UK supermarket giant Asda has today revealed that customers will be refunded the difference if they find their groceries cheaper at any rival supermarkets. In a bid to grab back the company's falling share of the supermarket sector Asda has set up a website whereby customers type in their receipt details and can compare the cost of their goods to those sold by the likes of Tesco, Morrison, etc. If they find their goods are any cheaper at another supermarket in the UK they will be refunded the difference +1p in the shape of Asda vouchers.
Despite the fact that UK airspace was reopened late last week there are still hundreds of thousands of people stranded overseas, struggling to fight for empty seats available today. British Airways is one company which is attracting more than its fair share of criticism with many stranded passengers complaining that they have received no preferential treatment despite the fact that many have been stranded for days and their funds are running low.
Ryanair has been forced into a humiliating U-turn after initially refusing to pay out compensation to passengers caught up in the volcanic ash saga and forced to cover additional hotel and food costs. Despite the existence of apparently clear EU regulations regarding the payment of compensation, from airlines, to their passengers in such circumstances, Ryanair had initially refused point blank to discuss the subject. However, over the last 48 hours there has been a sea change in the company's mood and the company's response.
The Office of Fair Trading has today stepped forward with a suggestion that Virgin Atlantic employees met up with fellow employees from Cathay Pacific Airways to discuss commercially sensitive data. It is alleged, by the Office of Fair Trading, that this data effectively led to price fixing on the London-Hong Kong route. This is a very important business route and one which has proved very lucrative to those airlines servicing these needs.
Around 460,000 British Gas customers who signed up for a price freeze deal in 2005 are about to see the deal come to an end and a significant increase in the cost of their gas. The deal saw the 460,000 customers in question pay £820 for their gas which is around £370 less than the average bill today - which is £1,194. As a consequence, there are many people who will receive an unwelcome surprise with their next energy bill!
Severn Trent, one of the UK's more prominent water companies, has today suggested that a radical reform of the UK water industry is needed in the short term. The company believes that after 20 years of privatisation the industry is still too fragmented and there is a need to reduce the number of water companies in the UK from the current number of 22. But what are the consequences for UK consumers?
There is growing concern that the ongoing airspace lockdown, after the volcanic eruption in Iceland created a volcanic ash cloud, could impact upon food supplies to the UK. The food chain is a very complicated issue even though consumers only see the end result and an increase in travel time, cost and lack of availability could filter through to create upwards pricing pressure on UK food imports. This would then have the potential to impact upon the rate of inflation and could, if the situation lasts much longer, become a major problem.
UK motorists are threatening to take action against the ever spiralling cost of petrol in the UK which is now over £1.20 litre. Many areas of the UK are paying upwards of 25p extra per litre than they were just 12 months ago and the situation could get worse before it gets better. The average 50L tank now costs more than £12 extra to fill up than just 12 months ago at a time when many families in the UK are still struggling to survive and UK businesses are looking to tighten their belts even further.
In a move which many believe could be replicated by other UK broadband providers it was today revealed that Orange Broadband has effectively transferred control of its fixed line network to BT. The move has also seen a number of former Orange Broadband employees transferred to BT as the company looks to concentrate upon customer service and customer numbers together with improving reliability and broadband speeds.
UK retailing giant Asda has today announced plans to become the nation's biggest seller of clothing, homewares and entertainment by the year 2015 as well as the second largest food retailer in the UK. These are ambitious plans for the company after a major management reshuffle earlier this week appeared to cast some doubt on the short-term direction of corporate plans. So what exactly does Asda have in mind?
