From “nudges and sludges” to “confirmshaming,” dark patterns are the colourfully-named web design tricks retailers use to manipulate consumers online. Dark patterns include last-minute fees, complicated opt-out processes and — in the case of confirmshaming — using emotive language to guilt or panic you into doing something you’d rather not, such as buying extra items […]
When you’ve already spent a small fortune on flights and hotels, planning your budget for day-to-day spending on your trip abroad can be a bit of a buzzkill. Indeed, not having to worry about spending money is why half of Brits believe all-inclusive holidays are such good value. But whether it’s dining out, transport or […]
When the first cash machine was introduced to the UK in 1967, banking was forever revolutionised, enabling Brits to withdraw their hard-earned cash at any time of day or night. But with new technologies came new ways to pay, and cash has somewhat fallen by the wayside in recent years; indeed, in 2022, half […]
The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has published an interim report on the market review of scheme and processing fees associated with Mastercard and Visa, the two largest card payment system operators in the UK. The report sets out the provisional findings and potential regulatory actions to address concerns about the competitive constraints and transparency of […]
Just as food tastes better outdoors, shopping feels more real when wandering around a market. Of course, there’s the sense that you’re shopping the same way your ancestors did, a romanticized idea of the consumerism of yesteryear. But there are also the immediate thrills and spills of the bustling marketplace. Unique or rare products, salespeople […]
