Which? Ltd

Which? 與 一杯咖啡的熱量

2007先從今天BBC的一則翻譯新聞說起

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《泰晤士報》引述英國情報部門的監督機構通信截聽委員會的報告指出，在過去一年，英國的特務組織和其他司法部門等共發出了45萬次申請，要求截查境內人士的電子郵件、電話和郵件等。

通信截聽委員會負責人托馬斯指出，從2005年到2006年間，有關的截查發生了4000起錯誤，這一數字是高得不能接受的。

另一方面，英國首相布萊爾承認，申領身份證人士的指紋可能被當局檢查，以確定是否涉及該國近100萬起未被偵破的罪案。

人權組織形容這兩起事件是蔑視人們隱私的做法。

不過內政部表示，由於以往沒有公布過有關截查通信的數字，所以不能說通信截聽委員會的報告表明，當局收集信息數據的數字大量增加。

《獨立報》報道，英國各大銀行將公布破紀錄的業績，在去年非法收取47億英鎊款項，感謝顧客們的反抗，現在是銀行清還款項的時候。

《獨立報》頭版標題呼籲銀行客戶取回屬於自己的金錢。

英國一個消費者權益互聯網站利用各大銀行將在未來兩星期公布業績的時候，呼籲人們進行大規模的投訴，要求銀行償還非法收取的透支罰款。

消費者權益組織《Which》估計，僅是去年，銀行業收取的未經授權透支罰款就達到47億英鎊。 "

我的目的要介紹約略相對於台灣消費者文教基金會刊物的Which?

Wikipedia中只有英文的介紹

讀者或許可以觀摩其網站

Which? is a subscription-only magazine and website run by Which? Ltd (formerly known as the Consumers' Association, which is still the official name of the charity). Based in the United Kingdom, it engages in advocacy campaigns on various consumer protection issues and aims to promote informed consumer choice in the purchase of goods and services, by testing products, highlighting inferior products or services, and raising awareness of consumer rights. It maintains its independence by not accepting advertising or freebies; everything bought for testing is paid for at full price. Which? is funded entirely by its subscribers and has no shareholders.

Which? carries out systematic testing of consumer products and financial services, the results of which are published in reports in the magazine. The Which? 'Best Buy' label is well-known and respected by industry and consumers. Tests are carried out on consumer items like electrical goods, cars, and computers, as well as health and financial services, and supermarkets. Testing highlights issues such as reliability and value-for-money.

The magazine also raises awareness of trading it believes goes against the interests of consumers. It offers advice on consumers' legal rights and reports on legal cases where it has fought for members' rights. In the May, 2003 issue, for example, the back page featured a couple who won compensation from their credit card firm after purchasing a poor holiday. Another case featured was a life assurance company which had not maintained customer records properly and was forced to pay compensation. Which? also communicates regularly with the OFT and recently brought a 'supercomplaint' against private dentists in the UK. However, Which? has been criticised for its use of junk mail prize draws, similar to Reader's Digest, to gain additional subscribers. It is moving away from this area^{[citation needed]}.

Which? Ltd produces several other specialist publications apart from the main Which? magazine. These include Holiday Which?, Computing Which? and Gardening Which. It also publishes several books including the annual Good Food Guide and Giving and Inheriting.

External links

• Which.co.uk - Which? Homepage