CMA

Wowcher has been rapped by the competition watchdog after shoppers were unwittingly signed up to its £4.99 a year VIP subscription – something MoneySavingExpert.com warned about last year. The deals site has also been told to stop putting 'unfair' pressure on shoppers to make purchases quickly. 

Buying tickets to live music, sports or theatre events from a resale site often means paying way over the odds – and sometimes even being turned away at the door – due to online ticket touts charging inflated prices and selling invalid or non-existent tickets. Despite this, the Government has rejected "common sense" proposals to clamp down on these sharp practices. Here's what you need to know.

Some 5,000 households in the UK who paid a doubled ground rent on their homes will get a refund after an investigation by the competition watchdog revealed “unfair” leasehold practices.

Airlines have been warned they must do everything they can to avoid further disruption or harm to passengers over the summer – or face enforcement action that includes possible court proceedings.

Cash saved in Christmas savings clubs is to be protected under new laws, the Government has today (19 April) announced. There are also plans to crack down on fake reviews and 'subscription traps', while the competition regulator's powers will be beefed up in a bid to better protect consumers.

British Airways passengers who feel they were wrongly handed vouchers for cancelled flights during the pandemic may now be able to get cash refunds following a U-turn by the airline. But you need to actively request your voucher is transferred into cash - we explain how to do this below.  

PCR Covid test providers have been told by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to clean up their practices amid concerns they may be breaking consumer law. An open letter has been written by the watchdog identifying a number of "harmful" practices, which it says it will further investigate. 

The competition watchdog has announced plans to review the PCR travel tests market amid concerns that the price, reliability and quality of service provided could be creating a barrier for families wanting to travel abroad. A response will be provided by the Competition and Markets Authority within the next month. 

Deals website Groupon faces court action unless it improves how it treats its customers, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said. It comes after the watchdog found Groupon failed to provide some customers with cash refunds they were legally entitled to, only offering credit instead.

Airlines will be investigated by the competition watchdog over whether they broke consumer law by failing to offer cash refunds to passengers who couldn't legally travel due to Government restrictions during the pandemic.