Latest news with #consumerchampion
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
BT won't cancel my internet and now I've had my MORTGAGE rejected: CRANE ON THE CASE
My girlfriend and I separated in late 2024 and moved out of our shared home. Ending the BT broadband contract proved ludicrously difficult. When I called, the person said there was an 'issue with the account' and they couldn't close it. I was put on hold and no one ever came back. This happened at least five more times between December 2024 and February 2025. In February, I cancelled my direct debit in the hope this would trigger a response from BT. I eventually I got a letter saying my service would be cut off - great. I called to settle the remaining balance, which was £296 including bills for the months that had elapsed and a fee for cancelling mid-contract. But again, I was told my account couldn't be closed and left hanging on the phone. Last month, I got a letter saying BT had handed my account to a debt collector. I spoke to BT once more, and it said it would write off the balance as a gesture of goodwill and close the account - but I've since learned that still didn't happen. I'm now buying my first home, and just have been rejected for a mortgage because of unpaid debts with BT. My credit rating is otherwise excellent. B.S Helen Crane, This is Money's consumer champion, replies: First things first, I want to call out the telecoms firm for its total incompetence in your case. It is outrageous that BT's inability to cancel your £33 per month broadband contract led to you being rejected for a mortgage. You were never told why your account 'couldn't be cancelled'. You had been more than clear on the phone that you would happily pay the early exit fee, and also pay for the router, which you couldn't return because had got lost in your house move. This amounted to about £200 - but dismantling a collective life after a break-up is a slog and you just wanted to cross the internet off your to-do list. BT didn't seem to want to accept your offer, though, and instead gave you the run-around for months. As you still had a year and a half left on your contract, I do wonder whether leaving people hanging when they phone up is a tactic to prevent them from cancelling. Cutting off a direct debit without telling the payee first is never advised. That is because it can lead to situations such as yours, where companies turn to debt collectors and credit ratings are affected. That said, I completely understand why you did it. For months you'd been paying BT for broadband no one was using, in a home you no longer lived in. You'd given the company much more than a fair chance to take what you owed, and it had ignored you. It felt like the only way you could get a response. Somewhere along the way, someone at BT seemed to acknowledge this - as when you called again they agreed to write off your remaining balance as an apology for the way you'd been treated. But that never happened, and you were stunned to find that this ended up in a failed mortgage application. I can only imagine how stressful and upsetting that was, especially as you were a first-time buyer. This could have derailed your house purchase, for which you'd diligently saved a £50,000 deposit. I contacted BT to ask why on earth this happened, and tell it to sort out the mark on your credit report without delay. Not only could this lose you the home you wanted, but mortgage rates are moving quickly and you could end up locked into a more expensive deal if they began to rise. I'm glad to say that BT did close your account, waive the debt and contact the relevant credit agencies to remove it from your record. You have now had a mortgage approved with a new lender, and are on the way to completing on your home. However, there are two things I still don't think are right. First, BT never explained why it wouldn't close your account, simply sticking to the line that there was 'a problem'. And second, it only paid you £100 compensation for this ordeal. It will cost you much more, as you ended up taking a mortgage with a higher rate, as well as an £1,000 arrangement fee. That said, you were pleased to get it sorted and move on. A BT spokesman said: 'We're sorry B.S's experience with us fell below the high standards of service we always strive to deliver for our customers. 'We have now cancelled the debt in question on the account and offered him a gesture of goodwill to acknowledge his experience. He is happy his complaint has been resolved, and this has now been closed.' The mystery of the disappearing John Lewis voucher In January, my work colleague welcomed his first baby and I organised an office collection to buy him a John Lewis voucher. I ordered the £120 online gift card to my work email before forwarding it to his. In April, the colleague told me that he had tried to spend the voucher online, but the balance was zero. We've both spoken to John Lewis and it said the voucher was spent in February on the purchase of a laptop, in circumstances we thought sounded suspicious. But we were told John Lewis won't be refunding the balance because this was a case of 'human error'. We don't understand what that means and I'm sad that the money I collected from my team has been stolen. A.H, West Midlands Gift grift: The John Lewis voucher this reader gave his colleague was stolen Helen Crane replies: Working out how someone got their hands on this voucher has been a real puzzle - but one thing that is certain is that this sounds very suspicious. On one conversation with John Lewis, you learned that the £120 balance from your gift card was then added to an existing gift card, which had collected the balance from four other cards to total a balance of £500. This was then used to purchase the laptop, which was later returned for a refund. I have written before about the ways physical gift cards can be hijacked by fraudsters, but accessing the balances of online ones is trickier. In the case of John Lewis, vouchers are sent to an email account and have a long gift card number and a Pin, which must both be entered to make a purchase online. One theory is that someone hacked into your colleague's emails, and got the code for the voucher that way. However, you spoke to your employer and there is no evidence of this having happened. While it is impossible to be certain, you work for a company that holds lots of sensitive data. In the event of a hack, you told me, a stolen John Lewis voucher would be the least of your worries. There are other possibilities, too. According to Norton Antivirus, computer bots exist which allow fraudsters to exploit the online gift card balance checks used by retailers. These bots scan the websites for active cards, and can test more than a million card and pin combinations each hour. Once working combinations are obtained, they can be used by the scammer or sold on the dark web. This is one of the theories that circulated regarding the Nectar card scam. If your colleague's voucher was stolen in this way, I'd argue it is a failure of John Lewis' security and you should be paid back. Frustratingly, when I contacted John Lewis, it refused to confirm how your colleague's gift card account was compromised. It said: 'We're really sorry to hear about [his] experience. We take security very seriously and have measures in place to protect our gift cards, with each having a unique number and Pin which only the receiver has access to.' It also said the voucher was delivered to your colleague successfully and that Pins can only be accessed via the receiver's email. John Lewis staff do not have access to these. It added that when you were initially told the fraud was due to 'human error,' that was not correct. I then contacted Voucher Express, the company which operates the voucher scheme on behalf of John Lewis and other retailers. It said the matter had already been addressed by John Lewis. Sadly, it's still not clear what has happened here.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Experts reveal quickest method to cool beer
A new study reveals the fastest way to chill a beer – and it doesn't mean putting it in the freezer. Consumer champion Which? tested eight popular Internet chilling 'hacks' on bottled beer – and found one clear winner. According to the experts, the fastest way to chill a beer is putting it in a bucket of cold water with not only ice, but also salt. In just half an hour, it brought the beer temperature down from 20.5°C to 1.6°C - more effective than any other. Salt water has a lower freezing point than regular water. And while the temperature of a bucket of ice and water might hover around or slightly above 0°C, adding salt will mean that the temperature of the icy slushy solution can actually be less than zero. These sub-zero temperatures will chill your beer faster and ultimately leave it colder. Using this method, Which? researchers found the temperature of the beer dropped by 18.9°C in half an hour, leaving the beer at a frosty 1.6°C. After an hour, researchers managed to get the temperature of the beer down to a little less than 0°C. If you find yourself without any salt, don't worry – all is not lost. The second-most effective way to quickly chill beer is the same method but just without the salt. Ice and cold water – ideally placed in a big portable cooler or 'esky' – took the beer from 20°C to 3.9°C in half an hour, they found. Failing this, another good method is putting the beer in the middle shelf of a freezer – taking the temperature down to 7.8°C in half an hour. However, this method comes with potential issues, such as being able to find enough space and forgetting that the beers are there, leading to frozen or exploding bottles. The experts also tested the popular online 'hack' of covering the bottle with wet tissue paper and putting it in the freezer. This method did drop the temperature of a beer to 8.9°C in 30 minutes, but it didn't work as well as just putting the bottle in the freezer without any tissue. The wet tissue method is also a faff to prepare and drips water over you once it's out of the freezer as you're drinking the beer. Even less effective is putting the beer in a bowl of cold water, covered over with a wet flannel and left in a breezy location. Which? explains: 'The idea is that the breeze evaporates the water from the towel and thus cools the bottle [but] it's a bit of a faff.' Which? found One of the two worst methods was running the beer under a cold tap for three minutes – an approach usually opted for by students. It took the beer down just 2.5°C – from 20.5°C to 18°C – resulting in a lukewarm beverage and a waste of water. Equally as pointless was immersion in a bucket of cold tap water – also taking the temp down from 20.5°C to 18°C. The full results, published on Which?'s website, are 'accurate, robust and repeatable', the consumer champion claims. 'Without a doubt, cold water with ice and salt is the most effective and fastest way to chill a beer,' it says. 'We used bottled beer for our test, but you should see the same methods work well with other bottled drinks and cans.'
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
You've been chilling your beer wrong! Experts reveal the fastest way to cool your booze - and it doesn't involve the freezer
With summer around the corner, nothing quite beats hosting a barbeque in the back garden with plenty of ice cold bevvies. But in the rush to get the meat on the grill, even the most experienced BBQ host can forget to chill the beer. And nothing ruins a summer event quite as badly as warm lager. Thankfully, a new study reveals the fastest way to chill a beer – and it doesn't mean putting it in the freezer. Consumer champion Which? tested eight popular internet chilling 'hacks' on bottled beer – and found one clear winner. In just half an hour, it brought the beer temperature down from 20.5°C to 1.6°C – more effective than any other. So can you guess what the best chilling method is? See the full results below! According to the experts, the fastest way to chill a beer is putting it in a bucket of cold water with not only ice, but also salt. Salt water has a lower freezing point than regular water. And while the temperature of a bucket of ice and water might hover around or slightly above 0°C, adding salt will mean that the temperature of the icy slushy solution can actually be less than zero. These sub-zero temperatures will chill your beer faster and ultimately leave it colder. Using this method, Which? researchers found the temperature of the beer dropped by 18.9°C in half an hour, leaving the beer at a frosty 1.6°C. After an hour, researchers managed to get the temperature of the beer down to a little less than 0°C. If you find yourself without any salt, don't worry – all is not lost. The second-most effective way to quickly chill beer is the same method but just without the salt. BEER CHILLING METHODS - RANKED FROM WORST TO BEST Chilling technique Start temperature (°C) End temperature (°C) Temperature change (°C) Control: Temperature of a bottle of beer just left on the side throughout the experiment 20.5 21 0.5 8. Three minutes under a cold tap, twisting the bottle 20.5 18 -2.5 7. Bucket of cold tap water 20.5 18 -2.5 6. Bowl of cold water, covered over with a wet flannel, left in a breezy location 20.5 17.2 -3.3 5. Bottom shelf of the fridge 20.5 16.9 -3.6 4. Cover bottle with wet tissue paper and put in the middle of a freezer 20.5 8.9 -11.6 3. Bottle in the middle shelf of a freezer 20.5 7.8 -12.7 2. 1kg of ice and a bucket of cold water 20.5 3.9 -16.6 1. 1kg of ice, bucket of cold water, 100g of salt 20.5 1.6 -18.9 Ice and cold water – ideally placed in a big portable cooler or 'esky' – took the beer from 20°C to 3.9°C in half an hour, they found. Failing this, another good method is putting the beer in the middle shelf of a freezer – taking the temperature down to 7.8°C in half an hour. However, this method comes with potential issues, such as being able to find enough space and forgetting that the beers are there, leading to frozen or exploding bottles. The experts also tested the popular online 'hack' of covering the bottle with wet tissue paper and putting it in the freezer. This method did drop the temperature of a beer to 8.9°C in 30 minutes, but it didn't work as well as just putting the bottle in the freezer without any tissue. The wet tissue method is also a faff to prepare and drips water over you once it's out of the freezer as you're drinking the beer. Even less effective is putting the beer in a bowl of cold water, covered over with a wet flannel and left in a breezy location. Which? explains: 'The idea is that the breeze evaporates the water from the towel and thus cools the bottle [but] it's a bit of a faff.' One of the two worst methods was running the beer under a cold tap for three minutes – an approach usually opted for by students. It took the beer down just 2.5°C – from 20.5°C to 18°C – resulting in a lukewarm beverage and a waste of water. Equally as pointless was immersion in a bucket of cold tap water – also taking the temp down from 20.5°C to 18°C. The full results, published on Which?'s website, are 'accurate, robust and repeatable', the consumer champion claims. 'Without a doubt, cold water with ice and salt is the most effective and fastest way to chill a beer,' it says. 'We used bottled beer for our test, but you should see the same methods work well with other bottled drinks and cans.'
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Which? reveals the best supermarket garden furniture for 2025 - from Aldi, Asda, Sainsburys and more
Supermarket garden furniture is no longer seen as second best when it comes to making the most of outside space. In fact, with a huge variety of stylish ranges - some inspired by chic European terraces and others modelled on colourful Moroccan riads - Britain's major shops are competing with well-established brands. Popular not only for the cheaper prices but also as a convenient option - customers can save time as well as cash by picking up outdoor essentials during the weekly grocery run. But with so many different aesthetics and set-ups available, it can be difficult to know where to start and you'll find yourself torn between a Marbella villa vibe versus a whimsical woodland. One solution when the choice appears overwhelming is to go back to basics and hone in on the bestsellers from each vendor. High-street retailers have shared their most popular outdoor items with consumer champion Which? - including a myriad of sofas, tables and chairs aplenty. So, instead of struggling with what to purchase for the garden, consult this list of these best buys... Aldi garden furniture Rattan Effect Corner Sofa £199.99 Shop At the end of April, Aldi's garden furniture - including the sell-out Rattan Effect Corner Sofa (£199.99)- landed in stores nationwide. The cult sofa, which numbers among the budget supermarket's most popular items, comes in a stylish grey colour and is equipped with comfy back and seat cushions, as well as a footstool. Another bestseller is the Acacia Garden Day Bed (£199.99), which has a multi-function design allowing customers to switch between a three-seater sofa, left or right corner sofa or a full day bed. Popular options for smaller spaces include the new Melbourne Coffee Set (£99.99), which includes two rope weave chairs and a small side table with a tempered glass top. Another striking choice is Aldi's colourful Marrakesh Bistro Set (£69.99). With a mosaic-style table top in stone shades and two matching chairs, it's the perfect way to brighten up a patio. While, the supermarket's Sling Folding Chair (£14.99), available in black or grey, is easy to stow away in a shed until the sun appears. Its sleek and space-saving design also makes it ideal for day-trippers. Acacia Garden Day Bed £199.99 Shop Asda garden furniture The new garden furniture range from George at Asda includes more than 200 products, ranging from recliner chairs and day beds to dining sets and children's outdoor toys. According to You Magazine, 'every single piece in the collection looks far more expensive than its supermarket price tag'. Featuring mainly muted tones - lots of black and neutrals - the collection nevertheless includes colour and prints, for example, stripy outdoor cushions, which are perfect for creating a nautical look. The store's bestselling items include the Green Checkered Metal Lounge Chair (£31), which features a comfortable head cushion. Another popular buy from Asda's George range is the Mykonos Rattan Corner Dining Set (£599). The set features a three-seat sofa and a two-seat sofa, which together create an L-shape, two additional cushioned stools and a rectangular dining table. Mykonos Rattan Corner Dining Set £599 Shop Low Level Corner Sofa and Coffee Table Set £649 Shop With its rounded canopy and fringe detailing, the Green Lily Pad Parasol (£69) offers a stylish solution to staying out of the sun while the Low Level Corner Sofa and Coffee Table Set (£649) is perfect for entertaining family and friends in the garden. The set includes a grey sofa with comfy cushions, integral side tables and an additional coffee table. A fifth bestseller from the George at Asda range is the elegant Cream & Black Woven Rope Sofa Set (£169), which features a two-seater sofa, two armchairs and a side table. Asda's Cream & Black Woven Rope Sofa Set £169 Shop Sainsbury's garden furniture While Sainsbury's doesn't sell garden furniture online, sets from Habitat are available in the supermarket chain's bigger stores - and also at Argos, which forms part of the Sainsbury's family. The outdoor furniture available from Sainsbury's is generally made from wicker and available in natural tones - but the range does include some colourful pieces, for example, the Eve Two-seater Folding Metal Garden Bistro Set (£65), which is available in pale yellow. Prices range from £65 for a metal two-seater dining set to £1,900 for the largest sofa set. Which? points out that home delivery from Argos is priced at a minimum of £6.95 - but customers may find that they can click and collect for their preferred day. Folding Wooden Director Chair £50 Shop Koral Five-seater Wooden Harden Sofa £950 Shop Hania Four-Seater Wooden Garden Sofa Set £700 Shop Sainsbury's told Which? that its most popular items include the Folding Wooden Director Chair (£50) and the Koral Five-seater Wooden Harden Sofa (£950). The Director Chair is available in three colourways - green, rust and multicoloured - while Koral the Five-seater Wooden Harden Sofa comes with a number of plump cushions. The aforementioned Eve Two-seater Folding Metal Garden Bistro Set also numbers amongst Sainsbury's bestsellers and is not only available in yellow but also in an orange shade and a deep green. Two further popular items are the Indu Two-seater Metal Garden Bench (£130), available in yellow, red or green, and the Hania Four-Seater Wooden Garden Sofa Set (£700), which comes in neutral shades. Tesco garden furniture Tesco's Outsunny range includes a huge range of tables, chairs and bistro sets, all of which are available online alongside the weekly shop, as well as accessories and garden lighting options. Items from some of last year's most popular ranges, including Madrid and Florence, are due to return this year, according to Which?. The consumer champion added that the Madrid Bistro Chair in Natural/Black (£20), the Madrid Bistro Table (£25) - as well as the Florence Furniture Set 6 Piece (£150), all of which are exclusively available in stores now. While you may we able to snag these in the shop, they don't appear available on the Tesco website. However, you can still snag similar styles, including a Set of 3 Wicker Bistro Table Chair for £167.99 and the Outsunny 3 PCs Patio Wicker Bistro Set Foldable Table and Chair Set for £86.99. Outsunny 3 PCs Patio Wicker Bistro Set Foldable Table and Chair Set £86.99 Shop 3 Wicker Bistro Table Chair for £167.99 £167.99 Shop Other supermarkets' garden furniture for summer 2025 Some brands' selections didn't make Which?'s list - but they still offer fashionable and practical solutions. Budget supermarket Lidl sells its garden furniture in store, including fire pits, barbecues and grills. Since products change weekly and usually arrive on a Thursday or Sunday, shoppers are encouraged to consult the Lidl website to see what will be available the following week. Lidl's range includes the Livarno Home Garden Sofa set, which is priced at £199.99 and will be available in stores from May 19. Marks and Spencer similarly sells almost 100 garden items online, including sun loungers, benches and outdoor sofas. While the retailer has paused online orders, it is still possible to purchase items in stores. It includes a stunning Shanghai Parasol for £139 to shield from the shade and a Monaco Rattan Bistro Table and 2 Chairs (£200) - the perfect resting place for a coffee and book. And those wanting to catch some of the rays may enjoy resting on the Roma Sun Lounger, which is retailing at £399. Roma Sun Lounger £399 Shop Shanghai Parasol £139 Shop Monaco Rattan Bistro Table and 2 Chairs £200 Shop
