Retailers broke rules by listing real fur items as fake, ASA says – The Guardian

‘The UK advertising watchdog has criticised two retailers for “misleading” consumers by advertising fashion items made from real animal fur as fake or “faux”.’

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The Guardian, 9th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Review calls for new powers for corporate governance regulator – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 20th, 2018 in company directors, financial regulation, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘The UK needs a new corporate governance regulator, with a new mandate and enhanced powers to hold company directors to account, an independent review has concluded.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 20th December 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Accountancy watchdog criticised over legal services procurement – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 19th, 2018 in accountants, auditors, competition, legal services, news, ombudsmen, public procurement by sally

‘The accountancy regulator should adopt a more open procurement policy when tendering for legal and professional services, a review assessing its clout has found.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 18th December 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Gender pay gap targets must be set by all companies, Equality and Human Rights Commission says – Daily Telegraph

‘Targets to eliminate the gender pay gap must be set by all companies, Britain’s equality watchdog has suggested.’

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Daily Telegraph, 14th December 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ombudsman reminds councils of duty to provide alternative education – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 12th, 2018 in local government, news, ombudsmen, school exclusions by sally

‘The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has issued a reminder to council school attendance teams that their duty to provide alternative education may arise for reasons other than exclusion and illness.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th December 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

British Telecommunications plc v Office of Communications – Blackstone Chambers

Posted December 11th, 2018 in appeals, competition, costs, news, ombudsmen, telecommunications, tribunals by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has overturned the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s approach to awarding costs against Ofcom in telecommunications appeals.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 15th November 2018

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

Boohoo ‘broke advertising rules’, BBC Watchdog finds – BBC News

Posted December 5th, 2018 in advertising, complaints, news, ombudsmen, sale of goods, select committees, time limits by sally

‘Boohoo, the fast fashion retailer, broke Advertising Standards Authority rules with “misleading” promotions.’

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BBC News, 5th December 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ryanair faces legal action over refusal to refund cancelled flights – The Guardian

Posted December 5th, 2018 in airlines, compensation, complaints, EC law, industrial action, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority is taking legal action against Ryanair over the airline’s refusal to compensate thousands of UK customers affected by flight disruption over the summer.’

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The Guardian, 5th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Asylum seekers ‘too afraid’ to seek NHS care, report says – The Guardian

Posted November 29th, 2018 in asylum, data protection, health, human rights, immigration, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘Asylum seekers who need NHS care have been left in “considerable fear” because of the government’s “hostile environment” policies, according to the human rights watchdog.
In a highly critical report the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) says people have gone without medical help since ministers forced the NHS in England to impose upfront charges to access care last year.’

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The Guardian, 28th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Services at scandal-hit Shrewsbury and Telford hospitals ‘inadequate’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 29th, 2018 in codes of practice, hospitals, news, ombudsmen, pregnancy, standards by tracey

‘A hospital trust at the centre of a maternity care scandal has been criticised by health inspectors in a new report.’

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Daily Telegraph, 29th November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Online gambling firms fined in crackdown – BBC News

‘Three online casino companies have been fined and one has been prevented from operating in the UK following a crackdown by the industry regulator. The Gambling Commission has fined three firms almost £14m for not having “effective safeguards” to prevent money laundering and harm to customers from gambling.’

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BBC News, 29th November 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police ‘picking up pieces of mental health system’, says watchdog – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2018 in budgets, mental health, news, ombudsmen, police, statistics by tracey

‘Overstretched police forces are having to “pick up the pieces of a broken mental health system” on top of tackling crime, the emergency services watchdog has found. More than half of all mental health patients who need help in a place of safety are taken there in a police car rather than an ambulance, according to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services.’

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The Guardian, 27th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

New ombudsman gives rail commuters a fast track for complaints – The Guardian

Posted November 26th, 2018 in complaints, news, ombudsmen, railways by tracey

‘Passengers dissatisfied with how train companies handle complaints can now appeal to an independent arbiter, as a new rail ombudsman service comes into force today.
The ombudsman will have binding powers over train firms should it uphold a customer complaint.’

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The Guardian, 26th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Facebook appeals against Cambridge Analytica fine – BBC News

Posted November 23rd, 2018 in appeals, data protection, fines, internet, news, ombudsmen, privacy by sally

‘Facebook has appealed against a fine imposed on it by the UK’s data watchdog after the Cambridge Analytica scandal.’

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BBC News, 21st November 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK ban on Kellogg’s Coco Pops children’s TV advert overturned – The Guardian

Posted November 21st, 2018 in advertising, appeals, children, complaints, food, news, obesity, ombudsmen by tracey

‘Kellogg’s, the maker of Coco Pops, has beaten a junk food advert ban after lobbying to overturn a decision by the UK’s advertising regulator, in a move that has outraged obesity campaigners.’

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The Guardian, 21st November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

800 BBC presenters could face tax investigations, says watchdog – BBC News

‘About 800 BBC TV and radio presenters could face tax investigations over their employment status after a failure by the broadcaster to clear up its payments system, Whitehall’s spending watchdog has said. The National Audit Office said HM Revenue and Customs had opened approximately 100 investigations into BBC-related personal service companies (PSCs) after concerns were raised that they may have broken tax rules.’

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BBC News, 15th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Final salary pension transfers stall as High Court throws rules into doubt – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 12th, 2018 in banking, complaints, financial regulation, news, ombudsmen, pensions by tracey

‘People who attempt to swap final salary company pensions for cash are being left in limbo following a controversial legal judgment.’

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Daily Telegraph, 12th November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Minister Orders Urgent Investigation Into Autistic And Learning Disabled Patients Being Locked Up – Rights Info

‘The Health Secretary has ordered a review into the use of seclusion and segregation in the care of people with learning disabilities and autism in secure hospitals.’

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Rights Info, 5th November 2018

Source: rightsinfo.org

Fears over pre-teens being exposed to inappropriate adverts online, as regulators step up controls – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 1st, 2018 in advertising, alcohol abuse, children, food, gambling, health, internet, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Pre-teens are being targeted with adverts for inappropriate alcohol and gambling, the chief executive of the advertising regulator has warned, as he called on social media firms to do more to protect children.’

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Daily Telegraph, 1st November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ombudsman criticises council for housing 17 year old on campsite – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 31st, 2018 in homelessness, housing, local government, news, ombudsmen, young persons by sally

‘Cornwall Council has admitted that accommodating a homeless youth on a campsite “went on for too long”, after criticism from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 31st October 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk