How better to spend a romantic Valentine’s day, than discussing the business of internet dating? Valued at anywhere between $1billion and $4billion each year and with an ever growing number of specialist sites, apps and offerings, it is perhaps surprising that only 1 in 10 singles are engaging in online dating opportnities. I joined the team at Arise News to … Continue reading
Facebook, or The Facebook as it was originally known, has become so engrained into our everyday lives that it hard to believe that it has only been around for ten years. In that time, it has grown from a campus website into a true global phenomenon, reaching 1.23 billion active users each month. Facebook is … Continue reading
End of year round-ups are all well and good, but what can we learn from the mistakes of the past 12 months? As well as planning resolutions for 2014, we should take time to look (and laugh) at some of last year’s most cringe worthy social media mistakes and how to avoid more of the same. … Continue reading
According to Financial Fraud Action UK (FFA), fraud losses on UK cards totalled £388 million during 2012, showing a 14% increase on the previous year. Such stark statistics are understandably causing consumers some concern, especially in the run up to Christmas when credit cards are hit the hardest. FFA also found that this rise in card … Continue reading
At the start of National Consumer week and with Christmas around the corner, The Alan Titchmarsh Show consumer ‘Dream Team’ turned its attention to the multi-billion pound industry in counterfeit goods. We take a look at how you can avoid being caught out and how to seek redress if you are. Fake Ugg boots, copycat … Continue reading
On The Alan Titchmarsh Show this week, we invited viewers to contact us with questions and comments arising from what we have discussed over the past couple of months, or something we haven’t covered yet. We received a whole variety of questions, but here are just a few that we had time for. Parking tickets … Continue reading
Since the first parking meter was installed in 1958, parking charges have caused outrage, distress and – on occasion – violent outbreaks to many. Last year, a parking ticket was issued every four seconds, totalling 8million tickets in 12 months. Even though the most common Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) can only be issued by local … Continue reading
The Government has announced measures to curb train operators’ ability to increase ticket prices. As part of its Fares and Ticketing review, from January 2014, some long distance commuters will save more than £200 as fares are capped at 6.1%. Previously, the maximum increase allowed was 9.1%. As well as curbing the rise in fares, … Continue reading
Every year in the UK, 400 products are recalled but only 10-20% are ever returned. Product recalls are often made about safety concerns where the goods in their present state may pose a danger to the user. By law, manufacturers must take all reasonable steps to inform consumers when a product is recalled, but there is … Continue reading
Fuel poverty has been in the news recently, with both the Labour and Conservative parties speaking out against rising prices. In 2011, there were estimated to be 4.5 million fuel poor households in the UK, representing 17% of the population, and this figure is expected to have risen since then. Fuel poverty is a … Continue reading
Kevin Poulter 