Latest news with #RocioConcha
Scottish Sun
09-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Huge change to mobile and broadband rules so customers can get £100s in compensation sooner
Plus, we share tips on how to complain to your broadband provider SHAKE UP Huge change to mobile and broadband rules so customers can get £100s in compensation sooner A HUGE change to mobile and broadband rules means customers can get £100s in compensation sooner. Anyone who complains to their provider and does not get the response they want can take their claim further to the ombudsman. Advertisement 1 New rules mean customers can get their complaints handled quicker Credit: Alamy Currently, providers have up to eight weeks to respond. But under new rules laid out by Ofcom, this will now be reduced to six weeks. This means frustrated customers can get compensation quicker. Ofcom has been consulting on the change and made its final decision this week. Advertisement But customers will have to wait until April 2026 before the changes officially come into place. Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, described the move as "positive". She said: "Recent Which? research found that eight in ten suffered a connection issue with their broadband provider in the year to January 2025. "So unfortunately, telecoms issues are far from uncommon and customers rightly expect that any problems will be resolved quickly and efficiently." Advertisement She added: "Any providers who are falling short urgently need to up their game to ensure their customers are getting the service they rightly expect and that problems are resolved as quickly as possible." It is worth noting that when you take an issue to the ombudsman there's no guarantee of compensation, but it's one of the ways it can tell the supplier to offer redress. CHECK YOUR SPEED: Broadband If you wish to complain to your broadband provider look for the customer service number on the company website. Ask to speak to the relevant team member and make sure you have important documents such as bills and bank statements to hand. Advertisement Under current rules, if your supplier does not resolve the issues after eight weeks, you can take your case to one of two Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) schemes. Customers can escalate issues to either the Communications Ombudsman (CO) or the Communications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS). If your provider cannot solve your compliant, it will issue a deadlock letter which it means it does not think it can resolve the problem. You can find out what scheme your provider is part of by using the ADR checker on the Ofcom website. Advertisement If you receive one of these letter it means you have 12months to contact the ombudsman. Resolving an issue through the ombudsman can lead to a simple apology, or you get compensation. If you are not happy with how it has resolved your complaint you can switch providers. HOW TO CUT BROADBAND COSTS If you're not happy with what your broadband firm is offering you, shop around for a new deal and switch providers. Advertisement You can use price comparison websites like Uswitch to find the best deals based on your circumstances. You can also use a deal found on a price comparison site to haggle your existing provider down to a lower price. And if you are a pensioners or on government benefits like Universal Credit you should check if you can slash your broadband and mobile bills by hundreds of pounds a year. Social tariffs are offered to those on government benefits like Universal Credit, and they can save you hundreds of pounds a year compared to standard deals. Advertisement They often come with no exit fees - but you should always check the terms and conditions carefully. Ofcom has a list on its website of all the firms offering social broadband and mobile phone tariffs here:
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Huge change to mobile and broadband rules so customers can get £100s in compensation sooner
A HUGE change to mobile and broadband rules means customers can get £100s in compensation sooner. Anyone who complains to their provider and does not get the response they want can take their claim further to the ombudsman. 1 Currently, providers have up to eight weeks to respond. But under new rules laid out by Ofcom, this will now be reduced to six weeks. This means frustrated customers can get compensation quicker. Ofcom has been consulting on the change and made its final decision this week. But customers will have to wait until April 2026 before the changes officially come into place. Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, described the move as "positive". She said: "Recent Which? research found that eight in ten suffered a connection issue with their broadband provider in the year to January 2025. "So unfortunately, telecoms issues are far from uncommon and customers rightly expect that any problems will be resolved quickly and efficiently." She added: "Any providers who are falling short urgently need to up their game to ensure their customers are getting the service they rightly expect and that problems are resolved as quickly as possible." It is worth noting that when you take an issue to the ombudsman there's no guarantee of compensation, but it's one of the ways it can tell the supplier to offer redress. If you wish to complain to your broadband provider look for the customer service number on the company website. Ask to speak to the relevant team member and make sure you have important documents such as bills and bank statements to hand. Under current rules, if your supplier does not resolve the issues after eight weeks, you can take your case to one of two Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) schemes. Customers can escalate issues to either the Communications Ombudsman (CO) or the Communications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS). If your provider cannot solve your compliant, it will issue a deadlock letter which it means it does not think it can resolve the problem. You can find out what scheme your provider is part of by using the ADR checker on the Ofcom website. If you receive one of these letter it means you have 12months to contact the ombudsman. Resolving an issue through the ombudsman can lead to a simple apology, or you get compensation. If you are not happy with how it has resolved your complaint you can switch providers. HOW TO CUT BROADBAND COSTS If you're not happy with what your broadband firm is offering you, shop around for a new deal and switch providers. You can use price comparison websites like Uswitch to find the best deals based on your circumstances. You can also use a deal found on a price comparison site to haggle your existing provider down to a lower price. And if you are a pensioners or on government benefits like Universal Credit you should c heck if you can slash your broadband and mobile bills by hundreds of pounds a year. Social tariffs are offered to those on government benefits like Universal Credit, and they can save you hundreds of pounds a year compared to standard deals. They often come with no exit fees - but you should always check the terms and conditions carefully. Ofcom has a list on its website of all the firms offering social broadband and mobile phone tariffs here: Top tips on how to stay connected Here are some tips from Ofcom on how to improve your Wi-Fi connection and get more out of it: Use your landline or Wi-Fi calls: More people are making calls on their mobile network during the day, so you may find you get a more reliable connection using your landline or by turning on "wifi calling" in your settings. Move your router clear of other devices: Keep your router as far away as possible from other devices, such as cordless phones, baby monitors, TVs and monitors, as they can all affect your Wi-Fi if they're too close to your router. Also, place your router on a table or shelf rather than on the floor, and keep it switched on. Lower the demands on your connection: The more devices attached to your wifi, the lower the speed you get. Devices like tablets and smartphones often work in the background, so try switching wifi reception off on these when you're not using them. Try wired rather than wireless: For the best broadband speeds, use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to your router rather than using Wi-FI. Plug your router directly into your main phone socket: Where possible, try not to use a telephone extension lead, as these can cause interference which could lower your speed. Test the speed on your broadband line: You can run a speed test using Ofcom's official mobile and broadband checker. If possible, carry out tests over a few days and see if there are any changes.
The Sun
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Free tool reveals which mobile network is best for YOU based on where you live
A NEW free-to-use tool reveals which mobile network is best for you based on where you live. Ofcom has unveiled a new "Map Your Mobile" checker which tells you how good 4G and 5G coverage is in your local area. 2 You enter your postcode which draws up a map of which networks are available near you and which phone operator's network offers you the best performance. Mobile phone users can find the new tool via Ofcom said home movers can use the tool to suss out whether the coverage in an area they plan to move into is good enough. It also said commuters can use it to figure out what network best suits them on the way in and home from work. The checker features data based on previous customers' reviews on coverage in certain areas, combined with data from the major networks on how strong their signal is in selected zones. Ofcom said at a local level, data from the major networks can be unreliable due to factors like the weather, or whether you're in a certain type of building or area. Phone users will also be told how good coverage is down to a 50-square metre radius, equivalent to a postcode of up to 20 homes. Ofcom said the checker will be updated with fresh data after its launch to improve the service for users. Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, said: "In the crowded market of UK mobile networks, consumers need access to accurate mobile coverage and performance information to choose a plan that meets their needs and represents good value for money. 'Ofcom's new tool will help consumers make informed decisions with crowd-sourced data and predictive data from mobile network operators, which should increase the reliability of coverage information available to consumers. 'It's important that the tool continues to incorporate user feedback to stay relevant, accurate, and responsive to the changing needs of consumers." Tom Luke, vice president at Opensignal, which helped make the tool with Ofcom, added: "Our partnership with Ofcom shifts the focus to real-world experience, using independent analysis of over 20million tests across the UK. "By putting this data directly into consumers' hands, we're helping them make smarter choices about which network truly delivers consistent quality where they live and work." There are other ways to check mobile phone internet coverage in your area, including for free via Which? also has a list of the major firms' mobile phone coverage checker tools available on its website. Best and worst broadband and mobile phone providers The launch of the new tool from Ofcom comes after the regulator last month unveiled the best and worst telecoms firms in 2024 based on customer satisfaction. In terms of mobile phone providers, Tesco Mobile and giffgaff came out on top with overall scores of 94%. Lebara came in third with a score of 91%, EE fourth with 90%, then Sky and Three in joint fifth with 87%. At the bottom of the pack was O2 with 85% then Vodafone with 84%. Tesco Mobile experienced the fewest complaints to Ofcom in 2024, with just four complaints per 100,000 customers. However, Ofcom said that the average number of complaints reduced in 2024 across all providers. Elsewhere, the average call waiting time for mobile customers decreased in 2024, from 2mins 24s in 2023 to 1min 52s in 2024. CUT YOUR TELECOM COSTS By James Flanders, Chief Consumer Reporter Switching contracts is one of the single best ways to save money on your mobile, broadband and TV bills. But if you can't switch mid-contract without facing a penalty, you'd be best to hold off until it's up for renewal. But don't just switch contracts because the price is cheaper than what you're currently paying. Take a look at your minutes and texts, as well as your data usage, to find out which deal is best for you. For example, if you're a heavy internet user, it's worth finding a deal that accommodates this so you don't have to spend extra on bundles or add-ons each month. In the weeks before your contract is up, use comparison sites to familiarise yourself with what deals are available. It's a known fact that new customers always get the best deals. Sites like MoneySuperMarket and Uswitch all help you customise your search based on price, allowances and provider. This should make it easier to decide whether to renew your contract or move to another provider. However, if you don't want to switch and are happy with the service you're getting under your current provider - haggle for a better deal. You can still make significant savings by renewing your contract rather than rolling on to the tariff you're given after your deal. If you need to speak to a company on the phone, be sure to catch them at the right time. Make some time to negotiate with your provider in the morning. This way, you have a better chance of being the first customer through on the phone, and the rep won't have worked tirelessly through previous calls which may have affected their stress levels. It pays to be polite when getting through to someone on the phone, as representatives are less inclined to help rude or aggressive customers. Knowing what other offers are on the market can help you to make a case for yourself to your provider. If your provider won't haggle, you can always threaten to leave. Companies don't want to lose customers and may come up with a last-minute offer to keep you. It's also worth investigating social tariffs. These deals have been created for people who are receiving certain benefits.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The symbol you should always look for on kids' sunglasses
We all know the importance of protecting our children's eyes from the sun's rays, particularly on sunny days. But a disturbing new report has found some kids' sunglasses bought online do not meet UK safety standards. The investigation by consumer champion Which?, found that a third of children's sunglasses purchased from online marketplaces, including Amazon, eBay, AliExpress and Temu, were unsafe to wear. Researchers bought 20 pairs of sunglasses from six e-commerce marketplaces and put them through lab tests. They found that two pairs of the glasses let in too much ultraviolet light (UV), five pairs had different levels of UV protection on each lens, and all of the pairs were missing key information, labels and markings required for them to be legally sold in the UK. The unsafe sunglasses have since been removed from the online platforms. Calling for stricter safety regulations for online marketplaces under the government's Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, Which? director of policy and advocacy Rocio Concha said: "Our research shows many of these models are so ineffective as to be dangerous for children to wear and this is a consequence of online marketplaces having no real responsibility or incentive for taking safety seriously." So if you're buying sunglasses for your children, what should you be looking for to ensure they protect their eyes and meet UK safety standards? Denise Voon, clinical adviser at The College of Optometrists explains. "A lot of parents are aware that in order to protect their children's skin from the sun, they need to put sunscreen on, and it's exactly the same for eyes," Voon tells Yahoo UK. "Protecting your eyes with sunglasses is really important. Prolonged exposure, even to small amounts of UV, can cause eye conditions such as cataracts in later life, and there's emerging evidence to say that it can cause macular degeneration as well." Wearing sunglasses is particularly important for children, she adds. "Their pupils tend to be bigger and the lens inside their eyes tend to be clearer. So if an adult and a child stood outside, the child would probably get more UV to the back of their eyes." Sunlight can also cause short-term problems, such as temporary but painful burns to the surface of the eye, according to the NHS. Any sunglasses sold in the UK should have either a CE mark or a UKCA mark, some will have both. A CE mark shows they meet all the legal health and safety requirements to be sold in the European Union, while a UKCA mark shows they meet the requirements to be sold in the UK. These marks will be on the inside arms of the glasses. If sunglasses don't show one of these marks, Voon says to avoid them. Which? also advises looking for glasses with UV400 protection, which blocks out almost 100% of UV rays, and choosing category 3 lenses. Category 3 is the most common type in the UK and is for use on bright days. If you're going skiing, choose category 4. You'll find the category number marked on the inside of the sunglasses arm. "It is quite a common misconception that the darker the lenses, the more protection they offer but that's not actually true," explains Voon. "You can get all different colours and lighter and darker tints but, as long as they bear a safety mark, the best choice is whatever suits your child." Getting the fit of sunglasses right is particularly important for children as, if they're uncomfortable or too tight, they won't want to wear them. Voon also advises against sunglasses that are too big. "If they're too big, they'll let in a lot of sun round the sides," she says. "And if they're too wide and they slip down, they're not going to be helping much at all. "If your child is spending a lot of time outdoors, you might wish to consider a more wraparound-style frame that offers slightly more protection. But the important thing is getting something that your children want to wear and that fit." When it comes to choosing sunglasses for your child, Voon says an optometrists is a good place to start. "If you're worried about your children's eyes or want advice about sun protection or how sunglasses fit, an optometrist will be able to advise," she says. But she adds that you don't need to spend a lot of money to get appropriate glasses. "When we've been caught out, we've actually just bought sunglasses at seaside shops and as long as they have the appropriate markings, they don't have to be expensive." 4 tips to keep your baby cool and help them sleep in hot weather (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) The 4 most important things to check on your sunscreen, according to a dermatologist (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read) 6 hidden health hazards to watch out for in your garden this summer (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)
South Wales Argus
16-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Third of sunglasses on Amazon and more pose child eye risk
Which? bought 20 pairs of sunglasses for children and found that the UV protection levels were 'dangerously low' for two of them, despite claims they offered full protection. One third of sunglasses sold on platforms like Amazon and eBay could damage child eysight The UV protection levels were found to be inconsistent in many of these specs (Image: Getty Images) Some sunglasses were also found to offer significantly different protection from one lens to the other. Several models including Cute Cat Kids' Sunglasses UV Protection (£1.59 from Amazon), Classic Vintage Holiday Sunglasses UV400 (£3.99 on eBay), Kids' Aviators (£1.16 from AliExpress), Kids £1 Sunglasses (from Temu) and red heart-shaped sunglasses (£5.28 from eBay) all made either misleading claims about their ability to block UV rays or had inconsistent UV filtering. All of the sunglasses tested were found to be missing key information, labels and markings, such as CE or UK Conformity Assessed markings (UKCA), which are required for them to be sold in the UK legally. Which? director of policy and advocacy Rocio Concha said: 'With summer holidays approaching, it is understandable that parents will want to buy their children sunglasses, and kids and parents alike might be tempted by some of the cheap and trendy options sold online. 'Our research shows many of these models are so ineffective as to be dangerous for children to wear and this is a consequence of online marketplaces having no real responsibility or incentive for taking safety seriously. 'The Government's Product Regulation and Metrology Bill must be strengthened to include legal responsibilities for online marketplaces to ensure the products they sell on their sites are safe, with heavy fines for those that fall short of the required standards.' An Amazon spokesman said: 'Safety is a top priority, and we require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws, regulations and Amazon policies. 'We continuously monitor our store and take action to maintain a safe selection for our customers, including removing non-compliant products and reaching out to sellers, manufacturers, and government agencies for additional information. 'The products in question have been removed." AliExpress also said it had removed the items that failed Which?'s tests, adding: 'AliExpress takes product safety very seriously and we have strict rules and policies in place to ensure a safe online shopping environment.' A spokeswoman for eBay said: 'Consumer safety is a top priority. We proactively keep our site safe and prevent prohibited listings through seller compliance audits, block filter algorithms for unsafe listings, and AI-supported monitoring by our team of in-house specialists. 'If we find an unsafe product, we remove it immediately and alert buyers, which is the exact approach we took on April 4 2025, before Which? contacted us.' Temu said: 'We take product safety very seriously. All three flagged listings have been removed from the platform pending further review.' Recommended Reading: TikTok said: 'The safety of our customers is of our utmost priority, and we have strict measures in place to ensure that our sellers comply with regulations and safety standards. 'These listings have been removed from our platform.' Shein said: 'We take product safety very seriously and are committed to offering safe and reliable products to its customers. We immediately removed the items from our site as a precaution while we investigate.'
