Pricewatch

Your consumer queries answered. Have you a problem, a gripe or a tip-off? Contact us on 01-6758000 or mail pricewatch@irishtimes.com or via twitter @conor_pope

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‘Sex and the City’ is to blame for the cupcake craze.

How does a food turn into a fad?

Pricewatch: From cupcakes to doughnuts, turning foods into ‘must-have’ accessories

Photograph: iStock

Failure to switch current accounts is costing us dearly

Pricewatch: If we hate the banks so much, why are we so loyal?

In a bordered world, you would only be able to carry in goods to the value of €430, as you would be coming from outside the EU. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Project Pricey: 16 ways a hard Brexit would hit Irish pockets

The effects of the UK leaving the EU without a deal would have serious consequences here

Leaky golf shoes: if a product proves to be faulty and a replacement given under warranty, the warranty clock never resets to zero. Photograph: iStock

Faulty goods: know the difference between a warranty and the law

Two queries illustrate the limits of warranties and the intricacies of mistaken prices

Not all butter tastes the same

Give your toast the butter it deserves, with a little help from Pricewatch

Diarmuid Gavin, with sample of the franchise which will be on sale in Dunnes. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

Dunnes targets millennials with low-maintenance gardens

Coffee and plants? Diarmuid Gavin is on board with the new ‘experiential retailing’

Dublin Port Tunnel: it diverts thousands of trucks every day from Dublin city centre

Is Ireland a better place to live now than 20 years ago?

Our poll suggests a big majority believe things better now than they once were

By the end of 2018 we will have saved about €3,600. File photograph: iStock.

How I got rid of Sky and saved thousands of euros

‘In blissful ignorance €60 spirited itself out of our bank account and into Sky’s every month’

“By abandoning the live telly we never watched, we were able to justify spending money on the services we actually do watch without feeling even a twinge of guilt.” Photograph: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg

Are you paying over the odds for your TV package?

You can make big savings by ditching pricey subscriptions in favour of other options

DHL had noted the shipment was delivered on July 16th but I had not received it. Photograph: Ralph Orlowski/ Bloomberg

Pricewatch: Reader bought a bed from Littlewoods, but it never arrived

‘I ordered the bed because I need it, why can’t they now send me out another one?’

We got a response from Liberty which was remarkable only for the manner in which it completely ignored its customer’s concerns. Photograph: Alan Betson

Pricewatch: Exorbitant ‘change of address’ fees unfair on policyholders

Liberty’s revealing response shows a blasé attitude to customer’s concerns

Consumers who shop online have more rights than those who shop in regular shops. Photograph: iStock

Pricewatch: Irish retailer refusing to refund postage fee for returned item

Under EU law, consumers are entitled to a full refund which includes the cost of delivery

Work out what your income is and what your outgoings are, because you can’t keep your spending under control until you know what you’re spending.

Top tips for new college students

Pricewatch: Don’t smoke, get on your bike, track your spending and learn how to cook

'Our flight was cancelled without warning a few moments before boarding was due to start.' Photograph: iStock

Pricewatch: Readers’ complaints about Aer Lingus are flying in

When the airline is good, it is very good, but when things go wrong . . . that’s another story

Fifteen consumer charges we love to hate

Readers fume at paying €2 for a pint of blackcurrant while ticket service fees get on our wick

Pricewatch has been getting a large volume of complaints about Aer Lingus in recent weeks. Photograph: Aidan Crawley/Bloomberg

Yet another passenger left stranded by Aer Lingus ‘guest relations’

Pricewatch: A reader has been trying for almost a year to resolve a complaint, with no success. The airline finally responds

The best thing about home-swapping is that it opens participants up to new experiences by visiting places they may have never previously considered. Photograph: iStock

Home for the holidays: the benefits of house-swapping

A home-exchange not only opens up destinations you may never otherwise visit, there are considerable cost savings to be made as well

People in Ireland aged 18-34 are most frustrated that they cannot access hospitality services when they want, with 43 per cent saying they expected 24-hour services, a survey has found.

Pricewatch: Time for 24/7 Ireland, consumers say

Demand for out-of-hours services rising as more work outside nine to five, survey finds

Jabra Elite sport earphones

Pricewatch runs the rule over value for money earphones

From Jabra elite to Apple earphones and Dre Powerbeats – all you need to know

Passengers experience the sharp end of airline travel. File photograph: The Irish Times

Passengers far from happy with Aer Lingus customer service

Pricewatch: readers outline several complaints and the carrier responds to them

Counting the cost of going back to school.

Preparing for the back-to-school season

Pricewatch: counting the cost of education

Finding tuna that you don’t need to drown in mayonnaise

Pricewatch: From the ‘weirdly spongy’ to the ‘wonderfully firm and meaty’

Pricewatch: A problem with Eir – yes, yet another one

Getting to what’s at the bottom of a Lidl passata

“I join a team. They are all affable but I am clearly useless. An oven which should be built in minutes takes me a lot longer than that”

Pricewatch: ‘I’d hate to be the person who bought the cooker that Pricewatch built’

A visit to the Miele factory in Germany to build a cooker provided a glimpse into the world of the future consumer

Vodafone apologised for the disruption the woman faced after she upgraded her phone. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

Reader frustrated with Vodafone as mother left without functioning phone

Pricewatch: Woman says firm’s customer service was worst she’s ever experienced

Taylor Swift pulled her entire catalogue off Spotify in 2014, arguing it was unfair some fans could stream her music for less as opposed to buying a physical copy of her album. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Emerging Irish artists using Spotify to find new audiences

Streaming service has its flaws but it also allows artists to reach new markets

There are five main streaming services. Photograph: Getty Images

Streaming services: From YouTube Music to Spotify, what's the best option?

Pricewatch compares five music streaming services

Three Mobile: A reader has been having what sounds like a frustrating time after signing up to a mobile broadband package with Three Mobile earlier this year. Photograph: Aidan Crawley/ Bloomberg

Three’s customer care has ‘failed’ me, says frustrated customer

Pricewatch: No improvement in coverage despite 40-minute calls to customer care

The Dublin Swift: passenger unable to travel due to lift not working.

Elderly man unable to travel on Swift ferry as lift not working

Pricewatch: Delay caused huge inconvenience for passengers and medical staff

Repeated calls to Sky failed to produce the desired response for the frustrated customer. Photograph: David Jones/PA

Sky’s the limit: Customer foiled as he tries to cancel broadband contract

Pricewatch: ‘Sky’s Hotel California policy’ taxes one man’s patience to the limit

Durrow Scarecrow Festival runs from July 29th to August 6th.

Eighteen ways to save money this summer

Pricewatch: Make the most of the season without spending a fortune

Pricewatch reader bought headphones on board a flight and was told to contact the company online for a receipt. Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Reader annoyed at Ryanair’s receipt policy

The airline does not issue paper receipts for in-flight purchases, as part of its environmental policy

Pricewatch readers have had difficulties with Sky’s ‘free TV’ offer. Photograph: David Jones/PA Wire

Sky’s the limit when it comes to ‘free TV’ offer

Our reader was promised a television would be sent to her when she signed up, only to be told time had elapsed when she tried to claim it

Popcorn has been linked to ailments including cancer, heart disease and bronchiolitis.

‘Is popcorn good for you?’ and more of life’s big questions

Pricewatch: Random queries about consumer matters answered

‘If you must return the hire car outside working hours or are in a mad dash to make your flight, take pictures of the car when it has been parked in the designated area.’ Photograph: iStock

Hiring a car on holidays? Here’s how to avoid getting ripped off

The car hire game can be fraught – don’t get caught out by unscrupulous practices

Salad cream: Looking for the best value (not the healthiest)

A retro taste cames flooding back as we try the big brands and budget efforts

In a statement Irish Water said it was “continuing to issue cheques and engage with customers as part of the refund process”.

Why can’t I get my water charges refund?

Pricewatch: ‘After six months I have no idea what is happening to my €199.78’

Aer Lingus: “We cannot accept liability for any items left on board our aircraft nor in any of our lounges.” Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images

Aer Lingus now outsources lost property – and it costs

A reader who left a Kindle behind was charged €37 by a third party to return it

The woman said there were promises made which Bank of Ireland haven’t been able to fulfil. Photograph: Frantzesco Kangaris/Bloomberg

Would-be first-time buyer left frustrated by experience with BoI

Woman says she lost two properties and is gaining a reputation as an unreliable buyer

Photograph: Bryan O’Brien

Frustration and fury: reader paid for parking but still got clamped

Reader used Park by Text but clampers say she got the location wrong

Do monthly cinema subscriptions actually save you money?

Pricewatch undertakes year-long investigation into cost of annual cinema tickets

Big day, wedding budget – splashing the cash on marriage

Pricewatch: Irish couples spend an average of €25,000 on their royal occasion

Ditch the chocolate fountain: Kristen Wiig had the right idea in ‘Bridemaids’.

Top tips to get hitched on the cheap

Slash the invitation list, go on a booze cruise, pay less for the dress . . . but don’t skimp on the Tayto sandwiches at midnight

The Sky customers had 90 days to activate the “claim” emails. Photograph: David Jones/PA Wire

Two Sky customers ask: where's our free telly?

Readers were unaware of ‘claim’ emails that needed to be activated to get televisions

AA accepts that the customer’s no-claims bonus cert should have been accepted without question. Photograph: Cyril Byrne

Car insurance quote retracted for confusing reasons

‘I genuinely feel that the AA are being unnecessarily difficult,’ reader complains

“Since my daughter was born in 2005 with cleft lip and palate, we would have had a very active policy, with ongoing treatments and surgeries.” Photograph: iStock

Health insurance mix-up shows the importance of keeping records

One woman who cancelled her cover over the phone found that she was still being billed

Vicki ordered a dishwasher from Littlewoods but it was badly damaged when delivered. Photograph: iStock

Pricewatch: Reader left frustrated over damaged dishwasher from Littlewoods

Vicki asked for a replacement as soon as possible but was told this was not possible

A family had a frustrating experience with Ryanair earlier this month. Photograph: Eric Luke

Family forced to cancel holiday blame Ryanair for directing them to wrong queue

Pricewatch: Family say they were told to buy new tickets after making complaint

Things which help demonstrate a borrower’s desirability to a bank include savings and paying rent. Photograph: iStock

House rules: how to get your first mortgage

Buying a house has never been more difficult but there are ways to endear yourself to your bank and find your dream home

Jayna McCloskey (9) and Max Barrett (9) at the launch of Safefood’s report, which shows that families with children spent on average €1,037 last year on highly processed food such as crisps, chocolate and sweets.

Irish families turn junk food into staples of shopping basket

Pricewatch: Average Irish family spends a fifth of its food budget on ‘treats’

The Bank of Ireland: dozens and dozens of the bank’s customers are complaining of the lag between transactions happening and their balances updating. Photograph: Frantzesco Kangaris/Bloomberg

Bank of Ireland app fails to show balance in real time

Your consumer queries answered: ‘I discovered I was €455.87 overdrawn’

“All those who don’t bother packing their travel insurance are making a mistake. The mere sight of the medical bills that can be incurred as a result of an overseas illness would be enough to give you a heart attack.” File photograph: iStockPhoto

Travel insurance: You really, really don’t want to leave without it

Pricewatch: Mere sight of medical bills due to overseas illness might give you a heart attack

Watch out for the O and I in your passport number or you may be denied entry to the US. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien

One passport digit leads to an invalid US visa

Pricewatch reader shares his tale of woe as a public warning service

Mairéad Ní Chuaig: “The farms tend to be off the beaten track and you get to live with lovely people. It is a way for people with no money to travel the world.”

Want to travel the world on a budget? Wwoof it

TG4’s Mairéad Ní Chuaig has been to many far-flung, exotic places, all for the price of a flight

Consumer News

Irish Sky subscribers may lose access to dozens of channels in no-deal Brexit

Sky in the UK has written to TV providers in US with a deadline for post-Brexit licensing plans

The winners and losers from a rather modest budget

Analysis: Smokers will feel the pinch while self-employed receive a reasonable boost

Lidl to remove non-recyclable packaging from all fruit and veg

Supermarket taking all single use platic items like straws and disposable cutlery off shelves

Rat seen to emerge from drain when tap was turned on at Co Meath restaurant

Semple Stadium food stand among outlets served closure orders last month

Ireland’s data commissioner to investigate Facebook cyber attack

Helen Dixon’s inquiry could expose firm to huge fines for data breaches

Delayed welfare payments due to reach accounts today

System wide banking issue resolved as welfare payments recommence

‘Shocked’ lottery winner’s two-month wait to claim €500,000

Lucky Limerick man explains delay so as to make ‘proper plan’ for EuroMillions windfall

Ploughing championships 2018: everything you need to know

It may be wet, there will be mud, smells are unavoidable and the President will be there

Hundreds of holidaymakers ‘out of pocket’ as tour operator closes

FF TD says tourists are ‘stranded’ in Ireland after Exploring Vacations ceases trading

Pure water for babies recalled amid safety fears

Food Safety Authority of Ireland issues order due to concerns over production site

Counties with the lowest number of pubs per person revealed

Barstool stats: How many pubs has your county lost in the last 12 years?

Big Tree pub to open for the last time on All-Ireland final day

The site of the famous north Dublin tavern is to be converted into a 163-bedroom hotel

Winning €4.7m Lotto ticket sold at shop in Co Meath

The National Lottery reveals there is one winner for Wednesday’s top prize

More than 90% of homes valued under €300,000 by owners for property tax

Local authorities will decide next month on how much tax to charge in their area

Pope’s visit a ‘monumental disaster’ for Dublin businesses

Up to 50 per cent drop in sales over papal weekend as retailers rue ‘missed opportunity’

Gardaí issue warning over Electric Picnic ticket scam

Hopeful festival-goers urged to be on lookout for fake print-at-home tickets

Dublin Bus to stop refunding passengers who pay too much

Value of unclaimed change from transport company about €600,000 last year

Farmers urged to fight food scaremongering on social media

US farmer Michelle Miller says GM food and herbicide myths must be counteracted

Trains to arrive in Dublin suburb after 20-year delay

Irish Rail to start building Pelletstown station after approval granted by city council

Too soon? Christmas shop opens in Dublin, Cork and Limerick

Brown Thomas unapologetic about selling festive decorations and fake trees in August

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