Day: January 21, 2018

    TalkTalk's attempts to repair its poor reputation for customer service have suffered a blow after it topped the telecoms watchdog's table of broadband complaints between July and September last year. Complaints about the company's broadband service reached the highest level in 18 months as it shut down call centres after it discovered employees were scamming customers. TalkTalk grew suspicious in 2014 that workers were stealing customer details to convince them to hand over personal banking information. After concluding an investigation, TalkTalk said it withdrew all customer service operations in August. On Friday it claimed that this had caused temporary disruption to its customer care process, and was responsible for the rise in complaints to Ofcom. Indian cal...

    Greener UK believes that there may be a lack of willpower to ensure high standards across the UK. A coalition of leading environmental groups says there is a significant risk that British environmental protections will be reduced after Brexit, despite the government’s positive rhetoric. Greener UK, which represents 13 campaign groups including WWF, National Trust, RSPB, Friends of the Earth, Green Alliance and the Wildlife Trusts, says there are serious concerns that the government will not cooperate with the European Union after Brexit on environmental issues which need international agreement. Although the environment secretary, Michael Gove, has made several recent announcements, such as the 5p levy on plastic bottles, Greener UK believes there may be a lack of w...

    Company bosses who put workers pensions at risk to line their own pockets will face huge fines under plans unveiled by Theresa May. The Prime Minister said tough new rules would be introduced to end the unacceptable abuse by irresponsible business chiefs following the collapse of Carillion. The construction and outsourcing giant which employs 43,000 people was left mired in £1.3bn of debt and saddled with a £600m pensions deficit after going into liquidation this week. Thousands of suppliers and subcontractors owed money have been left in limbo and seen work paused on building sites, prompting anger over pay awards enjoyed by the firm's bosses. Writing in the Observer, Mrs May said top executives had too often reaped big bonuses for recklessly putting short-term p...