the ‘Microsoft’ scam call got you all talking this week. From funny ways to waste the scammers’ time, to deciding who should deal with this problem, we round up your responses. In his Convo, Rich Parris talks about the sheer scale of this scam call, where supposed Microsoft support staff call... Read more »

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Are agents using attractive properties to lure us in?

Peter Vicary-Smith — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:36:44 +0000

Many of you may recall seeing holiday deals in travel agents’ windows. When you went in, the deal had invariably gone. You felt lured in under false pretences. I had a similar feeling when trying to find a house to rent. Attractive properties on letting agents’ websites disappeared over the horizon when I looked into... Read more »

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Homeopathy: pharmacists dispense with professional guidance

Joanna Pearl — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:11:35 +0000

As soon as you talk about homeopathy, it divides opinion. But the debate raises wider issues when some pharmacists fail to explain there’s no clinical evidence that certain alternative remedies work, like homeopathy. There are people who swear by homeopathic remedies, and everyone’s entitled to their opinion. However, if you ask your pharmacist whether a... Read more »

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No mobile signal? Leaving your contract could cost you

Jayne Lutwyche — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:43:25 +0000

Mobiles are a ubiquitous part of life for most of us. I’m never more than a few feet away from my smartphone. So there’s nothing worse than being midway through a conversation and bam – there goes your signal. Having my mobile with me at all times means I can be in contact with anyone... Read more »

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Is it time to change your nappies?

Lisa Barber — Thu, 23 May 2013 08:48:10 +0000

Before I had my first child, I’d never changed a nappy in my life. I’d certainly never considered what brand I should buy. But the results of our latest survey show the brand you choose can make a big difference. When I came to buy my first pack of nappies, I simply bought the brand... Read more »

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What’s your best tip for navigating the call centre maze?

Harriet Patterson — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:16:41 +0000

Automated systems used by call centres are the bugbear of many. Hundreds of you have shared your tips and tricks, so what’s the solution to the call centre maze? When the reason for your call to a product or service provider is to make a complaint or report a problem, being held on the line... Read more »

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Xbox One – is ‘all-in-one entertainment’ what we want?

Patrick Steen — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:09:43 +0000

Microsoft has played its cards for the next generation of gaming. Or, perhaps, the next generation of entertainment. All-in-one entertainment. One box to rule your living room – the Xbox One. Is this what we want? In a naming convention only known to Microsoft and HTC, the third Xbox was last night unveiled as the... Read more »

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Are you winning the food hygiene postcode lottery?

Alice Rickman — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:15:42 +0000

Our research has found that food hygiene has become something of a postcode lottery for diners. People are unknowingly taking risks with their health simply by choosing to eat out in the wrong area. We’ve been crunching through tens of thousands of food hygiene ratings from the Food Standards Agency in more than 2,000 postcodes... Read more »

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Native vs non-native plants – what’s really best for wildlife?

Janice Shipp — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:34:00 +0000

We’re often told that native British plants are better for wildlife than cultivated plants introduced from other countries, but have you ever wondered whether anyone told the insects? I work on plant trials at Capel Manor Gardens and last year I was recording information on a trial of native wildflowers. I noticed that some of... Read more »

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How safe is telephone banking?

Catherine West — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:50:51 +0000

Do you think your bank’s security checks are thorough enough? When we investigated the banks’ telephone security systems, we found big differences between the best and worst banks. Most internet banking involves jumping through hoops, like using card readers or inputting unique confirmation codes. So we wondered whether telephone banking was a weak link in... Read more »

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The true cost of the ‘Microsoft support’ scam call

Rich Parris — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:10:20 +0000

Have you been called by bogus Microsoft support scammers? We’ve heard from readers who’ve been conned into paying hundreds after falling victim. We’ve spoken to Microsoft to find out the scale of the scam. The phone rings and there’s a voice on the line telling you they’re aware you’re having computer problems, but not to... Read more »

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Are M&S’s contactless card errors a cause for concern?

Marie Kemplay — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:24:51 +0000

More than 30m contactless payment cards have been issued in the UK. But some Marks & Spencer customers are finding their new contactless cards are more trouble than they’re worth. The benefit of contactless payment cards is that, unlike normal chip-and-Pin cards, you don’t need to enter your Pin to pay for items worth less... Read more »

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Our undercover health check for pharmacies

Joanna Pearl — Sun, 19 May 2013 23:15:42 +0000

When you’re unwell, you need safe, reliable advice to help you buy the right medicine. We sent mystery shoppers into UK pharmacies to give their advice a check up. Can you rely on your local pharmacy? Last week, I went to my local independent pharmacy and asked the assistant a question about how I use... Read more »

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Customers let down by cancelled insulation installations

Becky Pritchard — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:08:14 +0000

Thousands of energy customers had their free insulation installations cancelled at the last minute after the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target scheme came to an end. Were you affected by the cancellations? Over the past six months we’ve had more than 80 Which? members contact us to complain that they signed up for free insulation that... Read more »

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Is your gadget covered? Travel insurance is behind the times

Paul Davies — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:15:23 +0000

You’d expect your travel insurance policy to foot the bill if your expensive iPhone was stolen on holiday. Well, we’ve found that many travel insurers are covering only a fraction of the total value of your gadgets. Many of us take lots of gadgets and valuables on holiday with us these days – sitting on... Read more »

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When your battery goes flat, don’t call Postman Pat

Sylvia Baron — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:36:56 +0000

In January, lithium batteries were added to the list of prohibited goods by the Royal Mail. As online sellers start using expensive couriers for delivery, could the cost of buying lithium batteries suddenly shoot up? The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department of Transport have agreed new rules with Royal Mail to prohibit lithium batteries... Read more »

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Your view: are students getting a good deal?

Patrick Steen — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:31:26 +0000

This week, we revealed that students are getting a patchy deal when it comes to the way they’re taught. Would more contact time with lecturers make their degrees better value for money, or is there another solution? Our joint report, with the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), analysed the experiences of 26,000 full-time undergraduates. It... Read more »

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Is Apple-style service the way forward?

Rob Leedham — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:15:42 +0000

My name’s Rob and I love Apple Stores. If I’d shared this confession with friends a year ago, my fondness for ‘un-British’ standards like ‘great atmosphere’ and ‘knowledgeable staff’ might have caused uproar. Now that the Apple Store has topped our Which? high street shops survey for the first time, it’s good to know I’m far... Read more »

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LoveFilm comes a’knocking: do you mind doorstep selling?

Andrew Laughlin — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:00:03 +0000

The other day, a caller came to my house. My girlfriend answered the door to a young man making small talk about the weather. Perplexed – she asked who it was. ‘Oh’ he replied, ‘I’m just here from LoveFilm.’ Now, there’s nothing wrong with companies selling their services to consumers in a range of different... Read more »

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Do you listen to complaints on social networking sites?

Isobel Smith — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:08:22 +0000

Complaining used to mean writing a letter or calling a company. But with millions of consumers now using Twitter or Facebook, social media is becoming a popular way to complain about poor customer service. Research from online customer helpdesk Sirportly has found that more than half of customers under the age of 35 take to... Read more »

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MPs, pick our Bill to tackle nuisance calls and texts

Jenny Driscoll — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:36:32 +0000

We’re in parliament today lobbying MPs to pick a new Private Members’ Bill. Our candidate? A Bill to reduce nuisance calls and texts. Which MP will say ‘You’re hired!’? The Calling Time on Nuisance Calls and Texts team at Which? were at the House of Commons this morning as the ballot for the Private Members’... Read more »

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Choccies at the checkouts – have you noticed a change?

Katie Benson — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:31:00 +0000

For a long time, tempting treats like sweets and chocolate bars adorned most supermarket checkouts. The major supermarkets shared their checkout policies with us last year – have you spotted any changes? Last April, we wrote about the worst offenders for keeping tempting treats next to the tills. At the time, some major supermarkets were... Read more »

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Is the Samsung Galaxy S4 suffering from memory loss?

Rory Boland — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:49:39 +0000

Fancy a Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone with 16GB of storage? Then you’ll need to buy a 32GB version. Confused? I was when our tests found that the 16GB Galaxy S4 only has 8.6GB of free storage out of the box. Why is the Samsung Galaxy S4 suffering from memory loss? First stop is the operating... Read more »

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Are uni students getting value for money?

Louisa Darian — Tue, 14 May 2013 23:15:08 +0000

Annual university tuition fees have trebled from £3,000 to £9,000 and students are under pressure to choose the right course. We’ve found that variations in student workload make it hard for them to compare. Produced jointly by Which? and the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), the 2013 Student Academic Survey analysed the experiences of 26,000 full-time... Read more »

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How I became a ‘mortgage squatter’

Jennifer Davis — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:09:17 +0000

Do you live with a partner who owns a property? Do you pay your partner rent? If so, you could be a ‘mortgage squatter’, with no automatic rights to the property if your relationship breaks down. I used to be a mortgage squatter – although I admit, I don’t like the term. My partner and... Read more »

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Unfair workplace pension charges… banned!

Jasmine Basran — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:22:37 +0000

We’ve got something to celebrate, as pensions minister Steve Webb has announced a ban on consultancy charges for auto-enrolment pension schemes. But our work doesn’t end here… The government’s automatic enrolment initiative to help people save for retirement kicked off in October last year. Some of you may have been enrolled into your workplace pension... Read more »

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Smart meter roll-out delayed – time to get it right

Josh Green — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:40:16 +0000

News reached us last week that the introduction of smart meters into 30m UK homes would be delayed by a year. Time enough for the government to make sure the £11bn cost doesn’t spiral out of control. As opposed to existing meters, rather unkindly termed ‘dumb meters’, smart meters will give much more detailed information... Read more »

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Money matters: how would you invest a cash lump sum?

Gareth Shaw — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:59:43 +0000

We’re asking you, the Which? Conversation community, to help answer people’s financial queries. This month, we’re asking what you’d to with a lump of cash if you were lucky enough to have one. It’s been a sorry few years for savers. The Bank of England base rate has been frozen at a record low of... Read more »

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Which? doesn’t run a supermarket, but if it did…

Rachel Blain — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:00:23 +0000

We’re calling for supermarkets to Price it Right. To show how complex some unit price comparisons can be, we created our own supermarket to put shoppers to the test. Could they work out the best value? For one night only, we turned a stately conference room into our very own Which? supermarket. Wood panelling and... Read more »

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PayPal isn’t always your friend

Rachael Adams — Sun, 12 May 2013 08:02:50 +0000

It calls itself ‘fast, safe and simple’, but according to some users, PayPal isn’t living up to these qualities – especially when it comes to getting hold of your cash. If you’ve flogged old clothes, books or electrical goods on eBay, chances are you’ll have used PayPal. PayPal is convenient – you simply set up... Read more »

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Virgin doubles your speed, but could it lead to a new contract?

Nikki Whiteman — Sat, 11 May 2013 08:00:55 +0000

When it comes to internet connections, I think speed is everything. So when Virgin Media offered to double my speed for free, I leapt at the chance. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite that simple… If you’re with Virgin Media, you’ve probably seen the adverts, emails and letters proclaiming the good news: Virgin has embarked on a... Read more »

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Would you pay to rent your PC software?

Rich Parris — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:33:14 +0000

Pity the poor software manufacturers of this world – they’re clearly scratching their heads and trying to figure out how on earth to make money these days. Do you buy software, or do you stick to the free stuff? I have some sympathy for them. There was a time when, if you needed a piece... Read more »

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Your view: how much do we struggle to pay for food?

Katie Benson — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:01:38 +0000

Our report found that five million UK households have turned to credit or savings to buy food, causing quite a stir this week – and not just here on Which? Convo. We round up responses from all over the web… In our research, eight in 10 of the households struggling to pay for food said they... Read more »

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Can a tablet really fulfill all your computing needs?

Patrick Steen — Fri, 10 May 2013 08:00:41 +0000

Tablets are good for watching movies, playing games and browsing the web. But what if you want to do more intensive tasks? Should you turn to a laptop or can your tablet compete? Rob and Jess go head-to-head… Rob Leedham: keeping my iPad pure I love my iPad. I love watching classic Arrested Development on... Read more »

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Should young people lower their expectations?

Jennifer Davis — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:03:37 +0000

When you’re young it’s easy to assume that, eventually, you’ll get a job and earn good money. But new research has found that instead, high debt and reliance on parents is becoming the new ‘normal’. When I was at school, I thought it was a given that I’d eventually leave education and get a job... Read more »

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Don’t fall for a fake holiday home

Emily Brunwin — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:18:58 +0000

Renting a villa or cottage can be a great way to holiday abroad, but rental scams are on the rise. Are you a savvy booker or have you fallen foul of a fraudster’s holiday hoax? When it comes to booking a holiday abroad, for peace and quiet, value for money and family friendly trips, nothing... Read more »

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Are ads for ‘dead fast cash’ irresponsible?

Martyn Saville — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:37:24 +0000

Given her history, Kerry Katona seems an odd choice to front a marketing campaign for a payday loans company. And it seems the advertising watchdog agrees, as it has deemed the Cash Lady TV ads ‘irresponsible’. Declared bankrupt in 2008, former Atomic Kitten Kerry Katona is no stranger to money worries. With that in mind,... Read more »

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Football ticket prices are in a league of their own

Harry Rose — Wed, 08 May 2013 09:01:57 +0000

New research into the cost of leisure activities has revealed that the cost of Premier League tickets has risen 198% over the last 10 years. Is top-class football getting beyond the means of traditional fans? In comparison, the research from Halifax found that cinema tickets cost a ‘mere’ 43% more than they did in 2003,... Read more »

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Mobile unlocking – is your network holding you hostage?

Harriet Patterson — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:09:55 +0000

You’ve come to the end of your contract and want to move to a new deal on a different network. All you need to do is give your provider a call to request your PAC code and you’re ready to go, or is it not so simple? When you complete your mobile phone contract and want... Read more »

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Did the Queen’s Speech deliver?

Richard Lloyd — Tue, 07 May 2013 09:26:55 +0000

Did the Queen’s Speech set out the most consumer-friendly parliamentary agenda in years? If done right, there are five Bills that could put you at the heart of the new agenda. Our research paints a pessimistic picture of consumer sentiment, with the majority expecting the cost of living and their household budget to get even tighter... Read more »

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Saying goodbye to my microwave

Patrick Steen — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:12:18 +0000

My life’s about to change. Not only am I moving flats for the first time since I came to London, my new accommodation will also be sans-microwave. Do you think I’ll be able to live without a microwave? Jacket potatoes. Porridge. Scrambled eggs. Three things you’ve previously told us microwaves are perfect for. I’ve certainly... Read more »

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My tireless quest for the best remote control

Andrew Laughlin — Mon, 06 May 2013 08:18:29 +0000

On a visit to our TV test lab, I spotted a dreadful remote control. The uninspiring plastic baton came with buttons labelled in writing so tiny, it looked like the fine print on some never-ending contract. We’ve started testing the 2013 range of TVs, and I can’t wait to bring you the results. But while... Read more »

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Brits use credit and savings just to pay for food

Caroline Fletcher — Sat, 04 May 2013 23:09:42 +0000

Every month we publish new data, showing how different consumers are faring and feeling in the tough economic climate. This month, we identified how many households are struggling to pay for food. Our latest Consumer Insight Tracker data found that five million UK households needed to use credit or savings to cover their spending on... Read more »

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Hot dog pizza crust – monstrosity or takeaway heaven?

Lisa Barber — Fri, 03 May 2013 23:15:19 +0000

Takeaway pizzas are big business in the UK. But have you ever thought that what a pizza really needs in order to tickle your taste buds is to have a hot dog embedded in its crust? I haven’t, which is why I found it so odd when a Domino’s Pizza leaflet recently fell through my... Read more »

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Blackberry CEO says tablets finished in five years – he’s right

Rory Boland — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:51:35 +0000

The tablet has been put on death watch – or at least by Thorsten Heins, chief executive of Blackberry. Although he’s been criticised for claiming there’ll be no reason to own a tablet in five years, I think he’s right. After taking a trip around his crystal ball, Heins claimed ‘In five years I don’t... Read more »

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Does car sickness throw up problems when you travel?

Dave Holes — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:31:06 +0000

We’re finally starting to see the sun again. And so millions of us will be loading up our cars and heading off for a few days away in the coming weeks. But how long until you hear the dreaded words – ‘I feel sick’? While you frantically search for a place to pull over, there’s... Read more »

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Your view: is the coffee shop craze here to stay?

Patrick Steen — Fri, 03 May 2013 11:56:59 +0000

UK Coffee Week inspired a lively discussion about the nation’s favourite bean. But, with tea and coffee running neck-and-neck in our poll, is coffee really as popular as the chains would have us believe? Our Senior Home Researcher Anna Norman is a self-confessed coffee fiend, but when she posed the question ‘are we a nation... Read more »

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Are celebrity chefs feeding our fat habit?

Shefalee Loth — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:53:47 +0000

Hundreds of celebrity chef recipes have been found to contain high levels of saturated fat. Are the chefs to blame for unhealthy eating, or should we take more responsibility for the food we cook? A recent study tested 900 recipes from 26 celebrity chefs, including Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay and Nigella Lawson. Most of the... Read more »

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Boots bins ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ signs for toys in-store

Jennifer Davis — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:57:11 +0000

Following a surge of complaints on Facebook and Twitter, high-street pharmacy Boots has said it was wrong to separate its toys for ‘boys’ and ‘girls. Should other brands follow suit? Previously in Boots stores, anyone shopping for a toy would find themselves faced with two options – to shop in the ‘girls’ section or the... Read more »

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