James Flanders
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Business Affairs Editor @TheSun | Tips: DM or email me james.flanders@thesun.co.uk | Views my own
Articles by James Flanders
Octopus boss warns Miliband we’re ‘staring down the barrel’ of new bills crisis unless we tap North Sea...
1 day ago A couple stuck in Dubai amid ongoing Iranian strikes has expressed their frustration at the British government as they attempt to make their way home. Speaking to Sky News on Tuesday (3 March), Sarah and Ed Short said that they have been given “very little information” from UK authorities, including a static line when trying to contact the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) hotline.
TK Maxx issues urgent recall of perfume which could cause al...
TK MAXX has issued an urgent recall of a product, with shoppers warned it could cause an allergic reaction. Customers have been urged to stop using the item, to avoid getting unpleasant side affects. The Byblos Blu Happy Hour Eau De Toilette was sold in the department store between January and March, 2025[/caption] The Byblos Blu Happy Hour Eau De Toilette was sold in the department store between January and March, 2025, and has now been removed from shelves.
Millions of Virgin Media customers could avoid £26 a year hike with two easy bill rule tricks
VIRGIN Media customers could dodge an incoming £26-a-year hike to their bills by following one of two easy rules. The telecoms firm is hiking its broadband, mobile and TV prices from this month, but the amount they are increasing by depends on when you took out a contract. The price hike comes as part of the firm’s annual mid-contract price rise, which meansbillswill go up automatically for many customers.
Lidl issues urgent recall of savoury snack over salmonella f...
LIDL shoppers are being told not to eat one of its savoury snacks over fears it could contain salmonella. The discount supermarket has urgently recalled its Sol & Mar Chicharricos BBQ Pork Scratchings after the problem was found. These pork scratchings have been urgently recalled[/caption] The recall affects 100g packets of the pork scratchings with best before dates ranging from August 5, 2025 through to August 12, 2025.
Aldi customers complain popular snack now tastes 'really gro...
ALDI customers are complaining about a change to a popular snack that has left it tasting “really gross”. The Meatsters are an own-brand dupe of the Peperami salami sticks and they’re usually a hit with shoppers. The original Meatsters[/caption] But numerous shoppers have flooded social media with complaints about the product. One wrote on the Aldi UK Shoppers Facebook group: “Anyone having issues with the mini meatsters?
M&S confirms it has axed popular snack that was great with a...
M&S has confirmed it has axed a beloved snack – particularly popular with a pint. It came after a disgruntled shopper took to social media to inquire about its whereabouts. The M&S Sweet Chilli Combo Mix has been discontinued[/caption] They said on X: “@Marksandspencer have you stopped selling the Sweet Chilli Combo Mix snack? “Been to several stores today and no sign of them.
Travellers warned Heathrow chaos will last for days to come as 200k frantic passengers left stranded without answers – The Sun - New York Times Post
PASSENGERS have been warned Heathrow chaos will last for days to come as 200,000 travellers are left stranded. British Airways Chairman and CEO, Sean Doyle, has released a statement following the carnage triggered by an inferno at Hayes electrical substation in West London, last night. BA is the biggest operator at Heathrow, with 51 per cent of flights, including 341 scheduled inbound flights.
Return of popular Walkers crisps after being axed from shelv...
A POPULAR flavour of Walkers crisps has returned to shelves after being axed – and fans say they’re “fantastic”. Just weeks after the return of its Worcester Sauce crisps, the snack giant has treated customers to a second condiment-inspired flavour.
Coca-Cola launching limited-edition alcoholic drink that's h...
SHOPPERS will soon be able to get their hands on cans of cherry-flavoured Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola. Pre-mixed cans of the classic JD and Coke drink have been available in supermarkets for some time – but this is a new cherry-flavoured twist. JD and Coke[/caption] The brands have said Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola Cherry will be available in single 330ml cans from April. However it looks like Tesco is already stocking the drink online for £2.20 so you may be able to get a can even sooner.
Major update issued on car finance mis-selling scandal as ke...
By James Flanders, Chief Consumer Reporter: What is being investigated? The FCA announced in January, 2024 that it would investigate allegations of “widespread misconduct” related to discretionary commission agreements (DCAs) on car loans. When you buy a car on finance, you are effectively loaned the value of the car while you pay it off. These loans have interest payments charged on top of them and are often organised on behalf of lenders by brokers – usually the finance arm of a dealership.
Urgent recall of popular energy-saving gadget sold at Amazon...
A WINTER warmer product sold by Amazon, eBay and Wilko has been urgently recalled over fears it could overheat and burst into flames. The Office for Product Safety is calling on shoppers to return the Bauer electric hot water bottle as soon as possible. The bottle can be recharged, but comes with a 13-amp fuse instead of 3-amp fuse ,which could lead it to overheat, blow up or catch fire. Customers are being urged to either return the gadget for a full refund or replace the fuse.
New Walkers flavour dubbed 'worst crisps ever made' by disap...
WALKERS have launched a new and limited edition flavour for Easter – but it has left fans divided. The crisp giant’s new offering – Sensations slow-roasted pork and apple sauce – was spotted recently in Tesco. Walkers have launched a new and limited edition flavour for Easter[/caption] Walkers described the “unforgettable” flavour as “a rich, smoky aroma of slow-roasted pork balanced with sweet, tangy apple sauce”. “First… The smoky aroma of spit-roast pork.
A GOVERNMENT minister has urged tens of thousands of benefit claimants to act or risk losing their payments permanently. The alert comes as the government continues the process of transferring all legacy benefit claimants to Universal Credit through a system known as managed migration. Individuals still receiving child working tax credits must make the switch before the end of the month. That’s because all tax credit accounts will be closed permanently on April 5.
GREGGS customers have been lefting fuming after the chain stopped selling a popular menu items. The bakery chain has halted selling its ham salad baguette – leaving fans scouring multiple branches in search of them. Greggs has axed its ham salad baguette from menus in a blow to shoppers[/caption] The lunch item has dropped off the menu in favour of other fresh baguettes, despite regulars insisting it was popular.
House-hunters divided over £500k home with ‘over the top charm’ – even the toilet has jewellery - New York Times Post
HOUSE hunters have been left divided over a £500,000 villa up for sale that has “over the top charm”. The Rutherglen pad in Lanarkshire is up for grabs on Savills but has gone viral on social media too thanks to its ‘Mrs Hinch-inspired’ decor. The five-bedroom home has grey interiors throughout, crushed velvet furniture and even a jewellery-adorned loo. But it also boasts 2,260 sq ft, a sizeable balcony with panoramic views and a spacious rear decking and landscaped garden.
Map reveals the hidden reason your council tax WON'T go up b...
MILLIONS of households across the UK are bracing for council tax hikes this April, with some bills set to rise by as much as 10%. But here’s the surprising part – many people won’t see their bills increase by as much as they fear.
Map reveals the hidden reason your council tax WON’T go up by 10% and millions will benefit ...Middle East
The Sun - Sport source : The Sun ( Middle East ) () 26 MILLIONS of households across the UK are bracing for council tax hikes this April, with some bills set to rise by as much as 10%. But here’s the surprising part – many people won’t see their bills increase by as much as they fear.
Walkers CONFIRMS return of popular crisps flavour after bein...
WALKERS have confirmed the return of a beloved fan-favourite crisp, but there is a hefty catch if you want to get your hands on it. The savoury snack giant is bringing back its iconic Worcester Sauce flavour, The Sun can reveal. Walkers is bringing back the iconic flavour[/caption] The tangy flavour was axed two years ago, leaving fans heartbroken. At the time, many fans took to social media to slam the crisp maker for its decision.
10 simple steps to cut your home insurance bill including ge...
The number of claimants hit 13million in August 2024, an increase of 1.6 per cent, or 203,000 from the previous August. Many of those people are set to get a £471 increase a year from April thanks to the Government's triple lock guarantee. The triple lock ensures the state pension rises in line with whichever is highest: Inflation, average wage growth or 2.5 per cent. This year, payments will rise by 4.1 per cent in line with wage growth in the three months to July 2024.
Major broadband provider with 46million customers to hike bi...
A MAJOR mobile and broadband provider is hiking bills in April. A number of Virgin Media’s 46million customers will see prices increase by as much as £26 a year. Some Virgin Media customers will see their prices increase by as much as £26 a year[/caption] The price hike comes as part of the firm’s annual mid-contract price rise, which means bills will go up automatically for many customers.
A MAJOR updater has emerged regarding the car finance commission scandal, as banks allocate up to £1.29 billion for compensation. Customers of several major high street banks who were mis-sold car finance could be in line to receive thousands of pounds in redress. Lloyds Banking Group has revealed it has set aside another £700million for potential compensation relating to motor finance commission arrangements this morning.
Matalan issues Easter homeware recall over eye injury risk...
MATALAN has recalled an Easter homeware product over fears it could cause an eye injury. The homeware and clothing store has pulled its Bunny Tumbler cups from shelves as the product does not meet its standards for product safety. One shopper shared the notice with others[/caption] Customers who bought a Bunny Tumbler are being urged to not use the product and return it to their nearest Matalan branch. You will receive a full refund and don’t need to produce a receipt to get your money back.
Chief consumer reporter James Flanders reveals all you need to know. Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods. As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action. But it’s often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk.
I was in £27k debt after spending to fit in - I never rea...
FOR many of us, remembering to pay bills and keeping up with financial admin is tricky. But have you ever stopped to think that your health could be the reason for your money struggles? A third of the adults diagnosed with the condition struggle with problem debt[/caption] For someone with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder it can be almost impossible. In fact, a third of adults with the condition struggle with problem debt.
National Lottery players slam sneaky change that 'charges do...
PLAYERS have slammed the National Lottery over a sneaky change to the way you buy tickets that makes it appear that you’re charged double, When playing via the app customers are now automatically entered for draws on two days, instead of one. The change affects customers purchasing lines on games including Lotto, EuroMillions, Set for Life, Hotpicks, and Thunderball.
SHOPPERS hitting the supermarket could find regular favourites have suddenly vanished as the big chains change up their offering. There are a number of items that have been discontinued across Aldi, Asda and Sainsbury’s leaving customers feeling pretty disappointed.
Birds Eye urgently recalls popular frozen meal from UK super...
Chief consumer reporter James Flanders reveals all you need to know. Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods. As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action. But it’s often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk.
SHOPPERS have been left gutted after Aldi discontinued one of its popular bakery items. The Village Bakery Chilli Cheese Topped Rolls had been described by customers as “lush” – but they will no longer be available on shelves.
NESTLE has confirmed it is discontinuing a rare KitKat bar and shoppers have been left gutted. The chocolate maker is axing its Vegan bar from shelves due to dwindling demand from customers.
Heinz axes popular teatime ingredient as shoppers complain i...
SHOPPERS have been left devastated after discovering a popular Heinz teatime ingredient has been missing from shelves. Heinz confirmed the product has in-fact discontinued the beloved item, sparking complaints on social media. A frustrated customer took to Twitter to question the food giant about its tomato and lentil ragu sauce, writing: “@HeinzUK has your tomato and lentil ragu sauce been discontinued please?” Heinz responded and confirmed the item was no more.
The Sun’s Chief Consumer Reporter James Flandersshared his top tips 1. Buy season tickets ahead of price increase A seven-day season ticket is likely to work out cheaper if you do the same journey on three or more days each week – but this can often be difficult to work out. National Rail has a handy season ticket calculator on its website which can help you check if it’s worth it. 2. Get a railcard Regular travellers could shave up to 60% off the price of a ticket each time with a railcard.
Dunelm issues urgent warning as it recalls popular winter ga...
Chief consumer reporter James Flanders reveals all you need to know. Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods. As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action. But it’s often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk.
Reason iconic Cadbury hot chocolate was pulled from shelves ...
THE reason Cadbury pulled hot chocolate from shop shelves has been revealed. Shoppers were hit with shortages of the drinking chocolate at the end of last year after it was withdrawn from sale over quality concerns. Shoppers posted photos of their mouldy hot chocolate on X, formerly Twitter[/caption] Even cafes were struggling to get stock in ahead of the busy Christmas period.
Quality Street axes divisive chocolate bar from supermarket ...
QUALITY Street has discontinued a divisive chocolate bar from supermarket shelves, leaving some shoppers upset. Fans of The Purple One and the Green Triangle will no longer be able to savour both flavours in a single bite. Shoppers used to be able to purchase the 235g chocolate bars for £2.50 at Asda and other major supermarkets[/caption] Nestlé has officially ceased production of its Quality Street Collisions sharing bar just a year after their initial launch.
FF0E2J The Range Hardware Store Andover Hampshire[/caption] THE Range has issued an urgent recall of a popular energy-saving gadget. The discount retailer has warned that the product could overheat and catch fire. The Range says that affected customers return the product to their local store for a full refund[/caption] Shoppers who have recently purchased a Teddy Sherpa Electric Throw are being advised to unplug it and return it to stores immediately.
Supermarket axes popular Christmas crisps leaving shoppers c...
K0K3TM Man buying large mult-pack of crisps in Tesco supermarket. UK[/caption] THE Co-op has axed a popular variety of festive crisps – leaving shoppers crying for their return. The retailer’s Ultimate Roast Potato crisps were a hit with customers – although some laughed at the name and pointed out that all crisps are made from potatoes. After getting rave reviews last year customers have since sadly realised they are not returning this December, leading to passionate pleas to the Co-op.
DWP issues major update on Universal Credit shake-up ahead o...
ANALYSIS by James Flanders, The Sun’s Chief Consumer Reporter: Around 1.4million people on legacy benefits will be better off after switching to Universal Credit, according to the government. A further 300,000 would see no change in payments, while around 900,000 would be worse off under Universal Credit. Of these, around 600,000 can get top-up payments (transitional protection) if they move under the managed migration process, so they don’t lose out on cash immediately.
Fuller's confirms it has discontinued a popular beer 'that h...
FULLERS has confirmed the discontinuation of a popular beer that “hasn’t moved with the times” – as punters plead the brewing company to “bring it back”. The horrified fans took to social media to mourn the loss of the distinctive hoppy ale, which was available on draft and in bottles. Fuller's has discontinued its Bengal Lancer beer[/caption] The axed beer, Bengal Lancer, is a 5% Indian pale ale (IPA).
Over a quarter of a million households on benefits have paym...
OVER a quarter of a million households have had their benefit payments stopped after failing to act on a key deadline. New government figures show 318,834 (up from 284,660 reported in August) benefits claimants have lost out by not moving to Universal Credit within an important three-month window. Two million people on legacy benefits are gradually moving to Universal Credit under a process known as managed migration.
Sainsbury's axes desert inspired yogurt leaving shoppers dev...
SAINSBURY’S has discontinued a popular snack, leaving shoppers devasted. Eagle-eyed customers have noticed its banoffee pie-inspired yogurts have been axed from shelves. The yogurts were a fan favourite[/caption] Confused shoppers took to X, formerly Twitter, to find out more. One said: “@sainsburys what's happened to your banoffee yogurts.
Exact date key benefit will be scrapped in Universal Credit ...
A MAJOR Department for Work and Pensions benefit will be scrapped two years sooner than expected. The government has confirmed that it is speeding up the process of axing income-related employment and support allowance (ESA). Households currently receiving income-related ESA are being encouraged to transition to Universal Credit. ESA provides financial support for those unable to work due to illness or disability.
ANALYSIS by chief consumer reporter James Flanders. Food and drinks makers have been known to tweak their recipes or axe items altogether. They often say that this is down to the changing tastes of customers. There are several reasons why this could be done. For example, government regulation, like the “sugar tax,” forces firms to change their recipes. Some manufacturers might choose to tweak ingredients to cut costs.
Colman's confirms 'amazing' staple condiment has been AXED a...
COLMAN'S has confirmed it has axed an "amazing" condiment as shoppers say other brands "just aren't the same". The decision was initially revealed on social media after one fan wondered what had happened to the product after they couldn't find it on the shelves. Colman's French mustard has been taken off supermarket shelves[/caption] Colman’s is a household name, known for a wide range of mustards, condiments and recipe mixes.
'This is a crime' cry shoppers as M&S axes popular drink just months before Christmas
SHOPPERS have shared their devastation after noticing a popular M&S drink has vanished just months before Christmas. Eagle-eyed customers have raised concerns after its pre-mixed cans of Pink Gin and Tonic have been removed from stores. Taking to X, formally known as Twitter, an upset customer said the news was a “crime“.
Join your Neighbourhood Watch, prune your trees & 10 other ways to beat rising house insurance prices
TENS of thousands of OAPs are set to get tax demands this year for the first time since they retired. A freedom of information request by LCP Partners revealed nearly 700,000 have been asked by HMRC to pay tax on their pensions. This was an increase of over 120,000 people compared with two years earlier. One reason given for the rise is the year-on-year freeze in the value of tax-free personal allowance, coupled with a steady increase in the value of the state pension.
More than two million savings accounts set to mature in the next two months – here’s where you can get the best rates | Flipboard
'I compared all the butters in supermarkets - one was better than Lurpak' Getting your hands on the buttery goodness of Lurpak is now harder than ever - but is it really the best? Amid the cost of living crisis, tubs of the …
Cadbury axes chocolate bar favourite from family treat bags and SHRINKS size leaving shoppers fuming
FAMILY packs of Cadbury chocolate have shrunk down in size, leaving customers anything but sweet. Previously the popular assortment of 14 “treatsize” chocs contained Chomps, Crunchies, Flakes, Fudges, Twirls and Curly Wurlys. Cadbury has reduced the size of the chocolates in its popular family pack[/caption] But new packs appearing in recent months have seen the Crunchie axed from the selection, as well as the size reduced from 216g to 207g.
Best savings accounts you need to apply for now as experts say it’s ‘vital to act fast’
Money (UK) 5 hours ago How Rachel Reeves is set to go after your savings...over two million people to be hit with tax bill gbnews.com - Hannah Ross • 5h The number of people paying tax on their savings will almost double over two years, official figures show.
Heinz slammed over 'cheap and vile' change to recipe of family tea-time staple
HEINZ has been slammed by shoppers after making a major change to the recipe of a dinner staple. Foodies have taken to social media furious after finding out the manufacturer has changed the ingredients to its baked beans with sausages. Heinz has changed the ingredients in its pork sausage Heinz beans[/caption] The classic flavour now comes with Richmond sausages inside, which contain gluten, when the previous bangers didn’t.
Kellogg's confirms it's axed 'tastiest' cereal for good after shopper complains 'I've been looking for it forever'
KELLOGG’s have confirmed that they have axed it’s “tastiest” cereal for good leaving shoppers devastated. Fans of the product took to social media to ask the global food giant where the popular breakfast product had gone. The cereal maker confirmed the news to a fan this week[/caption] The product in question was Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut and Caramel Bites. One fan of the cereal posted on X – formerly Twitter – to ask what had happened as it was their “favourite”.
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