#consumeraffairs — Public Fediverse posts

Trust nobody – not even the sweet shop lady: the Stephen Collins cartoon
By Stephen Collins

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/picture/2026/aug/28/trust-nobody-not-even-the-sweet-shop-lady-the-stephen-collins-cartoon

#Lifeandstyle #Consumeraffairs #Money #TheGuardian #StephenCollins

Andy Burnham’s autumn of pain– podcast
By Presented by Kiran Stacey and Peter Walker, produced by Ned Carter Miles, music by Axel Kacoutié; the executive producer was Frankie Tobi

It’s been a month since Andy Burnham became prime minister. And while polls have shown a ‘Burnham bounce’, the coming months will force the new PM into making some tough – and potentially unpopular – decisions that will reveal how serious he is about delivering the changes he believes the country needs. Kiran Stacey and Peter Walker look at the choices facing Burnham

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/audio/2026/aug/27/andy-burnhams-autumn-of-pain-podcast

#AndyBurnham #Labour #Politics #Labourpartyleadership #UKnews #ThamesWater #Energybills #Business #Householdbills #Money #Consumeraffairs #Economics #Economicpolicy #TheGuardian #PresentedbyKiranStacey #PeterWalker #producedbyNedCarterMiles #musicbyAxelKacouti #theexecutiveproducerwasFrankieTobi

Andy Burnham’s autumn of pain– podcast https://www.theguardian.com/politics/audio/2026/aug/27/andy-burnhams-autumn-of-pain-podcast #AndyBurnham #Labour #Politics #LabourPartyLeadership #UkNews #ThamesWater #EnergyBills #Business #HouseholdBills #Money #ConsumerAffairs #Economics #EconomicPolicy

Firm fined for hounding elderly people with nuisance calls claiming to stop … nuisance calls
By Alex Daniel

Elderly Aids Ltd, which sells call-blocking devices, made 758,053 cold calls between May 2024 and February 2025

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/aug/27/firm-fined-for-hounding-elderly-people-with-nuisance-calls-elderly-aids-ltd

#Nuisancecalls #Business #UKnews #Consumeraffairs #Money #Olderpeople #TheGuardian #AlexDaniel

Plug-in balcony solar panels to go on sale in UK for first time
By Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent

DIY system will be stocked by big retailers, starting with Argos, enabling more homes to lower bills by generating own electricity

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/26/plug-in-balcony-solar-panels-to-go-on-sale-in-uk-for-first-time

#Solarpower #Energyindustry #Business #Renewableenergy #Energybills #Retailindustry #Energy #Environment #Consumeraffairs #Money #UKnews #TheGuardian #JillianAmbroseEnergycorrespondent

Plug-in balcony solar panels to go on sale in UK for first time https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/26/plug-in-balcony-solar-panels-to-go-on-sale-in-uk-for-first-time #SolarPower #EnergyIndustry #Business #RenewableEnergy #EnergyBills #RetailIndustry #Energy #Environment #ConsumerAffairs #Money #UkNews

No more energy bills support likely before price cap rise, say UK government sources
By Jessica Elgot and Jillian Ambrose

Andy Burnham stops short of pledging further help as gas and electricity prices due to increase by 4% in October

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/26/energy-bills-support-price-cap-rise-andy-burnham

#Energyindustry #AndyBurnham #Energy #Economicpolicy #Politics #Business #Householdbills #UKcostoflivingcrisis #Labour #UKnews #Consumeraffairs #TheGuardian #JessicaElgot #JillianAmbrose

No further energy bills support likely before price cap rise, say UK government sources https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/26/energy-bills-support-price-cap-rise-andy-burnham #EnergyIndustry #AndyBurnham #Energy #EconomicPolicy #Politics #Business #HouseholdBills #UkCostOfLivingCrisis #Labour #UkNews #ConsumerAffairs

US economy expanded at sluggish 1.5% pace from April through June

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a sluggish 1.5% pace from April through June. But consumer…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Economy ##ConsumerAffairs #Business #donaldtrump #Economicindicators #EconomicPolicy #FederalReserveSystem #Generalnews #InternationalTrade #iran #Iranwar #U.S.DepartmentofCommerce #U.S.news
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/826566/

Would you pay for an algorithm to pick your friends? New social apps spread across cities https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/26/algorithm-pick-your-friends-paid-free-meetup-apps-cliq-ply #Friendship #ConsumerAffairs #Money #SocialMedia #TechnologySector #Technology #UkNews #LifeAndStyle

Britons to face highest price cap in three years as energy bills rise 4% from October https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/aug/26/energy-price-cap-great-britain-to-rise-from-october #EnergyBills #Ofgem #EnergyIndustry #Business #UkCostOfLivingCrisis #ConsumerAffairs #HouseholdBills #Money #UkNews

Would you pay for an algorithm to pick your friends? New social apps spread across cities
By Kimi Chaddah

With many adults admitting they feel lonely, meetup platforms offer the chance to make new connections

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/26/algorithm-pick-your-friends-paid-free-meetup-apps-cliq-ply

#Friendship #Consumeraffairs #Money #Socialmedia #Technologysector #Technology #UKnews #Lifeandstyle #TheGuardian #KimiChaddah

Britons to face highest price cap in three years as energy bills rise 4% from October
By Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent

Households in Great Britain will pay equivalent of £1,723 a year from October, prompting calls for more support

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/aug/26/energy-price-cap-great-britain-to-rise-from-october

#Energybills #Ofgem #Energyindustry #Business #UKcostoflivingcrisis #Consumeraffairs #Householdbills #Money #UKnews #TheGuardian #JillianAmbroseEnergycorrespondent

I’ve been told to apply to a civil and administrative tribunal over my faulty dishwasher. What does it involve?
By Kat George

Taking a consumer complaint to tribunal is likely to be onerous, writes policy professional Kat George, but the payoff may be worthwhile

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/26/taking-consumer-complaint-to-tribunal-ncat-fair-trading

#Consumeraffairs #Personalfinance #Lifeandstyle #TheGuardian #KatGeorge

Lloyds Bank is holding on to our urgently needed £5,500
By Anna Tims

We want our balance back, but we can’t access the money to pay for essential repairs and settle an electricity bill

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/aug/25/lloyds-bank-holding-on-to-funds-balance-account

#Banksandbuildingsocieties #Money #LloydsBankingGroup #Consumeraffairs #Banking #UKnews #TheGuardian #AnnaTims

eHarmony deceived customers with ‘subscription traps’ that cost hundreds of dollars, court finds
By Josh Taylor Technology reporter

Australian consumer watchdog says it received hundreds of complaints about the US-based dating site and its memberships

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/25/eharmony-dating-website-sued-australia-subscription-traps-customers-charged-hundreds

#AustralianCompetitionandConsumerCommissionACCC #Australianews #Consumeraffairs #Onlinedating #Technology #TheGuardian #JoshTaylorTechnologyreporter

John Oliver on ‘smart’ appliances: ‘Spying on you through the washing machine’ https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/aug/24/john-oliver-subscriptions-smart-appliances #JohnOliver #UsNews #TelevisionRadio #Culture #Media #Amazon #Ecommerce #ConsumerAffairs #Money #Gadgets #SmartHomes #Technology #Internet

John Oliver on ‘smart’ appliances: ‘Spying on you through the washing machine’
By Guardian staff

The host also discussed the rise of forgotten monthly subscriptions for anything from dishwashers to litter boxes

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/aug/24/john-oliver-subscriptions-smart-appliances

#JohnOliver #USnews #Televisionradio #Culture #Media #Amazon #Ecommerce #Consumeraffairs #Money #Gadgets #Smarthomes #Technology #Internet #TheGuardian #Guardianstaff

Households in Great Britain ‘could owe energy suppliers £7bn by end of year’
By Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent

After higher prices for winter kick in, energy debt unpaid for more than 30 days likely to rise, says Energy UK

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/24/households-in-great-britain-could-owe-energy-suppliers-7bn-by-end-of-year

#Energyindustry #Energybills #Business #Ofgem #Gas #UKnews #Money #Consumeraffairs #Householdbills #TheGuardian #JillianAmbroseEnergycorrespondent

How can I convince NHS pensions that I am not dead?
By Anna Tims

It has not paid me for months and I am in severe financial distress, and apart from my husband while I try to sort it out

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/aug/24/nhs-pensions-not-dead

#Pensions #Money #Consumeraffairs #Consumerrights #Pensionsindustry #NHS #UKnews #TheGuardian #AnnaTims

Personal care products are awash in unlabeled toxic chemicals, study finds https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/23/personal-care-products-unlabeled-toxic-chemicals #UsNews #ConsumerAffairs #Pfas #Cancer #ChildrensHealth #Health

Personal care products are awash in unlabeled toxic chemicals, study finds
By Tom Perkins

Even products labeled ‘eco’, ‘green’ or ‘natural’ can contain dangerous compounds including Pfas

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/23/personal-care-products-unlabeled-toxic-chemicals

#USnews #Consumeraffairs #Pfas #Cancer #Childrenshealth #Health #TheGuardian #TomPerkins

‘Friday afternoon fraud’: warning for UK homebuyers on bank scams
By Hilary Osborne

Victims have lost tens of thousands – and in one case £300,000 – due to fake emails from solicitor or estate agent

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/aug/23/friday-afternoon-fraud-scam-conveyancing-fraud-uk-property-buyer-bank-account

#Property #Scams #Banksandbuildingsocieties #Consumeraffairs #Money #UKnews #TheGuardian #HilaryOsborne

‘Friday afternoon fraud’: warning for UK homebuyers on bank scams https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/aug/23/friday-afternoon-fraud-scam-conveyancing-fraud-uk-property-buyer-bank-account #Property #Scams #BanksAndBuildingSocieties #ConsumerAffairs #Money #UkNews

40,000 bottles of eye drops across the US recalled over issues with sterility of product
By Marina Dunbar

Prestige Brand Holdings has voluntarily recalled a batch of its Clear Eyes eye drops after FDA alert

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/22/eyedrop-recall-clear-eyes

#Productrecalls #Consumeraffairs #Health #USnews #TheGuardian #MarinaDunbar

40,000 bottles of eye drops across the US recalled over issues with sterility of product https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/22/eyedrop-recall-clear-eyes #ProductRecalls #ConsumerAffairs #Health #UsNews

Plug-in solar: could a low-cost panel cut your bills?
By Zoe Wood

Britons will be able to buy ‘balcony’ systems they can install themselves from 27 August thanks to rule change

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/aug/22/plug-in-solar-cost-panel-cut-bills-balcony

#Energybills #Homeimprovements #Solarpower #Money #Consumeraffairs #Energyindustry #Renewableenergy #UKnews #Energy #TheGuardian #ZoeWood

‘The worst part is the guilt’: the owners who fear dog food caused pets’ eye problems
By Rupert Jones

In the week that Years recalled all of its fresh meals, concerns grow about a potential link to dogs’ health conditions

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/22/worst-part-guilt-owners-dog-food-eye-problems-years

#Retailindustry #Fooddrinkindustry #Dogs #Business #Productrecalls #Pets #Consumeraffairs #Money #Animals #Veterinarymedicine #TheGuardian #RupertJones

Coles website down after viral Reddit post sees customers buy cases of alcoholic drinks at nearly 80% discount
By Penry Buckley

Supermarket’s website and app go offline as customers save more than $100 on some 24-packs

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/22/coles-website-down-after-viral-reddit-post-sees-customers-buy-cases-of-alcoholic-drinks-at-nearly-80-discount

#Consumeraffairs #Coles #Australianews #Supermarkets #TheGuardian #PenryBuckley

Coles website down after viral Reddit post sees customers buy cases of alcoholic drinks at nearly 80% discount https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/22/coles-website-down-after-viral-reddit-post-sees-customers-buy-cases-of-alcoholic-drinks-at-nearly-80-discount #ConsumerAffairs #Coles #AustraliaNews #Supermarkets