Consumer Rights Cowboys

The government wants to give regulators more power to tackle "excessive" card charges.

Government takes aim at "excessive" credit card rates

The government plans to give financial regulators more power to define and ban "excessive" interest rates for credit and store cards as part of its strategy to improve consumer protection in the UK.

The guide aims to help consumers get a fair deal.

Government issues consumer rights advice

A new top ten list of consumer rights has been published to help shoppers to get a fair deal on the high street.

Estate agents should not face any additional government regulation, the OFT has said.

OFT rules out new regulations for estate agents

Existing legislation covering estate agents is "comprehensive and wide ranging" and the industry requires no additional regulation, a study by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has concluded.

Work from home scams offer quick cash but many recruits never see a penny, the OFT has warned.

Consumers warned over work from home scams

Conmen are targeting job hunters with a rising tide of work from home scams, the Office of Fair Trading has said.

The government is to spend £4 million combating online fraudsters

Online fraud costing £3.5 billion each year

Online fraudsters are scamming three million people a year at a cost of £3.5 billion.

Some elderly people have been targeted by Jamaican lottery fraudsters

Elderly lose life savings in lottery scam

UK residents are being urged to beware of a new lottery scam which has seen a number of elderly victims conned out of their life savings.

Postal gold companies have been accused of undervaluing peices sent to them

Warnings over 'cash for gold' service

A warning is being issued to people using 'cash for gold' postal services after an investigation found evidence of customers being ripped off.

Shoppers could lose their right to refund

Shoppers' refund right 'at risk'

The right to a refund under British rules is under threat from the EU, according to legal experts.

2012 London Olympics already starting to see ticket scams

1000 days to London 2012 and scam ticket websites springing up

This Saturday marks 1,000 days until the start of the London 2012 Olympic games, but scam ticket websites are already appearing.

Fighting back against silent calls - Video

Silent calls are a modern pain and a source of anxiety for some.

Airline prices and comparison sites to face OFT investigation

OFT takes on airline online prices and comparison sites

Firms advertising low headline prices that rise when it gets to the checkout are being investigated by watchdogs.

Government must stop demanding benefit repayments

Government 'devastating' demands for benefit overpayments stopped

The government has been stopped from trying to claim back benefit overpayments made in error.

Scam: Phone fraudsters pretending to be Ofcom and BT

Brits are being warned about a new scam targeting people through their home phones.

Kate Nash warns fans about scam websites

Scam ticket websites targeted by stars

Stars of music and sport are lining up against scam websites that offer fans tickets that never appear.

CAB has been helping consumers for 70 years

Debt enquiries to CAB jump 27%

Enquiries about debt problems to the Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) shot up 27 per cent in the three months to June from last year as the charity celebrates turning 70.

OFT investigates excessive retirement home fees

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has sent written notices to 26 retirement firm homes to investigate fees charged when residents sell or rent properties.

Minister Kevin Brennan outlines government help for consumers

New protection for consumers

Kevin Brennan, the minister for consumer affairs, writes for myfinances on measures taken by the government to increase consumer protection as the recession hits the UK.

It sounded like a good deal at the time...

Consumers struggle to regain losses from scams

Consumers are facing heavy obstacles in recovering £3.3 billion in losses to illegal trade practices, according to research.

Passengers lose out on cheapest train fares

Passengers 'lose out on poor advice'

Passengers could be paying up to double the cheapest train fare because of poor advice from staff, Which? has claimed.

Second-hand cars still top the list of consumer complaints

Car complaints rise

Second-hand cars bought from independent dealers topped the list of complaints received by Consumer Direct for the first half of the year.

Ticket sellers pull up on conditions after Jackson gig cancellation

Jackson cancellations lead to more protection for music fans

Music fans will receive fairer contract terms when purchasing tickets for concerts, theatre, events and attractions.

How to complain

We have all done it at some point: we are unhappy with the service or product we have received, but it seems like too much effort to complain and we don't really expect to get anywhere.