Latest news with #JennyRoss
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Yahoo
Visitors spot incredible sight in tiny Aussie bay: 'Very special'
It's a tiny bay off the coast of Shellharbour, popular with swimmers and snorkellers for its protected, clear waters. But on Monday, visitors at Bushrangers Bay, south of Sydney, were treated to the arrival of some special guests — a pod of humpback whales who could even be heard singing from the shore to the delight of onlookers. Alex Ross, a former local, was back in town visiting his children and grandchildren when he and his wife, Jenny, decided to stop by Bass Point to see if they could see any whales. 'We probably saw 10 or 15 pods down there this morning, but quite a few of them were off shore and then this pod came around just as we got there and went right into Bushrangers Bay,' he told Yahoo News. The couple watched on in awe as the pod of at least three whales swam close to shore, in and out of the bay twice. 'Bushrangers Bay is a tiny, little marine reserve. It's about the size of maybe three Olympic swimming pools,' Alex said. 'It's quite narrow… but it's deep in there. 'They just came in and hardly had enough room to turn around in there really. So that's why I was quite surprised they went in there twice!' Incredibly, there were several people swimming in the bay when the whales arrived, with one man saying he could hear them singing. 'It was the most amazing thing to hear their sounds underwater,' he wrote to Alex on Facebook. The animals were so close to shore even those on land could hear the faint songs. The rare sighting combined with their grandson's birthday on the same day made it a 'very special' experience for Alex and Jenny before they head home to New Zealand next month. Whale season kicked off just a few weeks ago, with the peak time for whale spotting usually around the end of June and throughout July. As part of their annual migration from Antarctica to the South Pacific to breed, the whales travel right along the Australian coastline — though you'd have to be lucky to see them this close. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Online Shoppers Warned About New Payment Method
Online shoppers have been increasingly provided the option to pay directly from their bank accounts instead of having to put in all of their credit or debit card information. While this might be convenient for some shoppers and offer some perks, it also carries some significant risks. These new "pay by bank" options have some perks for customers, allowing refunds to be processed instantly and allowing the transacrion to proceed without card details being shared. It also has some perks for businesses, allowing them to bypass card transaction fees and receive customer funds immediately. While this might be alluring to consumers and businesses alike, there are some security concerns. While the "pay by bank" options are increasingly common, Which? money editor Jenny Ross issued a pretty major warning for consumers, pointing out that these sort of payments lacks the Section 75 and chargeback protections associated with other payment methods. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act can hold credit card companies liable for faulty or unfulfilled purchases. This allows shoppers to potentially file chargebacks with their credit card provider and receive refunds even if the retailer fails to reimburse them. These same protections don't exist for "pay by bank" options. 'Innovations like pay by bank present opportunities for businesses and consumers alike, but they're not without risk, particularly as they lack the rigorous purchase protections you get when paying by card," Ross said via The Independent. 'We're calling on the regulator to act to ensure consumers can use pay by bank with confidence, but in the meantime, we'd urge consumers to think carefully before using it to book events or make substantial purchases – for now, your good old-fashioned credit or debit card may be the best option.' Obviously, this is an important thing for customers to consider before using the "pay by bank" option for their online shopping. Online Shoppers Warned About New Payment Method first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 13, 2025
Wales Online
12-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Watchdog warns over common payment method where you 'need protection'
Watchdog warns over common payment method where you 'need protection' Which? has raised concerns over the 'protection gap' for shoppers who will not be covered by consumer rules Items purchased through online shopping Shoppers are being urged to consider what protections they have when making payments, with the rise in 'pay by bank' as an option. Pay by bank allows people to quickly and securely pay money directly from their bank account without needing to enter the recipient's bank details or use a card. But Which? raised concerns that people may be unaware of a 'protection gap' if something goes wrong with a purchase. People may be familiar with using pay by bank to settle credit card balances or pay bills, and it has also become an option for retail purchases, the consumer group said. But Which? warned that the option lacks the Section 75 and chargeback protections that people may have when using some other payment methods. Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, a credit card company can be held jointly and severally liable for a purchase that turns out to be shoddy or does not materialise, in certain circumstances. This means that a shopper could potentially get a refund from the credit card company if they cannot recoup their costs from the retailer. People using a debit card or a credit card for purchases could also potentially get their money back via the voluntary chargeback scheme. Which? said pay by bank is a 'potential game changer' for businesses as they can sidestep card transaction fees and also benefit from receiving customer funds immediately. There is also appeal for consumers too as refunds can be processed instantly, and card details are not shared when making a transaction – eliminating the risk of them being stolen or compromised. People do have general purchase rights under the Consumer Rights Act, meaning that goods must be fit for purpose, as described and of satisfactory quality. But Which? said these protections are not always easy to enforce and in some cases may end up with people needing to go to a small claims court. Article continues below People may also face difficulties in the event of a business going bust, particularly if there is an issue with a future-dated purchase such as a flight, a festival, or a household big ticket purchase such as a kitchen or a sofa, the consumer group said. Jenny Ross, Which? Money editor, said: 'Innovations like pay by bank present opportunities for businesses and consumers alike, but they're not without risk, particularly as they lack the rigorous purchase protections you get when paying by card. 'We're calling on the regulator to act to ensure consumers can use pay by bank with confidence, but in the meantime, we'd urge consumers to think carefully before using it to book events or make substantial purchases – for now, your good old-fashioned credit or debit card may be the best option.' A spokesperson for banking and finance industry body UK Finance said: 'There are a range of options for making payments online which provides customers with choice as to how they wish to pay. Different payment methods do come with different levels of protection and it's worth being aware of these when shopping online, particularly when making higher value purchases.' Riccardo Tordera-Ricchi, director of policy and government relations at the Payments Association, said: 'Pay by bank offers real advantages – from lower merchant fees to faster settlement and improved security through reduced reliance on card details. 'But as it becomes more widely used, especially for high-value or future-dated purchases, it's essential that consumers understand the protections associated with different payment methods. As payment options diversify, making informed choices is just as important as the technology behind them.' Mr Tordera-Ricchi described Section 75 as 'a powerful example of how regulatory frameworks can meaningfully protect consumers'. Article continues below Tom Burton, director of external affairs and public policy at bank payment company GoCardless, said: 'Open banking payments are good news for British consumers: they offer bank-grade security measures, instant refunds, reduced fraud risk and, crucially, small businesses that use them don't face the same high fees as they do for card acceptance. Lower merchant costs mean shoppers get cheaper prices – a real win-win. 'There is more to do though if open banking is to genuinely compete with cards, including building on the foundations of the consumer protections that are already in place. GoCardless is working hard to make that a reality for consumers and merchants by closely collaborating with the Government, regulators and others.'
Leader Live
12-06-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Shoppers urged by Which? to consider protections when using ‘pay by bank'
Pay by bank allows people to quickly and securely pay money directly from their bank account without needing to enter the recipient's bank details or use a card. But Which? raised concerns that people may be unaware of a 'protection gap' if something goes wrong with a purchase. People may be familiar with using pay by bank to settle credit card balances or pay bills, and it has also become an option for retail purchases, the consumer group said. But Which? warned that the option lacks the Section 75 and chargeback protections that people may have when using some other payment methods. Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, a credit card company can be held jointly and severally liable for a purchase that turns out to be shoddy or does not materialise, in certain circumstances. This means that a shopper could potentially get a refund from the credit card company if they cannot recoup their costs from the retailer. People using a debit card or a credit card for purchases could also potentially get their money back via the voluntary chargeback scheme. Which? said pay by bank is a 'potential game changer' for businesses as they can sidestep card transaction fees and also benefit from receiving customer funds immediately. There is also appeal for consumers too as refunds can be processed instantly, and card details are not shared when making a transaction – eliminating the risk of them being stolen or compromised. People do have general purchase rights under the Consumer Rights Act, meaning that goods must be fit for purpose, as described and of satisfactory quality. But Which? said these protections are not always easy to enforce and in some cases may end up with people needing to go to a small claims court. People may also face difficulties in the event of a business going bust, particularly if there is an issue with a future-dated purchase such as a flight, a festival, or a household big ticket purchase such as a kitchen or a sofa, the consumer group said. Jenny Ross, Which? Money editor, said: 'Innovations like pay by bank present opportunities for businesses and consumers alike, but they're not without risk, particularly as they lack the rigorous purchase protections you get when paying by card. 'We're calling on the regulator to act to ensure consumers can use pay by bank with confidence, but in the meantime, we'd urge consumers to think carefully before using it to book events or make substantial purchases – for now, your good old-fashioned credit or debit card may be the best option.' A spokesperson for banking and finance industry body UK Finance said: 'There are a range of options for making payments online which provides customers with choice as to how they wish to pay. Different payment methods do come with different levels of protection and it's worth being aware of these when shopping online, particularly when making higher value purchases.' Riccardo Tordera-Ricchi, director of policy and government relations at the Payments Association, said: 'Pay by bank offers real advantages – from lower merchant fees to faster settlement and improved security through reduced reliance on card details. 'But as it becomes more widely used, especially for high-value or future-dated purchases, it's essential that consumers understand the protections associated with different payment methods. 'As payment options diversify, making informed choices is just as important as the technology behind them.' Mr Tordera-Ricchi described Section 75 as 'a powerful example of how regulatory frameworks can meaningfully protect consumers'. Tom Burton, director of external affairs and public policy at bank payment company GoCardless, said: 'Open banking payments are good news for British consumers: they offer bank-grade security measures, instant refunds, reduced fraud risk and, crucially, small businesses that use them don't face the same high fees as they do for card acceptance. Lower merchant costs mean shoppers get cheaper prices – a real win-win. 'There is more to do though if open banking is to genuinely compete with cards, including building on the foundations of the consumer protections that are already in place. GoCardless is working hard to make that a reality for consumers and merchants by closely collaborating with the Government, regulators and others.'
Rhyl Journal
12-06-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Shoppers urged by Which? to consider protections when using ‘pay by bank'
Pay by bank allows people to quickly and securely pay money directly from their bank account without needing to enter the recipient's bank details or use a card. But Which? raised concerns that people may be unaware of a 'protection gap' if something goes wrong with a purchase. People may be familiar with using pay by bank to settle credit card balances or pay bills, and it has also become an option for retail purchases, the consumer group said. But Which? warned that the option lacks the Section 75 and chargeback protections that people may have when using some other payment methods. Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, a credit card company can be held jointly and severally liable for a purchase that turns out to be shoddy or does not materialise, in certain circumstances. This means that a shopper could potentially get a refund from the credit card company if they cannot recoup their costs from the retailer. People using a debit card or a credit card for purchases could also potentially get their money back via the voluntary chargeback scheme. Which? said pay by bank is a 'potential game changer' for businesses as they can sidestep card transaction fees and also benefit from receiving customer funds immediately. There is also appeal for consumers too as refunds can be processed instantly, and card details are not shared when making a transaction – eliminating the risk of them being stolen or compromised. People do have general purchase rights under the Consumer Rights Act, meaning that goods must be fit for purpose, as described and of satisfactory quality. But Which? said these protections are not always easy to enforce and in some cases may end up with people needing to go to a small claims court. People may also face difficulties in the event of a business going bust, particularly if there is an issue with a future-dated purchase such as a flight, a festival, or a household big ticket purchase such as a kitchen or a sofa, the consumer group said. Jenny Ross, Which? Money editor, said: 'Innovations like pay by bank present opportunities for businesses and consumers alike, but they're not without risk, particularly as they lack the rigorous purchase protections you get when paying by card. 'We're calling on the regulator to act to ensure consumers can use pay by bank with confidence, but in the meantime, we'd urge consumers to think carefully before using it to book events or make substantial purchases – for now, your good old-fashioned credit or debit card may be the best option.' A spokesperson for banking and finance industry body UK Finance said: 'There are a range of options for making payments online which provides customers with choice as to how they wish to pay. Different payment methods do come with different levels of protection and it's worth being aware of these when shopping online, particularly when making higher value purchases.' Riccardo Tordera-Ricchi, director of policy and government relations at the Payments Association, said: 'Pay by bank offers real advantages – from lower merchant fees to faster settlement and improved security through reduced reliance on card details. 'But as it becomes more widely used, especially for high-value or future-dated purchases, it's essential that consumers understand the protections associated with different payment methods. 'As payment options diversify, making informed choices is just as important as the technology behind them.' Mr Tordera-Ricchi described Section 75 as 'a powerful example of how regulatory frameworks can meaningfully protect consumers'. Tom Burton, director of external affairs and public policy at bank payment company GoCardless, said: 'Open banking payments are good news for British consumers: they offer bank-grade security measures, instant refunds, reduced fraud risk and, crucially, small businesses that use them don't face the same high fees as they do for card acceptance. Lower merchant costs mean shoppers get cheaper prices – a real win-win. 'There is more to do though if open banking is to genuinely compete with cards, including building on the foundations of the consumer protections that are already in place. GoCardless is working hard to make that a reality for consumers and merchants by closely collaborating with the Government, regulators and others.'
