MSN Money consumer champion: Blog

MSN Money consumer champion: Bloghttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blogen-USFri, 05 Sep 2008 18:17:15 GMTFri, 05 Sep 2008 18:17:15 GMTMicrosoft Spaces v1.1http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification60http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/feed.rssblog-2678105972101055206consumerchampionMSN Money consumer champion: Bloghttp://byfiles.storage.live.com/y1pDrofwI809lkXaVWLXojErRyLm2ZQJ0GfzAy9mA_EZYaaSppaOQeoWvB_VJCxCa8Ihttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blogTemps set to get equal pay and perkshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2115.entry<p><a href="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pHSYNokY0wdhQ0-YoKf2gU3Qd0jJCoiIWqMMmnXpYbf6nDoMngP18DpriRIh-36n7?PARTNER=WRITER"><img style="border-top-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-right-width:0px" height=142 alt=radio-controlled-office-clock-cwc300-blk-large src="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pywEtbPpVs_5YUJmoe8F9iugJvCohbftOABcpRhH6Zlr5aQD9SNWkJ9-qsIii9iyQ?PARTNER=WRITER" width=132 align=right border=0></a> More years ago than I care to remember I was a temp. I had a couple of rather grim jobs (although one delivered a gorgeous boyfriend) and then a wonderful one, which led to a permanent place in a lovely company. <p>As a consequence, I have always been nice to temps coming into my workplace, as I know that many staff find it easier not to bother to get to know them. <p>I only learnt recently that most of Britain's 1.3 million temps have some of the poorest rights in Europe. Now the government has agreed to an EU <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/investing/articles/john-stepek/article.aspx?cp-documentid=8317202" target="_blank">deal</a> which will give temps the <a href="http://msnmoney.paywizard.co.uk/main/advice" target="_blank">salaries</a>, holidays, <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/guides/salarycentre/article.aspx?cp-documentid=7601503" target="_blank">overtime</a> and rest periods of full-time colleagues after just 12 weeks in a job. At the moment temps are not entitled to any of these things. <p>Not included in the changes are sick pay, <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/insurance/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4753207" target="_blank">private medical cover</a> or occupational <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/pensions/articles/article.aspx?cp-documentid=9041016" target="_blank">pensions</a> and temps will not have the right to claim unfair dismissal at a tribunal. <p>Small business groups have reacted with fury and a poll of members of the Federation of Small Businesses, which represents 210,000 firms, said a poll of members showed 96% would now be less likely to employ temps. <p>The law has yet to take effect - watch this space...... <p><strong><font color="#0000ff">Have your say... are you a temp who is delighted at the prospect of a better deal? Are you an employer who will no longer use temps?</font> <font color="#ff0000">Leave your comment below....</font></strong><br> <div> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan=100><b>Bookmark with:</b> <tr valign=baseline> <td><a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2115.entry&title=Temps set to get equal pay and perks"><img alt="Share this post using Digg" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/A1/015DEE3957CBCE73EEE783DF7B35.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2115.entry&title=Temps set to get equal pay and perks">Digg </a> <td><a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2115.entry&title=Temps set to get equal pay and perks"><img alt="Share this post using del.icio.us" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/D4/932E350D0DB963ED853F7ABB191A0.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2115.entry&title=Temps set to get equal pay and perks">del.icio.us </a> <td><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2115.entry&title=Temps set to get equal pay and perks"><img alt="Share this post using Reddit" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/BD/31D436ADEE5B875C24F2032DF874.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2115.entry&title=Temps set to get equal pay and perks">Reddit </a> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2115.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Facebook" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/C0/9FCEC94A942A38C2A8F18DC54D1343.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2115.entry">Facebook </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2115.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Newsvine" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/95/D852BEB575B014966B9E51DB89F560.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2115.entry">Newsvine </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2115.entry"><img alt="Share this post using StumbleUpon" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/EF/9F7D2CC5FF1B814CF37C5DCD5224.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2115.entry&title=Temps set to get equal pay and perks">StumbleUpon </a></tbody></table></div><img src="http://c.services.spaces.live.com/CollectionWebService/c.gif?cid=-2678105972101055206&page=RSS%3a+Temps+set+to+get+equal+pay+and+perks&referrer=" width="1px" height="1px" border="0" alt=""><img style="position:absolute" alt="" width="0px" height="0px" src="http://c.live.com/c.gif?NC=31263&NA=1149&PI=73329&RF=&DI=3919&PS=85545&TP=consumerchampion.spaces.live.com&GT1=consumerchampion">http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2115.entry#commenthttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2115.entryTue, 02 Sep 2008 15:07:45 GMT0blogentryblogentryBlog entryhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2115/comments/feed.rsshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2115.entry#comment2008-09-02T15:10:20ZDriving in France? Don't forget your fluorescent jackethttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2091.entry<p><a href="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pgyjNJA2-ItEea6FE97UkNn95qZiRqJUgqqVTpkKKm1U0Mnbs2cBvnF8ODkjH2ifz?PARTNER=WRITER"><img style="border-top-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-right-width:0px" height=164 alt="karllagerfeld_roadsafetyfrance" src="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pL6D9awqynsLTMLwfcsGJ931mZ1Fzk9eDGva3WKJEoC4zEA86bCUmNdEf9FQWspeR?PARTNER=WRITER" width=244 align=left border=0></a> I had to check the date when I saw a photo of Karl Lagerfeld wearing evening dress and a high-res bib in an advert. But it's no April Fool. The fashion maestro is promoting the new kit required for anyone driving in France. <p>You don't need to wear it all the time (although I was tempted to say you were....) but if you break down. You also need to carry a warning triangle. The new laws which came into effect on 1 July require all cars to carry a luminous yellow safety vest for the driver to wear in an emergency. <p>Those caught without a vest face a £100 on-the-spot fine. <p>The new regulation brings France into line with Spain and Germany. It's well worth checking up on the <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/insurance/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5617944" target="_blank">driving requirements</a> for any foreign country you're visiting as they are often different from the UK. Don't forget to <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/Insurance/car-insurance-guide/article.aspx?cp-documentid=6105443" target="_blank">check your insurance</a> covers you, too. <p><strong><font color="#0000ff">Have you been caught out by an unexpected road law in another country? Are there any you would like to see introduced in the UK?</font> <font color="#ff0000">Leave your comment below....</font></strong><br> <div> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan=100><b>Bookmark with:</b> <tr valign=baseline> <td><a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2091.entry&title=Driving in France%3F Don't forget your fluorescent jacket"><img alt="Share this post using Digg" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/A1/015DEE3957CBCE73EEE783DF7B35.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2091.entry&title=Driving in France%3F Don't forget your fluorescent jacket">Digg </a> <td><a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2091.entry&title=Driving in France%3F Don't forget your fluorescent jacket"><img alt="Share this post using del.icio.us" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/D4/932E350D0DB963ED853F7ABB191A0.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2091.entry&title=Driving in France%3F Don't forget your fluorescent jacket">del.icio.us </a> <td><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2091.entry&title=Driving in France%3F Don't forget your fluorescent jacket"><img alt="Share this post using Reddit" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/BD/31D436ADEE5B875C24F2032DF874.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2091.entry&title=Driving in France%3F Don't forget your fluorescent jacket">Reddit </a> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2091.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Facebook" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/C0/9FCEC94A942A38C2A8F18DC54D1343.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2091.entry">Facebook </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2091.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Newsvine" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/95/D852BEB575B014966B9E51DB89F560.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2091.entry">Newsvine </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2091.entry"><img alt="Share this post using StumbleUpon" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/EF/9F7D2CC5FF1B814CF37C5DCD5224.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2091.entry&title=Driving in France%3F Don't forget your fluorescent jacket">StumbleUpon </a></tbody></table></div><img src="http://c.services.spaces.live.com/CollectionWebService/c.gif?cid=-2678105972101055206&page=RSS%3a+Driving+in+France%3f+Don't+forget+your+fluorescent+jacket&referrer=" width="1px" height="1px" border="0" alt=""><img style="position:absolute" alt="" width="0px" height="0px" src="http://c.live.com/c.gif?NC=31263&NA=1149&PI=73329&RF=&DI=3919&PS=85545&TP=consumerchampion.spaces.live.com&GT1=consumerchampion">http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2091.entry#commenthttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2091.entrySun, 31 Aug 2008 19:24:16 GMT46blogentryblogentryBlog entryhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2091/comments/feed.rsshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2091.entry#comment2008-08-31T19:27:26ZHome Information Packs? Please get rid of them......http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2053.entry<p> <p><a href="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1p4FahtEP6k3zm3-HSu6Ggai1D8k9Q-khi7fuokyhbmweLb35ZUgyjNcjMZm_6_STE?PARTNER=WRITER"><img style="border-top-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-right-width:0px" height=126 alt="Home_information_packs_extended_today_large" src="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pmON8B0cqYv2p2GW_Ef0KXCrcq6ULzHj2vB7cac9js-_iSQuFUUSClXUPn9go6oaL?PARTNER=WRITER" width=103 align=left border=0></a>When I think of all the things that the government could be spending time and <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/" target="_blank">money</a> on, it makes my blood boil to think of how much has been wasted on such a pointless exercise as <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/mortgages/hips.aspx" target="_blank">Home Information Packs</a>. <p>If you are a <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/mortgages/" target="_blank">buyer</a> who has found one useful (or not) I would love to hear from you.... <p>Meanwhile, the property industry is getting increasingly fed up with them and is starting to highlight the obvious weaknesses. <p>This week the <a href="http://www.naea.co.uk/" target="_blank">National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA)</a> says the packs are not fit for purpose and as the market slowed, the problems became worse. The body says that local searches are out of date by the time a property is sold. It wants a simpler pack introduced which would include a <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/mortgages/" target="_blank">sellers'</a> questionnaire, an Energy Performance Certificate, and the Land Registry title and plan. <p>The NAEA has joined forces with <a href="http://www.rics.org/" target="_blank">RICS (Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors</a>) to lobby for changes. A revised <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/mortgages/hips.aspx" target="_blank">HIP</a> could concentrate on consumer information with legal information being taken out and obtained by legal advisers at the appropriate time. These changes would cut unnecessary cost and ensure that sellers and buyers receive the service they want from their professional advisers. <p>The Conservatives say they will scrap the <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/mortgages/hips.aspx" target="_blank">packs</a> if they came to power. <p><strong><font color="#0000ff">Have you received a HIP? Was it useful? Would you like to see them scrapped?</font> <font color="#ff0000">Leave a comment below...</font></strong><br> <div> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan=100><b>Bookmark with:</b> <tr valign=baseline> <td><a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2053.entry&title=Home Information Packs%3F Please get rid of them......"><img alt="Share this post using Digg" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/A1/015DEE3957CBCE73EEE783DF7B35.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2053.entry&title=Home Information Packs%3F Please get rid of them......">Digg </a> <td><a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2053.entry&title=Home Information Packs%3F Please get rid of them......"><img alt="Share this post using del.icio.us" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/D4/932E350D0DB963ED853F7ABB191A0.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2053.entry&title=Home Information Packs%3F Please get rid of them......">del.icio.us </a> <td><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2053.entry&title=Home Information Packs%3F Please get rid of them......"><img alt="Share this post using Reddit" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/BD/31D436ADEE5B875C24F2032DF874.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2053.entry&title=Home Information Packs%3F Please get rid of them......">Reddit </a> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2053.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Facebook" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/C0/9FCEC94A942A38C2A8F18DC54D1343.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2053.entry">Facebook </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2053.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Newsvine" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/95/D852BEB575B014966B9E51DB89F560.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2053.entry">Newsvine </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2053.entry"><img alt="Share this post using StumbleUpon" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/EF/9F7D2CC5FF1B814CF37C5DCD5224.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2053.entry&title=Home Information Packs%3F Please get rid of them......">StumbleUpon </a></tbody></table></div><img src="http://c.services.spaces.live.com/CollectionWebService/c.gif?cid=-2678105972101055206&page=RSS%3a+Home+Information+Packs%3f+Please+get+rid+of+them......&referrer=" width="1px" height="1px" border="0" alt=""><img style="position:absolute" alt="" width="0px" height="0px" src="http://c.live.com/c.gif?NC=31263&NA=1149&PI=73329&RF=&DI=3919&PS=85545&TP=consumerchampion.spaces.live.com&GT1=consumerchampion">http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2053.entry#commenthttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2053.entryThu, 28 Aug 2008 06:48:16 GMT35blogentryblogentryBlog entryhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2053/comments/feed.rsshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2053.entry#comment2008-08-28T07:06:11ZWives and lovers - who feels the pinch in the crunch?http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2041.entry<p> <p><a href="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1p83vhRKC54_CUdWUXq_T6g04NkSh88IOn7T4It63bFpGKqzXpohgoJ2iuAuCGo9ZL?PARTNER=WRITER"><img style="border-top-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-right-width:0px" height=244 alt=sockshop-ladies-1-pair-10-denier-classic-nylon-lace-top-stockings-large-black src="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pbt6TGfVAMrhzFdrMp7N8QR1ur58qVoe-WnHqBMKChAh20FDcYBRBmGxYFnoy6C8q?PARTNER=WRITER" width=244 align=right border=0></a> There is an old saying that when <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/" target="_blank">money</a> walks out the front door, love flies out of the window. So is the <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/credit-crunch-survival-guide/" target="_blank">credit crunch</a> starting to impact on our love lives? <p>New figures show that we are now seeing <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/guides/women-and-money/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4758642" target="_blank">divorce</a> rates soar by 150% since last year according to Solicitors <a href="http://www.sasdaniels.co.uk/" target="_blank">SAS Daniels</a>. This follows the happy times of 2006 when divorce rates were the lowest they have been in 22 years. We can only speculate as to whether this had anything to do with the heavy-spending, high-credit lifestyle of that time. <p>Apparently the figures are expected to rise again in August and September as couples return from holidays and realise they cannot stand each other. A spokesman said: “It’s a combination of circumstances. Personal finance pressure, a nation who can’t completely switch off on holiday, and getting thrown together for two weeks solid with a spouse they wouldn’t normally see for more than a few hours a day. Throw in alcohol, travel delays, bickering kids and a hotel or apartment that’s tiny or not up to scratch, and it all becomes a pressure cooker just waiting to blow.” <p>If you're getting cold feet about your own relationship in advance of your <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/guides/getting-married/" target="_blank">wedding</a> then you may be interested in the story of heartbroken Rosemary Shell who was dumped three days before her big day. She sued her former fiance and won £75,000 in damages and compensation. OK, so it was in America but watch this space. <p>Meanwhile.... for an estimated 260,000 people there is an extra set of bills to tot up and added pressure during the credit crunch. I'm pretty sure you won't feel sorry for them though. They are spending their cash on affairs. In fact, Britain's 'Affair Economy' was worth just over £670 million in the 2007/2008 – an increase of more than £85 million on previous year. <p>The figures come from the much-debated IlicitEncounters website which says cheats are spending an average of £296.40 each time they play away. Most couples spent between £120 and £200 on a room in a four-star or higher rated hotel, with dinner and drinks accounting for between £62.50 and £100. <a href="http://travel.uk.msn.com/" target="_blank">Travel</a> costs up to £100, while many budgeted up to £200 on a new outfit, set of clothes or lingerie for their encounter. <p>Many men continue to cover the costs of an affair and do not claim them as a business expense. But they are keen to ensure their lovers know they pick up the bill themselves. <p><strong><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#0000ff">Share your thoughts and comments</font> - leave a comment below.</font></strong><br> <div> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan=100><b>Bookmark with:</b> <tr valign=baseline> <td><a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2041.entry&title=Wives and lovers - who feels the pinch in the crunch%3F"><img alt="Share this post using Digg" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/A1/015DEE3957CBCE73EEE783DF7B35.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2041.entry&title=Wives and lovers - who feels the pinch in the crunch%3F">Digg </a> <td><a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2041.entry&title=Wives and lovers - who feels the pinch in the crunch%3F"><img alt="Share this post using del.icio.us" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/D4/932E350D0DB963ED853F7ABB191A0.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2041.entry&title=Wives and lovers - who feels the pinch in the crunch%3F">del.icio.us </a> <td><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2041.entry&title=Wives and lovers - who feels the pinch in the crunch%3F"><img alt="Share this post using Reddit" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/BD/31D436ADEE5B875C24F2032DF874.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2041.entry&title=Wives and lovers - who feels the pinch in the crunch%3F">Reddit </a> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2041.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Facebook" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/C0/9FCEC94A942A38C2A8F18DC54D1343.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2041.entry">Facebook </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2041.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Newsvine" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/95/D852BEB575B014966B9E51DB89F560.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2041.entry">Newsvine </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2041.entry"><img alt="Share this post using StumbleUpon" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/EF/9F7D2CC5FF1B814CF37C5DCD5224.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2041.entry&title=Wives and lovers - who feels the pinch in the crunch%3F">StumbleUpon </a></tbody></table></div><img src="http://c.services.spaces.live.com/CollectionWebService/c.gif?cid=-2678105972101055206&page=RSS%3a+Wives+and+lovers+-+who+feels+the+pinch+in+the+crunch%3f&referrer=" width="1px" height="1px" border="0" alt=""><img style="position:absolute" alt="" width="0px" height="0px" src="http://c.live.com/c.gif?NC=31263&NA=1149&PI=73329&RF=&DI=3919&PS=85545&TP=consumerchampion.spaces.live.com&GT1=consumerchampion">http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2041.entry#commenthttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2041.entryTue, 26 Aug 2008 07:57:18 GMT0blogentryblogentryBlog entryhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2041/comments/feed.rsshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2041.entry#comment2008-08-26T10:15:38ZThe cost of policing TV's Big Brotherhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2027.entry<p>You may be hooked on the housemates or you might prefer the idea of watching paint dry. It's just incredible to think how much police time it wastes. <p><a href="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pLzOONBqpg_X9kuJsB06l4fitwDugbxpLrDKCUQ2bdSkxRlkLUrHZ0PSGZgxK9GKe?PARTNER=WRITER"><img style="border-top-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-right-width:0px" height=130 alt=eye src="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1puf1EV_UizhsVFD0OkH-pKYRLgcMiNlzgRyXuRiSBV0I7o3Ap07Xub-FH8M_P3LqLH8fx03Svg7c?PARTNER=WRITER" width=160 align=left border=0></a>Figures obtained by <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/sunday-mirror/" target="_blank">The Sunday Mirror</a> under the Freedom of Information Act show that <a href="http://bigbrotherblog.spaces.live.com/" target="_blank">BB9</a> has already cost £80,000 and the total could be double that before the show ends in September. When added to the costs of previous series, you're looking at £500,000 of police costs in the last six years. <p>A spokesman for Hertfordshire Police said all police costs were billed to programme makers <a href="http://www.channel4.com/bigbrother/" target="_blank">Endemol</a>. He said: "The decision to bill the programme makers was taken in 2002. The cost should not be met by the <a href="http://money.msn.taxbuddies.com/" target="_blank">taxpayer</a>. At no time is policing in Hertfordshire compromised by officers having to deal with events in the show." <p>If you live in Hertfordshire, it can't be much of a comfort. The day-to-day demands include a team of officers patrolling around the studio every Friday night during the live eviction. A specialist search team also had to attend the BB studios after a bomb scare. Then there is the ongoing cost of investigating Alexandra De-Gale's <a href="http://bigbrotherblog.spaces.live.com/" target="_blank">"gangster" threats</a>. <p>In July last year, officers looked into alleged racism but no charges were brought. That series, BB8, cost a total of £114,923 to police. In January 2007, Jade Goody bullied Shilpa Shetty on Celebrity Big Brother, which cost £14,500 to look into. Again, no charges were brought. In August 2005 in BB6, a series of vicious rows pushed security costs up to £79,813. BB5's bill was £43,548, BB4 in 2003 cost £33,468 and series three was cheap at 'just' £12,655. <p>So the programme stumps up the cash to pay back the <a href="http://money.msn.taxbuddies.com/" target="_blank">taxpayer</a>. But unless Herts police employ 'seasonal' teams to deal with Big Brother every year, it's hard to see how local people are not losing resources to the show. <p><strong><font color="#0070c0">Have your say.... Is it OK, so long as the money is repaid? Or should TV companies shell out for private security?</font> <font color="#ff0000">Leave a comment below...</font></strong><br> <div> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan=100><b>Bookmark with:</b> <tr valign=baseline> <td><a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/default.aspx%3F_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart%3Dblogentry%26_c11_BlogPart_handle%3Dcns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2027%26_c%3DBlogPart&title=The cost of policing TV's Big Brother"><img alt="Share this post using Digg" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/A1/015DEE3957CBCE73EEE783DF7B35.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/default.aspx%3F_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart%3Dblogentry%26_c11_BlogPart_handle%3Dcns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2027%26_c%3DBlogPart&title=The cost of policing TV's Big Brother">Digg </a> <td><a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/default.aspx%3F_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart%3Dblogentry%26_c11_BlogPart_handle%3Dcns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2027%26_c%3DBlogPart&title=The cost of policing TV's Big Brother"><img alt="Share this post using del.icio.us" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/D4/932E350D0DB963ED853F7ABB191A0.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/default.aspx%3F_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart%3Dblogentry%26_c11_BlogPart_handle%3Dcns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2027%26_c%3DBlogPart&title=The cost of policing TV's Big Brother">del.icio.us </a> <td><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/default.aspx%3F_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart%3Dblogentry%26_c11_BlogPart_handle%3Dcns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2027%26_c%3DBlogPart&title=The cost of policing TV's Big Brother"><img alt="Share this post using Reddit" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/BD/31D436ADEE5B875C24F2032DF874.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/default.aspx%3F_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart%3Dblogentry%26_c11_BlogPart_handle%3Dcns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2027%26_c%3DBlogPart&title=The cost of policing TV's Big Brother">Reddit </a> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/default.aspx%3F_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart%3Dblogentry%26_c11_BlogPart_handle%3Dcns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2027%26_c%3DBlogPart"><img alt="Share this post using Facebook" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/C0/9FCEC94A942A38C2A8F18DC54D1343.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/default.aspx%3F_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart%3Dblogentry%26_c11_BlogPart_handle%3Dcns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2027%26_c%3DBlogPart">Facebook </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/default.aspx%3F_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart%3Dblogentry%26_c11_BlogPart_handle%3Dcns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2027%26_c%3DBlogPart"><img alt="Share this post using Newsvine" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/95/D852BEB575B014966B9E51DB89F560.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/default.aspx%3F_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart%3Dblogentry%26_c11_BlogPart_handle%3Dcns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2027%26_c%3DBlogPart">Newsvine </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/default.aspx%3F_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart%3Dblogentry%26_c11_BlogPart_handle%3Dcns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2027%26_c%3DBlogPart"><img alt="Share this post using StumbleUpon" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/EF/9F7D2CC5FF1B814CF37C5DCD5224.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/default.aspx%3F_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart%3Dblogentry%26_c11_BlogPart_handle%3Dcns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2027%26_c%3DBlogPart&title=The cost of policing TV's Big Brother">StumbleUpon </a></tbody></table></div><img src="http://c.services.spaces.live.com/CollectionWebService/c.gif?cid=-2678105972101055206&page=RSS%3a+The+cost+of+policing+TV's+Big+Brother&referrer=" width="1px" height="1px" border="0" alt=""><img style="position:absolute" alt="" width="0px" height="0px" src="http://c.live.com/c.gif?NC=31263&NA=1149&PI=73329&RF=&DI=3919&PS=85545&TP=consumerchampion.spaces.live.com&GT1=consumerchampion">http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2027.entry#commenthttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2027.entryThu, 21 Aug 2008 17:12:28 GMT17blogentryblogentryBlog entryhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2027/comments/feed.rsshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2027.entry#comment2008-08-21T17:32:36ZThe UK town that prints its own money - and why it's a good thinghttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2003.entry<p> <p>If you haven't seen the old Ealing comedy <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Passport-Pimlico-Stanley-Holloway/dp/B000I5XNHE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1219053169&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Passport To Pimlico</a> then it's well worth a Sunday afternoon viewing. I won't spoil the fun for you but in a nutshell it tells the story of a London community in 1949 which discovers that is a part of the French duchy of Burgundy. The residents declare independence from Britain, set up customs' checkpoints for passengers travelling through Pimlico tube station and declare thems<a href="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pNyGSE-J0p546BXgtomio6xToTDfUFTPK-Fmp-6TJTVYuMcTA18ZBo3xdSsxmsaJS?PARTNER=WRITER"><img style="border-right:0px;border-top:0px;border-left:0px;border-bottom:0px" height=244 alt="lewes_bag_black" src="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pBYMYjQ627eXx09vLsccdULB1bNZ3a4lEyzezjFLXvuq3wFlZ87uaJ8CIiY0ShunD?PARTNER=WRITER" width=214 align=left border=0></a>elves 'Burgundians'. <p>I thought of this lovely film when I read about the residents of <a href="http://www.lewes.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Lewes, East Sussex</a>, who are about to launch their own <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/investing/articles/morecommentary/article.aspx?cp-documentid=8773025" target="_blank">currency</a> for the town. <p>The Lewes pound will be legal tender but won't have The Queen's head on it (a legal requirement). But far from being a move to republicanism, independence from Britain or the Bank of England, the Lewes pound is designed to support <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/consumer/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5799871" target="_blank">local shops</a> instead of big supermarkets. It will initially be accepted in around 30 locally-owned shops and a first run of 10,000-plus notes is expected. It is the largest-scale launch of a local currency in the UK since Lewes had its own pound in 1895 and, in a coup for the organisers, the town's branch of Barclays bank has agreed to accept it. <p>According to one analysis, 80% of the money that goes into a supermarket till leaves the local economy immediately. Residents believe that by backing local stores such trends can be reversed. <p>The town prides itself on consumer power. It has already forced Greene King breweries to restore locally-brewed Harveys beer and ale to the Lewes Arms, following a mass boycott. It also has a standing ban on Starbucks branches. Fact fans will know Lewes as the home town of <a href="http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/tv/realitytv/britains-got-talent/article.aspx?cp-documentid=8041235" target="_blank">Piers Morgan</a>. <p>Lewes may not be emulating Pimlico but it follows in the footsteps of <a href="http://totnes.transitionnetwork.org/totnespound/home" target="_blank">Totnes</a> in Devon where a local currency has been running for more than a year. Similar schemes have been run in various countries around the world including the US, Germany, Netherlands, Argentina and Switzerland. <p><font color="#0000ff">I applaud Lewes. <strong>The question is, what it is to stop the local </strong><a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/consumer/article.aspx?cp-documentid=8465161" target="_blank"><strong>supermarkets</strong></a><strong> from accepting the Lewes Pound? If they did, surely it would defeat the object? Great idea but hard to make it work in practice?</strong></font><strong> <font color="#ff0000">Have your say by leaving a comment below.....</font></strong><br> <div> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan=100><b>Bookmark with:</b> <tr valign=baseline> <td><a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2003.entry&title=The UK town that prints its own money - and why it's a good thing"><img alt="Share this post using Digg" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/A1/015DEE3957CBCE73EEE783DF7B35.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2003.entry&title=The UK town that prints its own money - and why it's a good thing">Digg </a> <td><a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2003.entry&title=The UK town that prints its own money - and why it's a good thing"><img alt="Share this post using del.icio.us" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/D4/932E350D0DB963ED853F7ABB191A0.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2003.entry&title=The UK town that prints its own money - and why it's a good thing">del.icio.us </a> <td><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2003.entry&title=The UK town that prints its own money - and why it's a good thing"><img alt="Share this post using Reddit" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/BD/31D436ADEE5B875C24F2032DF874.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2003.entry&title=The UK town that prints its own money - and why it's a good thing">Reddit </a> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2003.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Facebook" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/C0/9FCEC94A942A38C2A8F18DC54D1343.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2003.entry">Facebook </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2003.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Newsvine" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/95/D852BEB575B014966B9E51DB89F560.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2003.entry">Newsvine </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2003.entry"><img alt="Share this post using StumbleUpon" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/EF/9F7D2CC5FF1B814CF37C5DCD5224.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2003.entry&title=The UK town that prints its own money - and why it's a good thing">StumbleUpon </a></tbody></table></div><img src="http://c.services.spaces.live.com/CollectionWebService/c.gif?cid=-2678105972101055206&page=RSS%3a+The+UK+town+that+prints+its+own+money+-+and+why+it's+a+good+thing&referrer=" width="1px" height="1px" border="0" alt=""><img style="position:absolute" alt="" width="0px" height="0px" src="http://c.live.com/c.gif?NC=31263&NA=1149&PI=73329&RF=&DI=3919&PS=85545&TP=consumerchampion.spaces.live.com&GT1=consumerchampion">http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2003.entry#commenthttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2003.entryMon, 18 Aug 2008 10:35:05 GMT13blogentryblogentryBlog entryhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2003/comments/feed.rsshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!2003.entry#comment2008-08-18T10:43:31Z£2-a-night foreign stay? Look before you bookhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1996.entry<p><a href="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pVaDLBLs3mbYRl36q1mR6qAVTLkVBeM3IMqtD9yNBag3lGVZpExCZElm-69JeExU6?PARTNER=WRITER"><img style="border-top-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-right-width:0px" height=159 alt="bucket_and_spade" src="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pL2TQ3a6nhFYQoNWBgep_LMu5OAFBmAYJnn7_GzL1OszP6Bu_XoFah5k3C6PZbcjA?PARTNER=WRITER" width=244 align=right border=0></a> Everyone I talk to seems to be planning <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/guides/holiday-money/" target="_blank">holidays</a> or long weekends in the UK, either staying at home and enjoying the garden or heading to another part of the country. But if you're sick of the rain it's understandable that £2-a-night trips abroad would appeal. <p>The UK's biggest tour operator, <a href="http://www.thomson.co.uk/" target="_blank">Thomson</a>, is currently offering these <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/credit-crunch-survival-guide/" target="_blank">credit-crunch</a>-beating deals for stays in Turkey and Greece, with Menorca, Spain and Tenerife available for up to £16-a-night. Flights are not included. <p>But...before you rush to book, make sure you know exactly what you're getting for your money - and when. The catch with this deal is that you may only be able to book one night for that price and have to spend more on the rest of the week or fortnight. You may also have to take your <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/guides/holiday-money/" target="_blank">holiday</a> in October to get the low-cost rooms. <p>Other tour operators may drop their prices to compete so shop around before you book. <p><strong><font color="#0000ff">Have you found any great holiday deals? Or perhaps been stung by small print?</font> <font color="#ff0000">Leave your comments below....</font></strong><br> <div> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan=100><b>Bookmark with:</b> <tr valign=baseline> <td><a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1996.entry&title=%C2%A32-a-night foreign stay%3F Look before you book"><img alt="Share this post using Digg" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/A1/015DEE3957CBCE73EEE783DF7B35.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1996.entry&title=%C2%A32-a-night foreign stay%3F Look before you book">Digg </a> <td><a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1996.entry&title=%C2%A32-a-night foreign stay%3F Look before you book"><img alt="Share this post using del.icio.us" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/D4/932E350D0DB963ED853F7ABB191A0.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1996.entry&title=%C2%A32-a-night foreign stay%3F Look before you book">del.icio.us </a> <td><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1996.entry&title=%C2%A32-a-night foreign stay%3F Look before you book"><img alt="Share this post using Reddit" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/BD/31D436ADEE5B875C24F2032DF874.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1996.entry&title=%C2%A32-a-night foreign stay%3F Look before you book">Reddit </a> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1996.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Facebook" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/C0/9FCEC94A942A38C2A8F18DC54D1343.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1996.entry">Facebook </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1996.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Newsvine" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/95/D852BEB575B014966B9E51DB89F560.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1996.entry">Newsvine </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1996.entry"><img alt="Share this post using StumbleUpon" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/EF/9F7D2CC5FF1B814CF37C5DCD5224.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1996.entry&title=%C2%A32-a-night foreign stay%3F Look before you book">StumbleUpon </a></tbody></table></div><img src="http://c.services.spaces.live.com/CollectionWebService/c.gif?cid=-2678105972101055206&page=RSS%3a+%c2%a32-a-night+foreign+stay%3f+Look+before+you+book&referrer=" width="1px" height="1px" border="0" alt=""><img style="position:absolute" alt="" width="0px" height="0px" src="http://c.live.com/c.gif?NC=31263&NA=1149&PI=73329&RF=&DI=3919&PS=85545&TP=consumerchampion.spaces.live.com&GT1=consumerchampion">http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1996.entry#commenthttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1996.entrySat, 16 Aug 2008 07:38:45 GMT5blogentryblogentryBlog entryhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1996/comments/feed.rsshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1996.entry#comment2008-08-18T19:59:45ZDo you use your credit card to pay for petrol?http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1993.entry<p><a href="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pBin6xCz67u4BcSgQ8wwckyfkzbNW4m9CAT9D_iVUQMiL0dJj6NS2HYsjti-gVHV-?PARTNER=WRITER"><img style="border-top-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-right-width:0px" height=244 alt=petrol src="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pGt8zFcEO1i61yyH-JGSv7mzDE8CjYded-seFskbwJeFordmbwf7xkftFHGr20y-_NZK_uhIlhYg?PARTNER=WRITER" width=183 align=right border=0></a> It's now a fact of life that a trip the petrol station will cost you a small fortune. But are we also running the risk of having our accounts cleaned out and <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/guides/credit-reports/" target="_blank">credit records</a> blackened? Friends of mine in an office in London recently discovered that about 9 out of 14 staff had been the victims of <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/banking/id-fraud/default.aspx" target="_blank">card cloning</a> in the last few weeks. After narrowing down the local places where they use their plastic, it turned out that the local petrol station - with mini supermarket attached and so a lunch stop - was to blame. <p>Perhaps they got off lightly when you consider the recent case in Houghton on the Hill in Leicestershire, now dubbed 'Village of the Scammed'. Local petrol station worker Abdul Samad Mohamed Raik was jailed for two years and nine months this week for <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/banking/id-fraud/default.aspx" target="_blank">cloning</a> more than 500 cards - affecting every house in the village - to steal £175,000. <p>Leicester Crown Court heard yesterday how Raik, a Sri Lankan national, used a <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/banking/id-fraud/default.aspx" target="_blank">fake card reader</a> to copy the card details of both villagers and motorists passing through the area between October and December last year. <p>Fake cards were then used to withdraw cash from the customers accounts in countries all around the world including Australia, Senegal, India, Canada and the Philippines. Raik ran up a debt with a loan shark linked to guerilla group the Tamil Tigers in his native Sri Lanka, Leicester Crown Court heard. He told police he was given the cloning gear and ordered to pay off what he owed — and more — while working at the village garage. He left his job at the end of the years as locals became suspicious but gave himself up in March. <p>Garage owner Jim Funnell, 51, said: “There’s hardly a household that hasn’t been affected. The pub landlord says he’ll have to offer credit as no one has any money left.” Raik first applied for entry into the UK as a student in 1999 and was allowed to stay until 2006. He then applied to remain as the spouse of a Latvian national, but the application was withdrawn. His immigration status is now under review. <p>Motorists credit cards seem to be prime targets for <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/banking/id-fraud/default.aspx" target="_blank">fraudsters</a>. Criminal gangs are thought to be targeting garages because they are often manned by only one person and have a large turnover of staff. At one point, Shell suspended payment using <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/banking/articles/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4750493" target="_blank">chip and PIN</a> at more than 400 garages. <p>Even <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/banking/id-fraud/default.aspx" target="_blank">fraud</a> experts have said they would not use their cards at petrol stations because of a spate of cloning cases. Danny Harrison of <a href="http://www.cpp.co.uk/" target="_blank">CPP</a>, an identity-protection firm that works with banks including HSBC, Barclays and NatWest on security issues, said: “I will stop using cards at petrol stations. You have to consider the risks at the moment, and it seems petrol stations are a particular target.” He said he would use cash instead, but admits this may not be possible for many people. <p>If you're paying with plastic at a petrol station keep your eye on your card at all times, <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/banking/id-fraud/default.aspx" target="_blank">protect your PIN</a> and check your statements. <p><strong><font color="#0000ff">Are you wary about using credit and debit cards at petrol stations? I am but am I being paranoid? Has your card been cloned?</font> <font color="#ff0000">Leave your comment below....</font></strong><br> <div> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan=100><b>Bookmark with:</b> <tr valign=baseline> <td><a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1943.entry&title=Do you use your credit card to pay for petrol%3F"><img alt="Share this post using Digg" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/A1/015DEE3957CBCE73EEE783DF7B35.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1943.entry&title=Do you use your credit card to pay for petrol%3F">Digg </a> <td><a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1943.entry&title=Do you use your credit card to pay for petrol%3F"><img alt="Share this post using del.icio.us" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/D4/932E350D0DB963ED853F7ABB191A0.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1943.entry&title=Do you use your credit card to pay for petrol%3F">del.icio.us </a> <td><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1943.entry&title=Do you use your credit card to pay for petrol%3F"><img alt="Share this post using Reddit" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/BD/31D436ADEE5B875C24F2032DF874.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1943.entry&title=Do you use your credit card to pay for petrol%3F">Reddit </a> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1943.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Facebook" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/C0/9FCEC94A942A38C2A8F18DC54D1343.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1943.entry">Facebook </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1943.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Newsvine" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/95/D852BEB575B014966B9E51DB89F560.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1943.entry">Newsvine </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1943.entry"><img alt="Share this post using StumbleUpon" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/EF/9F7D2CC5FF1B814CF37C5DCD5224.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1943.entry&title=Do you use your credit card to pay for petrol%3F">StumbleUpon </a></tbody></table></div><img src="http://c.services.spaces.live.com/CollectionWebService/c.gif?cid=-2678105972101055206&page=RSS%3a+Do+you+use+your+credit+card+to+pay+for+petrol%3f&referrer=" width="1px" height="1px" border="0" alt=""><img style="position:absolute" alt="" width="0px" height="0px" src="http://c.live.com/c.gif?NC=31263&NA=1149&PI=73329&RF=&DI=3919&PS=85545&TP=consumerchampion.spaces.live.com&GT1=consumerchampion">http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1993.entry#commenthttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1993.entryThu, 14 Aug 2008 16:15:55 GMT0blogentryblogentryBlog entryhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1993/comments/feed.rsshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1993.entry#comment2008-08-14T16:15:55ZHappy Birthday Credit Crunch - has it all been bad news?http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1987.entry<p> <p><a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/credit-crunch-survival-guide/article.aspx?cp-documentid=9187169" target="_blank">Happy birthday credit crunch. </a> <p>You're one year old. It's easy to think that nothing positive could come from something as grim as the <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/credit-crunch-survival-guide/" target="_blank">credit cru<a href="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1ppQ_nSZOt9S9CoZ4iUiGlEUWXK90h7weULoof9VntygAfBq2VD_QaZRwyJObI2Lz-?PARTNER=WRITER"><img style="border-right:0px;border-top:0px;border-left:0px;border-bottom:0px" height=193 alt=polka-dot-1-candle src="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pY-8n65kd3qcFwNU4zea9FLP-PdWLrNhmhCRz6XD0a6ccwWCLxCkHGpNoDbGqET3h?PARTNER=WRITER" width=178 align=left border=0></a>nch</a>. Of course the <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/mortgages/billsandenergy/" target="_blank">higher bills</a>, the worry and the lost jobs have been - and remain - a nightmare for many. It was inevitable that the boom could not go on forever without a bit of bust. And I think it's given everyone who wasn't already doing it a chance to stop and think much more carefully about money. <p>If you're selling cut price food, camping equipment or run <a href="http://www.butlinsonline.co.uk/" target="_blank">Butlins</a> then there is a big silver lining in the form of higher sales and bigger bookings. If you're buying shares they could be cheaper than ever. Savers have also benefited from soaring rates as banks seek more funds. But don't hang around too much longer if you want a big fat rate of interest. The deals <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/Banking/getsaving/article.aspx?cp-documentid=9057605" target="_blank">upwards of 7%</a> are beginning to disappear, especially since the Bank of England froze rates this month. Find out what's on offer in the <a href="http://www.moneysupermarket.com/Savingsp/Default.asp" target="_blank">msn saving centre.</a> <p><strong><font color="#0000ff">What has been the worst aspect of the crunch for you? And have there been any positives? Have your say.</font> <font color="#ff0000">Leave a comment below.....</font></strong> <p><br> <div> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan=100><b>Bookmark with:</b> <tr valign=baseline> <td><a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1987.entry&title=Happy Birthday Credit Crunch - has it all been bad news%3F"><img alt="Share this post using Digg" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/A1/015DEE3957CBCE73EEE783DF7B35.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1987.entry&title=Happy Birthday Credit Crunch - has it all been bad news%3F">Digg </a> <td><a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1987.entry&title=Happy Birthday Credit Crunch - has it all been bad news%3F"><img alt="Share this post using del.icio.us" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/D4/932E350D0DB963ED853F7ABB191A0.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1987.entry&title=Happy Birthday Credit Crunch - has it all been bad news%3F">del.icio.us </a> <td><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1987.entry&title=Happy Birthday Credit Crunch - has it all been bad news%3F"><img alt="Share this post using Reddit" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/BD/31D436ADEE5B875C24F2032DF874.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1987.entry&title=Happy Birthday Credit Crunch - has it all been bad news%3F">Reddit </a> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1987.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Facebook" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/C0/9FCEC94A942A38C2A8F18DC54D1343.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1987.entry">Facebook </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1987.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Newsvine" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/95/D852BEB575B014966B9E51DB89F560.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1987.entry">Newsvine </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1987.entry"><img alt="Share this post using StumbleUpon" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/EF/9F7D2CC5FF1B814CF37C5DCD5224.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1987.entry&title=Happy Birthday Credit Crunch - has it all been bad news%3F">StumbleUpon </a></tbody></table><font color="#808080">Photo: </font><a href="http://www.birthdaydirect.com/images/polka-dot-1-candle.png" target="_blank"><font color="#808080">Birthdaydifrect</font></a> </div><img src="http://c.services.spaces.live.com/CollectionWebService/c.gif?cid=-2678105972101055206&page=RSS%3a+Happy+Birthday+Credit+Crunch+-+has+it+all+been+bad+news%3f&referrer=" width="1px" height="1px" border="0" alt=""><img style="position:absolute" alt="" width="0px" height="0px" src="http://c.live.com/c.gif?NC=31263&NA=1149&PI=73329&RF=&DI=3919&PS=85545&TP=consumerchampion.spaces.live.com&GT1=consumerchampion">http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1987.entry#commenthttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1987.entryTue, 12 Aug 2008 08:26:33 GMT0blogentryblogentryBlog entryhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1987/comments/feed.rsshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1987.entry#comment2008-08-12T08:39:07ZDo you want Stamp Duty postponed? Or killed off....http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1896.entry<p><a href="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pAQJZJ9KJLIk21PreQ8Mf7lCuSR1cUy0fQvLR3dmSWRtJFYb6NdYp54n2bUaIrCp5?PARTNER=WRITER"><img style="border-top-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-right-width:0px" height=133 alt=newhomes src="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pfeiNpz8osMsO_wnElSt0wPJ7iDBu0yxpeU9y6zNoahbYk3ZdEt-NLVktCXARcySY?PARTNER=WRITER" width=158 align=left border=0></a> <strong>Yes, yes, yes!</strong> I know it's sad for a girl to get so excited about stamp duty but things got very interesting for a while yesterday.... Her Majesty's <a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sun</a> broke the story that the PM or Chancellor may do 'something' with <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/mortgages/mortgageguide/article.aspx?cp-documentid=9129755" target="_blank">stamp duty</a> to help kickstart the stagnating housing market. Would it be a cut? Re-banding? Even abolition? My imagination ran wild. <p>Call me a cynic but I fear that the reality will eventually - by party conference time in September - be revealed as little more than a gimmick. By yesterday afternoon, City folk were already discussing the probability of a <strong>postponement</strong> of stamp duty, rather than anything more substantial, meaning home-buyers would still pay it at some stage, just not straight away. It will also probably be just for first time buyers. <strong>No, no, no!</strong> What we need is at least <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/mortgages/mortgageguide/article.aspx?cp-documentid=8615389" target="_blank">a cut and preferably abolition</a> - for everyone. <p>Currently, people buying homes properties for between £125,000 and £250,000 pay 1% in stamp duty at the time of sale. Those spending more than £250,000 pay 3%, while homes worth more than £500,000 incur a 4% rate. Last year it raked in a tidy £6.5bn for <a href="http://www.muppetcentral.com/" target="_blank">Treasury</a> coffers which would be hard to give up... <p>There is precedent for <em>suspending</em> this much-hated tax though - the Conservatives halted it temporarily on homes under £250,000 during the recession in 1991. But as the property market continues to correct itself, Lib-Dems Treasury spokesman Vince Cable had this to say: "The government shouldn't be trying to bribe people into buying houses in a falling market.With the economy grinding to a halt, we are already likely to see a shortfall in taxation. Suspending stamp duty, even on a temporary basis, will only make this situation worse." <p>Much more useful to first time buyers and existing homeowners would be a nice big rise in the amount of <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/investing/isaguide/default.aspx" target="_blank">tax-free savings we can build in an ISA</a>. <p><strong><font color="#0000ff">Have your say... would you like to see stamp duty postponed? Have stamp duty levels put you off moving?</font><font color="#ff0000"> Leave a comment below...</font></strong> <p><font color="#808080">Photo: <a href="http://www.rics.org/" target="_blank">RICS</a></font><br> <div> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan=100><b>Bookmark with:</b> <tr valign=baseline> <td><a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1896.entry&title=Do you want Stamp Duty postponed%3F Or killed off..."><img alt="Share this post using Digg" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/A1/015DEE3957CBCE73EEE783DF7B35.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1896.entry&title=Do you want Stamp Duty postponed%3F Or killed off...">Digg </a> <td><a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1896.entry&title=Do you want Stamp Duty postponed%3F Or killed off..."><img alt="Share this post using del.icio.us" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/D4/932E350D0DB963ED853F7ABB191A0.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1896.entry&title=Do you want Stamp Duty postponed%3F Or killed off...">del.icio.us </a> <td><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1896.entry&title=Do you want Stamp Duty postponed%3F Or killed off..."><img alt="Share this post using Reddit" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/BD/31D436ADEE5B875C24F2032DF874.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1896.entry&title=Do you want Stamp Duty postponed%3F Or killed off...">Reddit </a> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1896.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Facebook" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/C0/9FCEC94A942A38C2A8F18DC54D1343.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1896.entry">Facebook </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1896.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Newsvine" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/95/D852BEB575B014966B9E51DB89F560.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1896.entry">Newsvine </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1896.entry"><img alt="Share this post using StumbleUpon" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/EF/9F7D2CC5FF1B814CF37C5DCD5224.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1896.entry&title=Do you want Stamp Duty postponed%3F Or killed off...">StumbleUpon </a></tbody></table></div><img src="http://c.services.spaces.live.com/CollectionWebService/c.gif?cid=-2678105972101055206&page=RSS%3a+Do+you+want+Stamp+Duty+postponed%3f+Or+killed+off....&referrer=" width="1px" height="1px" border="0" alt=""><img style="position:absolute" alt="" width="0px" height="0px" src="http://c.live.com/c.gif?NC=31263&NA=1149&PI=73329&RF=&DI=3919&PS=85545&TP=consumerchampion.spaces.live.com&GT1=consumerchampion">http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1896.entry#commenthttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1896.entryWed, 06 Aug 2008 06:57:29 GMT6blogentryblogentryBlog entryhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1896/comments/feed.rsshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1896.entry#comment2008-08-06T06:59:55ZPutting the rubbish out? Take your wallet.....http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1871.entry<p>Oh you know how much I love <a href="http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/?_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart=blogview&_c=BlogPart&partqs=cat%3dCouncil%2btax" target="_blank">council bureaucracy</a>. This week is rapidly sending down the red mist as it emerges that Environment Secretary <a href="http://www.hilarybenn.org/" target="_blank">Hilary Benn</a> has backed on-the-spot fines of up to £110 for those who overfill their bins, leave them out too early, or put out extra sacks of rubbish alongside them. This means that the price of defying rubbish regulations is £30 higher than the £80 fixed penalty fine given to shoplifters or those involved in drunken disorder in city centres. Yes, really. <p>The classic case was bus driver Gareth Corkhill who was given a criminal record earlier this year for overfilling his wheelie bin to the point where the lid was open by four inches. He taken to court by <a href="http://www.copelandbc.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Copeland council</a> in Cumbria after he failed to pay a £110 on-the-spot fine. The father of four was ordered to pay a £210 fine, equal to his week's wages, plus a £15 surcharge to help 'victims of violence', and given a record. <a href="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1p7XOyeVLzs0uUctC04mBGwFfTdjJk7r9lq1u7-zEp1uoVwN-0XrxHbv8cM6PfZaKB?PARTNER=WRITER"><img style="border-right:0px;border-top:0px;border-left:0px;border-bottom:0px" height=175 alt="436px-Wheelie_Bin" src="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pjNYoOJ4tk2MPU4GREeKaKr-ZSb7rKsGTRmaWBEFDEPOlTAjGwWASNePSJ_QCsHrq?PARTNER=WRITER" width=122 align=right border=0></a> <p>I thought this would secure 'ridiculous council of the year award' for Copeland. But perhaps not..... <p>A couple of weeks ago when dustmen failed to collect his bin for the second time and the council's automated phone system sent him ga-ga, Ian Margetts decided to take matters into his own hands. He dragged his full wheelie bin to the town hall, emptied it in the foyer and went home. I bet that made him feel good. Alas he was caught on CCTV (of course) and unfortunately <a href="http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Kirklees Council</a>, West Yorkshire traced him by an address on an envelope in the pile of rubbish. <p>'This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated,' said a council spokesman as they took him to court. Although Mr Margetts had been prepared to argue his corner, claiming that the council had failed to honour its 'statutory duties', after taking legal advice he admitted dumping waste without a licence and was given a 12-month conditional discharge by Dewsbury magistrates, and ordered to pay £475 costs. <p>So the the real question is, will all these fines lead to a drop in <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/consumer/article.aspx?cp-documentid=7890407" target="_blank">council tax</a>? <p><strong><font color="#0000ff">Have you been stung by your council?</font> <font color="#ff0000">Leave your comments below.....</font></strong><br> <div> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan=100><b>Bookmark with:</b> <tr valign=baseline> <td><a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1871.entry&title=Putting the rubbish out%3F Take your wallet....."><img alt="Share this post using Digg" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/A1/015DEE3957CBCE73EEE783DF7B35.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1871.entry&title=Putting the rubbish out%3F Take your wallet.....">Digg </a> <td><a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1871.entry&title=Putting the rubbish out%3F Take your wallet....."><img alt="Share this post using del.icio.us" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/D4/932E350D0DB963ED853F7ABB191A0.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1871.entry&title=Putting the rubbish out%3F Take your wallet.....">del.icio.us </a> <td><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1871.entry&title=Putting the rubbish out%3F Take your wallet....."><img alt="Share this post using Reddit" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/BD/31D436ADEE5B875C24F2032DF874.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1871.entry&title=Putting the rubbish out%3F Take your wallet.....">Reddit </a> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1871.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Facebook" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/C0/9FCEC94A942A38C2A8F18DC54D1343.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1871.entry">Facebook </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1871.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Newsvine" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/95/D852BEB575B014966B9E51DB89F560.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1871.entry">Newsvine </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1871.entry"><img alt="Share this post using StumbleUpon" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/EF/9F7D2CC5FF1B814CF37C5DCD5224.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1871.entry&title=Putting the rubbish out%3F Take your wallet.....">StumbleUpon </a></tbody></table></div><img src="http://c.services.spaces.live.com/CollectionWebService/c.gif?cid=-2678105972101055206&page=RSS%3a+Putting+the+rubbish+out%3f+Take+your+wallet.....&referrer=" width="1px" height="1px" border="0" alt=""><img style="position:absolute" alt="" width="0px" height="0px" src="http://c.live.com/c.gif?NC=31263&NA=1149&PI=73329&RF=&DI=3919&PS=85545&TP=consumerchampion.spaces.live.com&GT1=consumerchampion">http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1871.entry#commenthttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1871.entryTue, 05 Aug 2008 09:10:07 GMT3blogentryblogentryBlog entryhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1871/comments/feed.rsshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1871.entry#comment2008-08-05T09:46:20ZWho to blame for high gas bills...http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1850.entry<p><a href="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pPRU3ZqUu5GlO26tN83WgA9EiRgpo8uAUK6FW3QkTOepfq_g0coxkfdfumuu7npMy?PARTNER=WRITER"><img style="border-right:0px;border-top:0px;border-left:0px;border-bottom:0px" height=209 alt=gas-ring src="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pYL1MwtGmw3VhftqU3BYs8Punp1ac0EYS9qAFkC0rsMJYGMlcooDDt39EFdwMN9rq?PARTNER=WRITER" width=184 align=left border=0></a> It may not be who you think. I know it might be easy to stick the boot into <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/mortgages/billsandenergy/article.aspx?cp-documentid=9012501" target="_blank">British Gas</a> or EDF for <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/mortgages/billsandenergy/" target="_blank">hiking up their prices</a> but it's not that simple. <p>Because although Britain was once blessed with more <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Sea_oil" target="_blank">natural gas</a> than we knew what to do with, we did not bother storing it. We used it, we exported it and in the last 20 years no investment was made in storage. Now those supplies are starting to dwindle and we are often buying back our own gas from other countries - particularly France and Germany who did store it and whose bills won't be increasing any time soon. <p>So if you're looking for a whipping boy, it's not the gas suppliers, or even the oil producers and their big profits (which in turn boost our pension funds). It's two successive governments who stuffed us up. Why am I not surprised. <p>And before this blog becomes too grumpy and Monday-ish, here are few thoughts on how to <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/mortgages/billsandenergy/" target="_blank">cut your bills...</a> <ul> <li>Don't rush to switch suppliers. We know about the two big price rises last week but you can expect the other four suppliers to increase bills soon. Then they are ALL expected to raise them AGAIN in January, just as you're paying for Christmas. Wait until this first round of increases is complete and then <a href="http://energy.money.uk.msn.com/msn/Utilities/" target="_blank">compare and think about switching</a>. <li><a href="http://www.electricity-guide.org.uk/meters.html" target="_blank">Read your meter</a>. I can't begin to tell you what a forgotten habit this is and how much it costs us all through incorrect 'estimated' bills. <li>Use less energy if you can. the <a href="http://msnmoney.est.org.uk/" target="_blank">Energy Savings Trust</a> site has dozens of practical ideas and savings tips. <li>Pay by <a href="http://www.bacs.co.uk/BACS/Consumers/Direct+Debit/" target="_blank">direct debit</a>. It sounds simple but you can save as much as 10% straight away just by paying your bills this way. </ul> <p><strong><font color="#0000ff">Have your say... who do you think is to blame for our high gas bills? Do you have any money-saving tips to share?</font> <font color="#ff0000">Leave your comments below...</font></strong><br> <div> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan=100><b>Bookmark with:</b> <tr valign=baseline> <td><a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1850.entry&title=Who to blame for high gas bills...."><img alt="Share this post using Digg" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/A1/015DEE3957CBCE73EEE783DF7B35.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1850.entry&title=Who to blame for high gas bills....">Digg </a> <td><a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1850.entry&title=Who to blame for high gas bills...."><img alt="Share this post using del.icio.us" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/D4/932E350D0DB963ED853F7ABB191A0.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1850.entry&title=Who to blame for high gas bills....">del.icio.us </a> <td><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1850.entry&title=Who to blame for high gas bills...."><img alt="Share this post using Reddit" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/BD/31D436ADEE5B875C24F2032DF874.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1850.entry&title=Who to blame for high gas bills....">Reddit </a> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1850.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Facebook" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/C0/9FCEC94A942A38C2A8F18DC54D1343.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1850.entry">Facebook </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1850.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Newsvine" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/95/D852BEB575B014966B9E51DB89F560.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1850.entry">Newsvine </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1850.entry"><img alt="Share this post using StumbleUpon" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/EF/9F7D2CC5FF1B814CF37C5DCD5224.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1850.entry&title=Who to blame for high gas bills....">StumbleUpon </a></tbody></table></div><img src="http://c.services.spaces.live.com/CollectionWebService/c.gif?cid=-2678105972101055206&page=RSS%3a+Who+to+blame+for+high+gas+bills...&referrer=" width="1px" height="1px" border="0" alt=""><img style="position:absolute" alt="" width="0px" height="0px" src="http://c.live.com/c.gif?NC=31263&NA=1149&PI=73329&RF=&DI=3919&PS=85545&TP=consumerchampion.spaces.live.com&GT1=consumerchampion">http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1850.entry#commenthttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1850.entryMon, 04 Aug 2008 07:30:25 GMT87blogentryblogentryBlog entryhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1850/comments/feed.rsshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1850.entry#comment2008-08-11T07:44:20ZMascara advert backlashhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1844.entry<p><a href="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pLkHDsevP967hpyqFVSzXSVQKNfBuGNfs5uW75kHoNQKzF5-7-Z2UmLzmpbTzZIqz?PARTNER=WRITER"><img style="border-top-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-right-width:0px" height=244 alt=mascara src="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pmqKKcrqkHCrxJAld5wvaosmbcTt_Dhum7PWKLSLX1vJSUtAYmhTVlQzymzKQY5aA?PARTNER=WRITER" width=205 align=right border=0></a> Is it just me or are adverts for mascara which feature false and/or digitally enhanced lashes a complete scam? <p>Only recently have firms been forced to state (albeit in pretty small print) when adverts show anything other than a model's natural mascara-coated lashes. Look closely at ads in magazines and on TV and you will start to see that almost every brand uses these techniques. <p><a href="http://www.rimmellondon.com/UK/home.aspx" target="_blank">Rimmel</a>, <a href="http://www.avon.uk.com/PRSuite/index.jsp" target="_blank">Avon</a> and <a href="http://www.loreal.co.uk/_en/_gb/index.aspx" target="_blank">L'Oreal</a> all got a ticking off last year when the <a href="http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/" target="_blank">Advertising Standards Authority</a> questioned whether the luscious lashes featured in their adverts were natural. It said that claims that a mascara could make your lashes appear '70% longer' were misleading in adverts where the lashes were enhanced. <p>And how long before adverts for <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/investing/articles/morecommentary/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5304990" target="_blank">skin cream and make up</a> will carry admissions of airbrushing? Yes it's nice to look at glamorous stars but we know what reality looks like too. Most women do not wear false lashes on a daily basis and we certainly don't have the benefit of air-brushing so why show a product in such a false way anyway? <p>I can't help thinking that if beauties like Penelope Cruz and Kate Moss do not look good enough in the product without then what hope do the rest of us have? <p><strong><font color="#0000ff">Have your say... Do you want natural lashes in mascara adverts or do you prefer a bit of glamour?</font> <font color="#ff0000">Leave a comment below...</font></strong> <br>Image - rimmellondon.com <div> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan=100><b>Bookmark with:</b> <tr valign=baseline> <td><a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1844.entry&title=Mascara advert backlash"><img alt="Share this post using Digg" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/A1/015DEE3957CBCE73EEE783DF7B35.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1844.entry&title=Mascara advert backlash">Digg </a> <td><a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1844.entry&title=Mascara advert backlash"><img alt="Share this post using del.icio.us" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/D4/932E350D0DB963ED853F7ABB191A0.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1844.entry&title=Mascara advert backlash">del.icio.us </a> <td><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1844.entry&title=Mascara advert backlash"><img alt="Share this post using Reddit" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/BD/31D436ADEE5B875C24F2032DF874.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1844.entry&title=Mascara advert backlash">Reddit </a> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1844.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Facebook" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/C0/9FCEC94A942A38C2A8F18DC54D1343.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1844.entry">Facebook </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1844.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Newsvine" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/95/D852BEB575B014966B9E51DB89F560.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1844.entry">Newsvine </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1844.entry"><img alt="Share this post using StumbleUpon" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/EF/9F7D2CC5FF1B814CF37C5DCD5224.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1844.entry&title=Mascara advert backlash">StumbleUpon </a></tbody></table></div><img src="http://c.services.spaces.live.com/CollectionWebService/c.gif?cid=-2678105972101055206&page=RSS%3a+Mascara+advert+backlash&referrer=" width="1px" height="1px" border="0" alt=""><img style="position:absolute" alt="" width="0px" height="0px" src="http://c.live.com/c.gif?NC=31263&NA=1149&PI=73329&RF=&DI=3919&PS=85545&TP=consumerchampion.spaces.live.com&GT1=consumerchampion">http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1844.entry#commenthttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1844.entryFri, 01 Aug 2008 06:09:13 GMT0blogentryblogentryBlog entryhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1844/comments/feed.rsshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1844.entry#comment2008-08-01T06:28:19ZSomeone has taken your last Rolo.....http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1837.entry<p><a href="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pNfTThdtAoxwqQwZCy49brYzw-MZuaHwikXpZ0eqZRMajSV9wsuVaVq5ZzlX-OOY_?PARTNER=WRITER"><img style="border-top-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-right-width:0px" height=120 alt=rolo src="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pxj_1ZhqhGyiFAQBg8kKWMe3G7YL5VJkvl00Wf9RHb-zPjRqmtulxwgCGQhMJgpMD?PARTNER=WRITER" width=117 align=left border=0></a> <p> <p>The <a href="http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1411.entry" target="_blank">list of incredible shrinking groceries</a> continues apace. Last week we had Dairylea-gate as the little cheesy triangles dropped from 25g each to 20g. This, says makers Kraft, is because they are "harmonising triangle weights across the range". Hmmm. <p>The <a href="http://www.ncc.org.uk/news_press/index.php" target="_blank">National Consumer Council</a> says it is 'extremely concerned' about the shrinking products as 'it cheats unsuspecting shoppers already under financial pressure from rising household and motor costs.' <p>More shrinking products include: <ul> <li>Palmolive soap - bars down from 125g to 100g but same price for a pack of four. <li>Pringles - down from 200g to 170g. <li>Ovaltine - down from 400g jars to 300g. <li>Mars Bars - 9% smaller. <li>Yorkie bars - down from seven pieces to six. <li>Rolos - down from 11 to 10. I guess they took the 'last one'. </ul> <p><strong><em><font color="#0000ff">Let's keep the list - and awareness - going</font>.</em> <font color="#ff0000">Leave a comment below....</font></strong><br> <div> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan=100><b>Bookmark with:</b> <tr valign=baseline> <td><a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1837.entry&title=Someone has taken your last Rolo....."><img alt="Share this post using Digg" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/A1/015DEE3957CBCE73EEE783DF7B35.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1837.entry&title=Someone has taken your last Rolo.....">Digg </a> <td><a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1837.entry&title=Someone has taken your last Rolo....."><img alt="Share this post using del.icio.us" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/D4/932E350D0DB963ED853F7ABB191A0.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1837.entry&title=Someone has taken your last Rolo.....">del.icio.us </a> <td><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1837.entry&title=Someone has taken your last Rolo....."><img alt="Share this post using Reddit" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/BD/31D436ADEE5B875C24F2032DF874.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1837.entry&title=Someone has taken your last Rolo.....">Reddit </a> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1837.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Facebook" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/C0/9FCEC94A942A38C2A8F18DC54D1343.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1837.entry">Facebook </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1837.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Newsvine" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/95/D852BEB575B014966B9E51DB89F560.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1837.entry">Newsvine </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1837.entry"><img alt="Share this post using StumbleUpon" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/EF/9F7D2CC5FF1B814CF37C5DCD5224.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1837.entry&title=Someone has taken your last Rolo.....">StumbleUpon </a></tbody></table></div><img src="http://c.services.spaces.live.com/CollectionWebService/c.gif?cid=-2678105972101055206&page=RSS%3a+Someone+has+taken+your+last+Rolo.....&referrer=" width="1px" height="1px" border="0" alt=""><img style="position:absolute" alt="" width="0px" height="0px" src="http://c.live.com/c.gif?NC=31263&NA=1149&PI=73329&RF=&DI=3919&PS=85545&TP=consumerchampion.spaces.live.com&GT1=consumerchampion">Short-sizing - shrinking grocerieshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1837.entry#commenthttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1837.entryThu, 31 Jul 2008 05:11:47 GMT1blogentryblogentryBlog entryhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1837/comments/feed.rsshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1837.entry#comment2008-07-31T05:16:27ZHow councils are spending your moneyhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1779.entry<p><a href="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1poOOyOLFLDyjP0W8BopC4-Dcgk_X5I3ubNC5IQXIzmZgZQ6vFpr_q8Xvzsi_qQ1p5?PARTNER=WRITER"><img style="border-top-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-right-width:0px" height=187 alt="ice cream" src="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pTby5tljZaDUHjHBjB0bjcNdmxJjAosjz4tnupWguvyPl6ZwZWbKV378aOtYmiXrH?PARTNER=WRITER" width=184 align=right border=0></a> This time of year is known as silly season for the crazy stories in the news. Sadly, I think that crazy stories involving councils are now an all-year-round fixture. <p>If you live in <a href="http://www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Suffolk</a> then I am sure you will be delighted to know that Andrea Hill, the chief exec of the county council earns £220,000 a year (presumably with a rather nice pension). Ms Hill revealed last week that she is worth the <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/" target="_blank">money</a> (that's about £10,000 more than the prime minister and nearly ten times more than a nurse) because her job is 'high risk and no longer a job for life'. In a world where very few of us has a job for life I am sure we can all relate to what she is saying. Not. As for high risk? She might want to think about <a href="http://www.army.mod.uk/" target="_blank">British soldiers</a> dodging bullets in temperatures twice as hot as they are here, in full body armour and earning £16,000. Even her own chief constable makes £100,000 less than her. <p>Ms Hill is not alone though. Council chiefs' pay has doubled in the last decade to an average of £150,000. At least six now earn more than £200,000. These rises outstrip almost all other public sector jobs and even many increases in FTSE 100 firms. Since 1997 <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/consumer/article.aspx?cp-documentid=7890407" target="_blank">Council Tax</a> has more than doubled to about £1370 on average. No link there though, I'm sure. <p>Moving on to a more cheery topic... <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/insurance/article.aspx?cp-documentid=6237714" target="_blank">funerals</a>. London's <a href="http://www.southwark.gov.uk/Public/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Southwark</a> Council wins this month's 'heart of stone' award for ramping up the cost of funeral's to 'cash in on peak season'. It has emerged that the caring council decided to bump up cremations by 10% (to £396) and burials by 5% (to £783) in January this year to rake in more <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/" target="_blank">money</a> as frail pensioners failed to cope with the cold weather. This money is of course on top of undertakers' costs. As councils have a monopoly on burial and cremation sites it seems they can easily become very grim reapers. <p>And finally, because they are just not busy enough, <a href="http://www.worcester.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Worcester</a> council has decided to take some time to draw up new rules for ice cream vans. These include the need to limit the jingles to just four seconds to avoid 'noise pollution'. We can be sure this will get a ...er... frosty reception from Mr Softys everywhere. <p><strong><font color="#0070c0"><em>Are council workers paid too much? Are councils abusing their monopoly on funeral sites? Have you been a victim of money-wasting?</em></font> <font color="#ff0000">Have your say and leave a comment below...</font></strong><br> <div> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan=100><b>Bookmark with:</b> <tr valign=baseline> <td><a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1779.entry&title=How councils are spending your money"><img alt="Share this post using Digg" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/A1/015DEE3957CBCE73EEE783DF7B35.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1779.entry&title=How councils are spending your money">Digg </a> <td><a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1779.entry&title=How councils are spending your money"><img alt="Share this post using del.icio.us" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/D4/932E350D0DB963ED853F7ABB191A0.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1779.entry&title=How councils are spending your money">del.icio.us </a> <td><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1779.entry&title=How councils are spending your money"><img alt="Share this post using Reddit" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/BD/31D436ADEE5B875C24F2032DF874.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1779.entry&title=How councils are spending your money">Reddit </a> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1779.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Facebook" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/C0/9FCEC94A942A38C2A8F18DC54D1343.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1779.entry">Facebook </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1779.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Newsvine" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/95/D852BEB575B014966B9E51DB89F560.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1779.entry">Newsvine </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1779.entry"><img alt="Share this post using StumbleUpon" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/EF/9F7D2CC5FF1B814CF37C5DCD5224.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1779.entry&title=How councils are spending your money">StumbleUpon </a></tbody></table></div><img src="http://c.services.spaces.live.com/CollectionWebService/c.gif?cid=-2678105972101055206&page=RSS%3a+How+councils+are+spending+your+money&referrer=" width="1px" height="1px" border="0" alt=""><img style="position:absolute" alt="" width="0px" height="0px" src="http://c.live.com/c.gif?NC=31263&NA=1149&PI=73329&RF=&DI=3919&PS=85545&TP=consumerchampion.spaces.live.com&GT1=consumerchampion">Council taxhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1779.entry#commenthttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1779.entryMon, 28 Jul 2008 14:21:45 GMT31blogentryblogentryBlog entryhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1779/comments/feed.rsshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1779.entry#comment2008-07-28T14:30:22ZWould you pay £50 to try on a dress?http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1555.entry<p>There are not many customers scarier than a bride-to-be on the prowl for her <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/guides/women-and-money/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4758682" target="_blank">wedding</a> dress. So I was intrigued to learn that some <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/guides/getting-married/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4754524" target="_blank">wedding</a> dress shops are now charging <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/guides/getting-married/wedding-cost-planner.aspx" target="_blank">fees</a> ranging from £25 to £50 just to try on gowns. The move is designed to get rid of time-wasters, including some girls who are not even getting married (scary, huh?). <p>The move comes after the use of cameras was banned in <a href="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pXpJ58vXJdWybYFcRFEs8NxjfnoGs1iob3h7kt2dv_u-DCSjK4b-L2MMrnQoJNQOA?PARTNER=WRITER"><img style="border-top-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-right-width:0px" height=173 alt=dressing src="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pbjleNsIxl3J7FgXr6dEdwTecxzAbxc9q6IJud4gObzmdAQM7YkIlqcyKAUbXldRN?PARTNER=WRITER" width=244 align=left border=0></a>many boutiques following increasing numbers of women who try on their <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/guides/women-and-money/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5216674" target="_blank">dream dress</a>, photograph it and then get it copied for a fraction of the price. <p>"Quite a few shops have started to charge now, and I can see why retailers are doing it," says Deborah Joseph, editor of <a href="http://www.bridesmagazine.co.uk/" target="_blank">Brides</a> magazine. "Charging for an appointment forces a bride to think about whether or not she is serious about buying a dress from that particular designer. The first fitting can take an hour, and a woman will probably try on six different styles of dress." <p>"We offer a very specialist service, so we do charge a consultation <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/guides/getting-married/wedding-cost-planner.aspx" target="_blank">fee</a>," admits Sally Wright, of bridal couturier <a href="http://www.phillipalepley.com/" target="_blank">Phillipa Lepley</a>. "All of our assistants are trained professionals with years of experience, so they know how to help brides pick a dress that will hide problem areas and enhance their best features. Even people who don't end up buying a dress from us will often recommend the service to their friends," Ms Wright says. <p>You may not be blatantly parted from crisp notes amid the taffeta though - look out for 'appointment fees', 'consultation fees' and 'deposits'. Some retailers may deduct the fee from the cost of the dress if you decide to buy it. Alternatively, petite <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/guides/getting-married/wedding-cost-planner.aspx" target="_blank">brides</a> can get as much as 70% at designer sample sales. The high street is offering more choice than ever - head to <a href="http://www.monsoon.co.uk/" target="_blank">Monsoon</a>, <a href="http://www.coast-stores.com/pws/Home.ice" target="_blank">Coast</a> and <a href="http://www.debenhams.com/" target="_blank">Debenhams</a> or one of <a href="http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shops/content/bridal.html" target="_blank">Oxfam's</a> 10 bridal shops (where most of the gowns are donated from designers and bridal shops and are sold at around 30% of their original price) for lovely off-the-peg gowns. <p><font color="#0000ff"><strong><font color="#ff0000">Have your say..</font> <em>Are you a bride-to-be who would refuse to pay a try-on fee? Perhaps you run a bridalwear shop and are fed up with time-wasters? Are high street dresses the way forward? Leave your comments below....</em></strong></font> <div> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan=100><b>Bookmark with:</b> <tr valign=baseline> <td><a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1555.entry&title=Would you pay %C2%A350 to try on a dress%3F"><img alt="Share this post using Digg" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/A1/015DEE3957CBCE73EEE783DF7B35.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1555.entry&title=Would you pay %C2%A350 to try on a dress%3F">Digg </a> <td><a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1555.entry&title=Would you pay %C2%A350 to try on a dress%3F"><img alt="Share this post using del.icio.us" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/D4/932E350D0DB963ED853F7ABB191A0.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1555.entry&title=Would you pay %C2%A350 to try on a dress%3F">del.icio.us </a> <td><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1555.entry&title=Would you pay %C2%A350 to try on a dress%3F"><img alt="Share this post using Reddit" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/BD/31D436ADEE5B875C24F2032DF874.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1555.entry&title=Would you pay %C2%A350 to try on a dress%3F">Reddit </a> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1555.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Facebook" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/C0/9FCEC94A942A38C2A8F18DC54D1343.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1555.entry">Facebook </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1555.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Newsvine" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/95/D852BEB575B014966B9E51DB89F560.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1555.entry">Newsvine </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1555.entry"><img alt="Share this post using StumbleUpon" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/EF/9F7D2CC5FF1B814CF37C5DCD5224.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1555.entry&title=Would you pay %C2%A350 to try on a dress%3F">StumbleUpon </a></tbody></table></div><font color="#808080">Photo: www.</font><a title="http://societybrides.co.uk/" href="http://societybrides.co.uk/"><font color="#808080">societybrides.co.uk/</font></a> <img src="http://c.services.spaces.live.com/CollectionWebService/c.gif?cid=-2678105972101055206&page=RSS%3a+Would+you+pay+%c2%a350+to+try+on+a+dress%3f&referrer=" width="1px" height="1px" border="0" alt=""><img style="position:absolute" alt="" width="0px" height="0px" src="http://c.live.com/c.gif?NC=31263&NA=1149&PI=73329&RF=&DI=3919&PS=85545&TP=consumerchampion.spaces.live.com&GT1=consumerchampion">http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1555.entry#commenthttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1555.entryTue, 22 Jul 2008 20:02:12 GMT4blogentryblogentryBlog entryhttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1555/comments/feed.rsshttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1555.entry#comment2008-07-22T20:06:19ZStorm in a DD cuphttp://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1436.entry<p><a href="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pRh5lyu9-M-Z4Pz493lekUgMRLszf9MoYNiVMg1EbSqQW9cZI5FVMJzQrNXNE_v5q?PARTNER=WRITER"><img style="border-right:0px;border-top:0px;border-left:0px;border-bottom:0px" height=244 alt=Bra src="http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pH3l4OuCVAzhVyM_z6NhyLaqyEbLo9sEg230Ot5jeF9Enj8BSRACPr7_a7KGQTYxv?PARTNER=WRITER" width=165 align=left border=0></a> Forget the <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/credit-crunch-survival-guide/" target="_blank">credit crunch</a>, <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/investing/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=8838119" target="_blank">Equitable Life</a> and soaring <a href="http://money.uk.msn.com/investing/articles/john-stepek/article.aspx?cp-documentid=7420557" target="_blank">petrol costs</a>. The debate buxom women everywhere are most concerned about is the 'storm in a DD cup' at <a href="http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/node/n/42966030/202-9015311-9516604?ie=UTF8&mnSBrand=core" target="_blank">Marks & Spencer</a>. <p>The high street favourite sells around 20million bras a year in the UK, that's 45 every minute. But it has recently padded its costs with a £2 surcharge on bras above DD cup, saying the cost of the extra work and material justifies the higher price. <p>Now a Facebook group - Bras4Justice - has been set up to lobby M&S over its policy. Campaigners say that the pricing is discriminating against the more well-endowed and point out that the other items of clothing, such as T-shirts and trousers, are the same price regardless of size. "If you don't charge a size 20 woman more for a pair of trousers, then why should you pay more for an E cup bra?," says one curvaceous contributor. <p>I can see that more work goes into making a bra than a T-shirt, or even trousers. But what would the alternative be? To spread the extra costs of the big bras across all bras? <p>Michelle Mone who owns the <a href="http://www.ultimodirect.com/" target="_blank">Ultimo</a> lingerie range also charges more (£3) for bigger sizes and has a more detailed explanation for the costs: "From a technical aspect, when you go up from a DD cup to a G cup, it takes three times longer to develop than an A-D cup," she told the <a href="http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/home/" target="_blank">Evening Standard</a>. "It costs more for the wires and straps and then there's the shipping. It costs an extra 25p to ship bras above DD. If God has given you that gift, that is the price you have to pay," she says. <p><strong><em><font color="#0000ff">Is this discrimination or is it perfectly acceptable for retailers to pass on the extra cost?</font> <font color="#ff0000">Leave your comments below....</font></em></strong> <p><font color="#404040">Photo: </font><a href="http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/product/B001ATSWQ4/ref=pd_sbs_3/202-9015311-9516604?ie=UTF8&mnSBrand=core" target="_blank"><font color="#404040">Marks & Spencer</font></a> <br> <div> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan=100><b>Bookmark with:</b> <tr valign=baseline> <td><a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1436.entry&title=Storm in a DD cup"><img alt="Share this post using Digg" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/A1/015DEE3957CBCE73EEE783DF7B35.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1436.entry&title=Storm in a DD cup">Digg </a> <td><a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1436.entry&title=Storm in a DD cup"><img alt="Share this post using del.icio.us" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/D4/932E350D0DB963ED853F7ABB191A0.gif" border=0></a> <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1436.entry&title=Storm in a DD cup">del.icio.us </a> <td><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1436.entry&title=Storm in a DD cup"><img alt="Share this post using Reddit" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/BD/31D436ADEE5B875C24F2032DF874.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1436.entry&title=Storm in a DD cup">Reddit </a> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1436.entry"><img alt="Share this post using Facebook" src="http://estb01.msn.com/i/C0/9FCEC94A942A38C2A8F18DC54D1343.bmp" border=0></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://consumerchampion.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DAD574CEBE107D1A!1436.entry">Facebook </a> <td><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&