Weird tales of meter mix-ups, incomprehensible bills, and to foment the drama, a teenager threatened with a trashed credit rating On a dark winter’s night, what could be more engrossing than my latest tragifarce about energy firms, guaranteed toset spines tingling? Continue reading...

I followed the obvious signs but an enforcement officer had to point out a notice on the back of the entrance sign and it cost me £140 Our car was clamped while parked at the NET Forest Tram Park and Ride in Nottingham, and we had to pay £140 to have it freed. The prominent signs displayed at the entrance state that those parking without using the tram will be clamped. We did use the tram to and from the city centre after walking in the adjacent park. Continue reading...

As a doctor I stepped in to tend to an elderly passenger … but it won’t waive £100 transfer fee to rebook I was due to fly from London Stansted to Pescara, Italy. I was nearing the departure gate when an elderly woman fell down an escalator. I am a doctor and stopped to help. She had sustained a broken wrist, deep cuts and a worrying head injury and I had to stem the bleeding until staff and paramedics arrived. I asked for gate crew to be made aware that I was delayed by a medical emergency, but when I reached the gate 15 minutes before my flight departed, it had closed. Continue reading...

On 19 November 2025, the European Commission adopted the long-awaited 2030 Consumer Agenda, its strategic plan for EU consumer policy for the next five years. This is the most recent rendition of the Commission’s periodic consumer policy blueprints, preceded by the New Consumer Agenda 2020-2025. The 2030 Agenda is entitled ‘A new impulse for consumer protection, competitiveness and sustainable

On the 30th of October 2025, the CJEU delivered a judgment in the joined cases of consumers KI and FA against Mercedes-Benz Bank AG and Volkswagen Bank GmbH in C-143/23 , advancing the interpretation of Articles 10 and 14 of Directive 2008/48/EC on Consumer Credit. The consumers entered into a credit agreement with their respective banks to purchase a motor vehicle for private

On 30 October, the CJEU delivered its judgment in Corendon Airlines (C-558/24), interpreting Articles 5(1)(c) and 7(1) of Regulation 261/2004, which regulate compensation for flight delays. Passengers were notified one day before departure that their scheduled departure and arrival times would be pushed back by 1 hour. On the day of travel, the flight was further delayed, and passengers

The offensive listing seemed more than a mistake – it was a failure of corporate responsibility, says reader I found a baby outfit (sizes from newborn to five years) on Amazon bearing the phrase “Santa’s favourite ho”. This isn’t just a tasteless mistake – it’s a failure of corporate responsibility and consumer protection. A corporation this large should have systems that prevent sexualised or exploitative language being associated with items for children. Continue reading...

My van was hurtled into motorway barriers by a driver who did not stop and the vehicle is still being held in a compound along with the tools of my trade My van was hit from behind on a motorway by a speeding driver who failed to stop. It spun across the carriageway, hitting the barriers on either side, and went up in flames. I thankfully got off with a small head injury. I reported the collision to my insurance company, Autonet, and was told it would be in touch. Continue reading...

The CJEU was recently asked to interpret Directive 2014/92/EU on access to payment accouts with basic features (PAD), which is to the best of my knowledge the first or at least one of the few preliminary rulings interpreting PAD. The question is how can the right to access payment accounts with basic features or basic bank accounts be reconciled with the bank's duty to comply with anti-money

Transferring names and moving to a cheaper deal should not require the bereaved to repeatedly explain a death My wife died suddenly 18 weeks ago. I contacted Virgin Media to get our phone and broadband account transferred from her name to mine. Its website said I could make changes to the package at the same time so I asked to be moved to a deal at half the cost. I was told I would have to cancel the existing contract and wait 14 days before signing up to a new deal. This would leave me with no internet connection and unable to work from home. The other option was to transfer the existing package to my name and change it after 30 days. I chose the latter. Continue reading...

Bank refuses to remove late payment markers after we were twice late repaying our mortgage in last months of his life Our 19-year-old son died in July after a long illness. The last years of his life were very difficult as we tried to support him while keeping life as normal as possible for our other children. Amid the stress, we were late with two repayments on our mortgage with Metro Bank in February and March. Since April we have been fully up to date. Continue reading...

Hi everyone, Looking for some advice please. I had an MBNA credit card that ended up in a StepChange repayment plan along with several other debts. I stopped making payments around 2024 and since then I’ve been ignoring all calls, emails, and letters while waiting to eventually receive a Letter of Claim. Today I’ve received a letter from Mortimer Clarke Solicitors saying they’re acting on behalf of Cabot and that “we will issue a claim if you don’t contact us by 5th December”. It also mentions they’ve been instructed to issue court proceedings to obtain a County Court Judgment (CCJ). They’ve included some paperwork with boxes to tick, such as whether I acknowledge the debt, dispute it, or need more time to respond. This is the first letter of this type I’ve received from them — is this a genuine Letter of Claim or just a scare tactic to push me into contacting them? Thanks in advance for any guidance.

As consumer law remains under-enforced, it becomes all too common for consumers to assign their claims to third-party claim management companies, which typically operate on a contingency basis and take a percentage of the amounts successfully recovered. In Case C‑80/24, the consumer assigned their claim against a bank to Zwrotybankowe.pl, one such claim management company, which would retain 50%

Hello all, I bought a car from BigMotoringWorld 5 weeks ago. It wasn't cheaply priced but it appeared in good condition, had only one owner, and was listed with a full service history (6 services for a 2018 car, which I felt was good enough albeit not perfect). When I viewed the car I was frustrated that the service history advertised wasn't available to see. The very pushy salesman assured me that I would get it apon payment because they couldn't leave it in the vehicle due to data protection or some such. I was only allowed to view the list of services on their website. I duly paid (no finance - I saved up to buy this car) and went to the collection desk to get my keys and service history. Obviously there was much pressure selling at this point and much waiting around. Anyway, I was annoyed apon collection to be told that actually they didn't have the service history but would post it to me. This is where it started. Having already paid up I had no choice but to take my car and leave (not forgetting to visit a post office to apply for a log book because BM World suddenly revealed they didn't have the V5 - such a cheek to charge me £300 admin fee and then have me do the admin!). I then spent the next two weeks chasing every day for my service history. I was delighted when a parcel arrived from BM World containing a service book for the car. Alas, incredibly, the book is totally blank showing not one single service record from new. It's the correct book for the car because it has the correct VIN and supplying dealer stamp within but no service records what so ever, not even one. At this point I realise that it's possible that the previous owner just didn't get the book stamped, but that the service history really did exist so I start calling the garages listed on the BMWorld advert. The 6 claimed services are across three garages: - The first four at a garage that has conveniently ceased trading, so no luck there. - The fith at a garage who said they'd seen the vehicle on that date but that THEY HAD MOT'D IT ONLY AND THAT THIS DID NOT INCLUDE A SERVICE. The BMWorld advert says against this date "57,000 miles - Inspection service including oil change". So that one is false. Even worse, even if the other records are true then the car did over 30,000 miles at this time without an oil change. It is my belief that someone has added a lie here to bridge and overwise very big service gap so the car could be sold at top price. - The last garage listed I've not concluded yet if it was/wasn't true. On the date that the service book arrived (day 14) and I discovered at least partially untrue records, I stopped using the car and wrote to BMWorld via email and said I would like to exercise my short term right to reject because the vehicle is not as advertised. I have the following evidence for my claim: - Screenshots from their website on the day I purchased advertising the Service History. - Recovered Autotrader advert saying the same (good team at Autotrader, recovered it for me within a few minutes!). - Cached Google search results showing not only the general service history but specifically including the one which I now know to be false. - The original service book for the car, which is blank, sent to me by BMWorld (so ridiculous!!). - Numerous emails from their team both junior and senior customer people apologising and saying that they will find and provide the history going back now 5 weeks - The list of dates & mileages (which I believe to be at least partially untrue) sent to me by BMWorld but with no actual source information or evidence. To date BM World have only delayed and deferred and ignored and obstructed. Being otherwise happy with the car (except some oil consumption that in worried may be a result of the missed servicing but because I've not done enough milage to know how bad that is, I havnt raised it with them), I have twice offered to discuss compensation in lieu of service records which they have ignored. I reluctantly issued them via Special Delivery on week 3, a two-week pre-action letter. That two weeks has now come to an end and so I need to decide which option to go with next. I don't trust the motor ombudsman so I'm inclined for small claims court. What I am not going to do is let this go. If I had known the truth I would have just chosen a different car, but they deceived me. Currently, BMWorld are still saying that they are trying to get my service history, but I really don't think it'll ever arrive. Naturally, I've gone off the car somewhat, infact I hate the bloody thing now! Id settle for reasonable compensation just so I can move on with my life but really I think they ought to take it back. So far I've had absolutely nothing from them but apologies. Any advice gratefully received. Edited 1 hour ago by Not happy with BMWorld

Tirana Post Some consumers have truly bad luck, but their misfortune raises interesting legal questions. In Tuleka (C-469/24), the applicants booked a 1-week, all-inclusive package holiday in a 5-star hotel in Albania. What was meant to be a dream vacation quickly turned into an ordeal due to: 1) Demolition of hotel swimming pools, commissioned by Albanian authorities and carried out in the

When account was suspended my brother-in-law was caught in debt as 200 penalty charge notices piled up My brother-in-law has received 200 penalty charge notices (PCNs) for unpaid ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) charges in London. He set up an auto pay account for his non-Ulez-compliant van, but because of a series of blunders has paid £11,445 in fines, owes another £1,400, and is facing bills for 70 more fines after losing his appeals. Continue reading...

Online shopping has transformed how we buy goods and services, but it has also exposed a recurring challenge: resolving disputes when things go wrong. Damaged products, delayed deliveries, or disputes over contract terms, can leave consumers frustrated. Traditional litigation is often slow, costly, and intimidating, particularly for low-value claims. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provides

On Friday, November 21, a conference "50 Years of Consumer Law in the European Union: Past, Present, and Future" takes place at the University of Luxembourg. With the conference speakers including prominent European consumer law scholars, judges and AG of the Court of Justice of the EU, as well as representatives of the European Commission, this event promises to deliver engaging and informative

Hi sorry if im posting in the wrong place but I was hoping someone could give me some advice please. I have received a claim form from the National business centre ,from mortimer clarke solicitors in regards to a debt from 2008. This claim is in my previous married surname. The claim form does not have the court stamp on it either but has the name sandra bayne as legal represntative. I troed to attach the image of the claim form but it wont let me . I did have a payment plan set up with them and when I changed bank details I didn't realise the standing order had stopped being paid. This was about 2 years ago. I have filed the AOS to give me more time but is there anything I can do to fight this or do I just agree and pay it. I dont want a CCJ on my credit file. I havent had any letters from them to say they were going to make the claim to court. I did ignore phone calls I admit that but I ignore any calls that look like they are from call centres. Any advice would be appreciated

re: ID.4 needs replacement engine after @Group1AutoUK work and @BigMotoringWrld sale - General Motoring Issues - National Consumer Service Sorry for posting too much detail previously. Simpler chronological attempt as requested. Major fault 10 months after used car purchase, maybe result of work on car shortly before sold to me Vehicle: WR21 VYB (1st Edition 77kWh VW ID.4, first registered June 2021) Timeline: Nov/Dec 2024: Remedial work at Group 1 Southend involving removing, reinstalling and resealing the engine (before I bought it) 20th Dec 2024: I purchased the car from Big Motoring World (Blue Bell Hill). Requested details: - mileage 28871 - one previous owner (ex-lease from Arval) - paid £21048 by debit card (inc. scratch/dent/tyre/alloy cover, no extra warranty) - mostly funded by bank loan being paid off monthly - went in person to test drive on 15th Dec and purchase on 20th Dec - dealership about 80 miles from home - MOT dated 6th June 2024 carried out by Castle Point Motors Ltd in Benfleet - Service history stated it had an inspection service on 11/9/2023 at Group 1 Volkswagen Southend --- Group 1 records I’ve since obtained do not list this service --- Service history provided did not list recent work/lots of past remedial work - no letter of rejection as engine fault had emerged within 30 days/6 months 24th May 2025: software fault making ACC dangerous 18th/21st July 2025: Group 1 Colchester fixed software and road tested for £594 - identified faulty internet connection module, part on back order - no other issues flagged 29th August 2025: I called Group 1 Colchester to enquire about service history and book service (service cycle is every 2 years regardless of mileage). - I was advised no service due for a year as it had been serviced in December 2024. - They emailed me a 30 page printout of Group 1 service history notes. 24th-25th September 2025: Group 1 Colchester replaced internet connection module. Covered by Group 1/VW warranty. - I was not advised of any issues with the vehicle - I was not given any paperwork for the work (told it would follow by email but it never did) Monday 27th October 2025: sudden loud engine noise when braking. Limited its use from this point. Friday 31st October 2025: took car into Group 1 Colchester for investigation: Service rep phoned first thing to offer a service, saying no service on record so due, contrary to colleague's advice on 29th August (I agreed to it) He phoned 2pm to say engine had leaked all its oil, running would have damaged it, engine would need replacing He said it was “as a result of” work completed by Group 1 Southend in December 2024 He was waiting to hear from them about how they wanted to proceed He said a previous vehicle health check had flagged increased engine noise. I said this had never been shared with me. He could not give a date. He phoned 5pm to say no longer believed Group 1 Southend responsible, they'd disputed it, no support offered Parts and labour for repair quoted at just over £8700 I questioned the change of opinion and the claimed earlier detection of engine noise never shared with me He said a manager would look into all this in more detail and call me on Monday (now tomorrow) I need a functioning car. If I go ahead with the repair and am not offered a courtesy car, I am going to have to hire a car which will add perhaps £1000 to costs (work will not be done for “weeks/months”). A chronological summary of the Group 1 service log up to 29th August is attached. # So... Do you think I have reasonable grounds to dispute these charges? If so, should it be against Group 1, or Big Motoring World? (I was not Group 1's customer in Nov/Dec; I do not know if it was Big Motoring World or the leasing company) Should I prepare anything ahead of tomorrow’s call with the Group 1 service manager? Should I mention intent to dispute through small claims if we can’t reach a resolution? Is it safe to go ahead booking repair work in if I put it in writing that I intend to dispute the charges?

In July 2025, Aviva completed the acquisition of Direct Line Insurance Group, creating a combined company that now insures a very large percentage of UK homes and vehicles. Th questions that come from this are: 1) is this very risky? Putting a huge number of eggs in one very large basket. Financial consequences of a major UK weather event? Delays in handling a large number of claims. 2) lack of competition may drive prices up. And some people may find it almost impossible to get affordable insurance if they are refused insurance. 3) Fewer UK jobs in Insurance. These massive companies have a tendency to offshore jobs to India. Reason for posting this, is that there is growing concern about the current UK Insurance market and competition. I think this will be a topic that will be subject to media focus and discussion over the coming years. Recently I have been hearing that Allianz who took over LV, are making staff redundant and offshoring the jobs to India. When will UK the Government intervene to ensure that there is a competitive Insurance market and to project UK jobs? We could do with some help from you. PLEASE HELP US TO KEEP THIS SITE RUNNING EVERY POUND DONATED WILL HELP US TO KEEP HELPING OTHERS If you want advice on your thread please PM me a link to your thread

I was in credit but HMRC handed £2,500 over to someone impersonating me on the phone, and says I’m in debt Since January, I’ve received numerous letters from HM Revenue and Customs stating that I owe £2,500 plus interest. My accountant and I have written to HMRC explaining that my tax account is fully paid up, but have received no reply. I’ve since been chased by a debt collector. EF, London Continue reading...

re: Debts in the UK now with DCA's - Page 2 - Debt Advice: – Debt management and Debt self-help - National Consumer Service Update - dropped the ball. i moved house and following a stressful situation forgot to inform have just become aware of a CCJ. I feel these debts are after the 6 years statute barred - the CCJ was October - so definitely past the cut off. I’ve contacted the court - is there anything else I need to do? Sorry - just to confirm. Found out about the CCJ from my credit score drop £1304 amount Previous address Court: Civil National Business Centre CCJ issued on October 1st 2025 I can pay it, if that is just easier - or I can dispute it, if it is feasible based on it being over 6 years since I acknowledged it. I'm open to advice.

Hi Everyone, Would just like to say thank you for this in advance I purchased a car just over 2 weeks ago, went and saw it before hand and the car all seemed fine but when I picked the car up it come up with a suspension fault on it, on my drive home I also noticed that the car kept sticking in 1st/2nd (it’s automatic and doesn’t display what gear you are in but is one of if not both them gears) when you need to pull away quicker from a roundabout or junction, along with other issues relating to part of the ambient lighting being a different colour from the rest, sidewall damage to tyres, multimedia system not responding/disconnecting my phone and the car pulling to the left meaning I had to hold the steering wheel more to keep the car going straight I contacting the dealer and they was very vague in there replying emails, even missing out the gear box issues from there reply’s, I then said no I’ll have the car returned there’s to many issues with a car I’ve just bought that should of been prepared, they then called and insisted they’ll sort it out and to bring it back to them to do so after them having the car for a few days, they called to say the cars sorted but have only sorted out the issue with the suspension and apparently could not find any other issues with the car, I then said no worry’s I’ll reject the car it wasn’t right before and it’s highly likely it’s not now, after a few emails of them saying we’re not accepting the rejection there’s no issues with the car and that some things won’t be enough to reject the car I’m now going to the next step i’ve got the car back and the gear box is still playing up, along with the other issues still persistent, I’m trying my best to record evidence of what the cars doing so that I can take it for inspection and show what is happening as sometimes is worse than others but it’s very annoying when you pull away and it doesn’t change gear can I get help/advice as from what’s happened already I can’t see these being easy to get the car rejected and I’ve already had most the excuses ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ashridge Vehicles, Range Rover Sport, 25,000 £45,000 £9k deposit rest on PCP with MotoNovo, has full service history, I purchased an extended warranty, MOT done in September by Kiwik-Fit KT6 5NF 50 miles, I’ve emailed several times stating I am rejecting the vehicle

. . .I have posted this on another Forum but the experts there done seem as knowledgeable as Members like Emmzzi, Uncle Bulgaria and others! . . .Please note this post is technical and very long, and I apologise for this! . . .I work for what was formally a small electronics firm that was taken over by a US owned Multinational some years ago. On 15th November I will have been employed for ten years there. On 21 May 2021 I was sent home by H.R. on "capability" grounds because of serious issues with the sight in my right eye – I work in Industrial Electronics Repair, much of which involves working with what are very minute electronics components called "surface mounted". . . .I had a major operation on my right eye in 2023 followed by a long recovery period, this coupled by delays in occupational health assessments, etc., meant I only returned to work on a "phased" basis on 14 October this year (2025). . . .When I returned to work I was given a practical "return to work" exercise which involved removing and refitting a number of standard types and these minute "surface mounted" components from.four scrap printed circuit boards. . . . Unfortunately my managers weren't satisfied with these exercises, partly caused by the fact I was never given formal training on working with these minute "surface mounted" electronics that requires special techniques and tools to rework them and the tools provided were hopelessly inadequate – most are too small for the integrated circuit chips I was asked to remove and refit, or non–functional! . . .I asked my managers for "surface mounted components" training and replacements for non–functioning tools over five years ago before I was sent home in May 2021 and I got the response "no you can't have training, you'll have to do the best you can with what there is!" . . .I have also asked for an alternative type of electronics grade solder that doesn't leave an obvious flux deposit residue, but this was refused as well! . . .(My manager will deny I asked them this but I have a very long memory and I KNOW I asked him about training and replacements for failed tools!) . . . Unfortunately the results of the second "rework tests" on four further scrap boards, whilst better, were still not to the satisfaction of the two managers who inspected my test work! . . .I have these points to ask the Forum Experts:- 1) Would my Employer have a reasonable cause to take disciplinary action against me for not performing these "printed circuit board exercises“ to their 100% satisfaction? We have never had formal instruction in our work, all I have had was a brief folder on electrical safety not related to the practical aspects of PCB rework procedures and a few basic informal notes written by a colleague who inspected my repair work in the past! . . .They look for rework standards better than brand new manufacture, even "flux on the PCB" is a matter they're obsessed with, despite the electronics solder we work with and many modern PCB rework standards laid down specifically state "flux should NOT be cleaned off reworked boards as this helps protect the boards" – brand new boards from OEMs/suppliers have flux on them! Myself and colleagues have tried pointing this out to our managers but they refuse to listen! 2) I have only two years and three months now till retirement, far too short a time to be looking for and training in another electronics job, the possibility of getting another one on my area now is practically nil at my age – I'm 64 and 8 months now! 3) Would I be sanctioned by the DWP if I was dismissed/made redundant? . . .With only just over two years before retirement, I honestly have to wonder if the whole debacle is worth it any more, my friends and sister have all said I should have given up electronics repair work years ago, the only reason I haven't is because I enjoy it as a home hobby, and also because of the DWP's severe sanctions on leaving a job "without good cause!" . . .(The friend I live with at home is three months younger than me, works for the same employer on the bench adjacent to mine, doing exactly the same job as I do and he is even more fed up with it all than I am – he has to answer to the same managers as me, and he is treated the same as I am – the managers dislike both of us!) . . .I have an "Attendance At Work Review" Meeting on Tuesday 4th November at 1 p.m., and I intend to inform my line manager that I intend to refuse to attend it because he, and H.R. Contact Representative, both are known to dislike both me and my friend I live with, (my friend had a run–in with my manager and H.R. over a trifling incident regarding a work shirt!) and I feel that not only can I not trust them to come to a totally fair and impartial decision, I am fairly sure that my line manager is only carrying out a "box ticking" exercise to shove me out of the door on Tuesday with minimum or no notice! . . .As mentioned in the description of the incident above, the "Return To Work" practical tests included the removal of special electronics components that I have had NO training to use, nor have I had any training or demonstration of the "surface mount" rework equipment on the Company's Rework Bench, one of the items on it was a JBC Hot Air Tool the company obtained during the four years I was away that I had never seen before! . . .I don't need to wait for Tuesday's meeting, I know he's going to say "there's no alternative role we can place you in", he said as much when I was first sent home in May 2021! . . .Is it reasonable for them to dismiss me on capability grounds on the basis of a practical exercise involving "surface mounted" component rework when I have never received training on the use of this equipment, or even had an opportunity to watch/observe another colleague use it? . . .I said to my manager that I could probably teach myself to use the surface mount rework equipment if I did some more practice on scrap PCBs, this was just waved away with a curt refusal! . . .There is a blue polythene bin containing a large number of burnt–out non–functional surface mount tools, which I could have completed there exercises I was set more easily, these non–functional tools have been in that bin for over five years and requests for replacing them were just waved away in the same manner was as my request for further practice! I propose to submit a grievance regarding the lack of training and the company's failure to replace tools that are needed for me to carry out "surface mount" work, which is a much, much greater percentage of the PCB work the department now receives, when I started in 2015 most of the PCBs were what are called "through hole" which I am adequately experienced at repairing! Other alternatives I would accept are voluntary redundancy (there is not a lot of PCB work coming into our section now) or a mutual agreeable severance payment, but I know my manager wants me straight out the door! Would I be on the wrong end of a disciplinary for not attending this meeting on the grounds of the manager and H.R. having pre–judged me and not being prepared to consider reasonable alternatives, that they could accommodate? Report Quote Interesting Than