Office of Fair Trading

Probe Launched Into 'Free' Children's Apps

PA | Posted 12.04.2013 | UK Tech

So-called "free" web and app-based games for children are under investigation following concerns that users can run up substantial costs. The Offic...

Calling Time on Nuisance Calls and Texts

Richard Lloyd | Posted 19.05.2013 | UK Tech
Richard Lloyd

It's clear that nuisance calls and texts have become a daily problem for many people. They not only cause frustration, but they can even be distressing and intimidating. We've had more than 1,600 comments about nuisance calls and texts on our website and many of them had the same theme - 'why isn't something being done?' Our research also found that in the last three months, seven in 10 people received unsolicited calls and four in 10 an unwanted text.

Charlie Thomas

Oh Lord, Won't You Buy Me, A Fair Priced Mercedes Benz...

HuffingtonPost.com | Charlie Thomas | Posted 21.02.2013 | UK

Mercedes-Benz and three of its commercial vehicle dealers have been fined £2.6 million after being found guilty of price-fixing and breaching competi...

The Banks Are Not Off the Hook

Richard Lloyd | Posted 01.04.2013 | UK Politics
Richard Lloyd

The market power of the largest players has increased - and not because they have provided better customer service or value-for-money products, but because of government subsidies and bailouts. The result is that it's now almost impossible for smaller providers to gain a foothold in the market.

Supermarkets Sign Up To Price Promotion Principles - But Why Hasn't Asda?

Charlie Thomas | Posted 30.11.2012 | UK

Aldi, Co-Op, Lidl, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose have agreed to make promotions on their food and drink fairer. But...

Do You Know What Information Online Shops Have About You?

Charlie Thomas | Posted 16.11.2012 | UK

The Office of Fair Trading has called for information to explore the extent to which businesses are monitoring online shoppers and using the data to t...

Petrol Prices Still Too High Says AA

PA | Posted 16.11.2012 | UK

Petrol prices have fallen but drivers are still being short-changed, according to the AA. Average petrol prices have gone down from 138.95p a litre...

Office of Fair Trading Puts Online Retailers in the Firing Line

Jean-Marc Noel | Posted 05.01.2013 | UK
Jean-Marc Noel

Earlier this month the Office of Fair Trading wrote to 62 of the top online retailers in the country to let them know their website may not comply with consumer protection law.

30,000 Schools To Review Uniform Policy

PA/The Huffington Post UK | Posted 25.10.2012 | UK Universities & Education

Thousands of state schools will be made to review their uniform policies to allow parents to shop around for cheaper items, Office of Fair Trading has...

Why Car Insurance Quotes Won't Drop In Price Any Time Soon

Charlie Thomas | Posted 01.10.2012 | UK

The Office of Fair Trading has referred the car insurance industry to the Competition Commission following concerns motorists were being charged overl...

Financial Company Lent 'Thousands' To Schizophrenic Woman Despite Knowing Vulnerabilty

PA/Huffington Post UK | Posted 30.11.2012 | UK

One of Britain's largest doorstep lenders gave thousands of pounds of loans to a schizophrenic woman despite knowing she was vulnerable. Panorama w...

Payday Lender Wonga Sees Profits Rise 225%

PA/The Huffington Post UK | Posted 17.09.2012 | UK

Payday lender Wonga has seen profits surge after approving nearly 2.5 million short-term loans in its last financial year. The company has faced ac...

Online Travel Agents Investigated For Discount Room Deals

PA | Posted 31.07.2012 | UK

The operator of Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza hotels and two of the UK's biggest online travel agents were under investigation today for signing a pote...

No Loans! Payday Company Has Licence Revoked

PA | Posted 08.03.2012 | UK

Payday loan firm Yes Loans has had its licence revoked after using "deceitful and oppressive business practices", the trading watchdog said today. ...

MPs Target Whiplash Victims To Combat Insurance Premiums

The Huffington Post UK | Rizwan Syed | Posted 12.01.2012 | UK Politics

MPs are calling upon the government to cut car insurance premiums by clamping down on personal injury claims. The House of Commons Transport Selec...

Unscrupulous Lenders Rip Off Poorest With Extortionate Charges

Anne Marie Carrie | Posted 28.02.2012 | UK
Anne Marie Carrie

In the UK today, one in 10 households - the poorest families - cannot get access to a bank account. When they run out of cash, which they do frequently in these tough economic times, the most vulnerable are lured into an unaffordable debt trap.

UK Supermarkets Could Face Prosecution Over Misleading Prices, Lawyer Warns

PA | Posted 03.02.2012 | UK

Four of the UK's biggest supermarkets could face prosecution over misleading pricing practices, a consumer law expert has warned. In a report on su...

Groupon Investigated By Office Of Fair Trading

Huffington Post UK | Peter Guest | Posted 02.12.2011 | UK

Deals website Groupon is to be investigated by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), after revelations that the site has breached advertising regulations ...

Michael Rundle

When Big Oil Meets The Big Society: 'Oil Clubs' Save Villages Thousands

HuffingtonPost.com | Michael Rundle | Posted 13.11.2011 | UK

If you ever drive through the village of Bunwell, about 15 miles outside of Norwich, you might notice the thatched rooftops, the picturesque post offi...