Lawsuit alleges ‘loyal penalty’Telecom giants deny wrongdoingBritain’s largest mobile network providers are facing a £3.2 billion ($4.29 billion) lawsuit for allegedly overcharging millions of loyal customers, after a London tribunal ruled on Friday (November 14) that a significant portion of the case can proceed to trial. Vodafone , BT's EE, Telefonica's O2 and Hutchison's Three UK – whose $19 billion merger with Vodafone was approved last year – are accused of imposing a “loyalty penalty” on customers who remained with their networks after minimum contract periods expired.The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) certified that claims for losses from October 2015 onward can proceed to trial, while throwing out earlier claims as having been brought too late, according to a report by news agency Reuters.Lawyers representing British consumer champion Justin Gutmann allege the networks continued charging millions of customers for mobile devices that had already been paid off after their initial contracts ended. The practice effectively penalised loyal customers who chose not to switch providers once their minimum contract terms expired.“The networks charged millions of British consumers who remained with the network after their minimum contract expired a 'loyal penalty,' by continuing to charge for mobile devices which had already been paid off,” Gutmann's legal team argued.The mobile providers have contested the allegations, with their lawyers arguing the lawsuit is fundamentally flawed as it alleges anti-competitive behaviour “in an industry renowned for its competitiveness.”EE said that it does not accept the substantive allegations and intends to defend them robustly.“We do not accept the substantive allegations of the claim and intend to defend them robustly,” an EE spokesperson said.O2 welcomed the tribunal's decision to reduce the scope of the claim by excluding pre-October 2015 losses.“We maintain that there is no merit to Mr Gutmann's case for the remaining period and will continue to robustly defend our position as it proceeds,” an O2 spokesperson stated.

Harvey Jones suspects the Rolls-Royce share price has run out of steam and names a FTSE 100 stock that may have greater scope to grow from here. This beaten-down blue-chip is forecast to grow 4 times faster than the Rolls-Royce share priceThe content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. It’s been by far the most exciting FTSE 100 stock over the last five years, rocketing 1,095%. Brokers share my caution about future share price gains.

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In the late afternoon, Highland Avenue came alive with families playing catch, neighbors walking dogs together, children biking and skateboarding. AdvertisementA view of Highland Avenue, where several homes at the base of the street were spared by the fire. “From the moment we moved in, we knew this was different.”The tight bonds that Highland Avenue bred are a driving force behind the rebuilding efforts. AdvertisementGilien Silsby grew up in Altadena a few blocks away, and moved into a home on Highland Avenue 25 years ago. On Highland Avenue, the base of the block is mostly intact but as the street ascends toward the foothills, homes disappear.

“He appeared to be helping me with my career and future employment,” the woman said. “He wanted us to tell our fellow students about his company and needed us to help publicize his events. “I’m scared that while I sleep something like this may happen again,” she added. “How can I be sure that I’m safe?”The judge who sentenced Mr. Xu at Woolwich Crown Court in southeast London said he was an “incredibly dangerous man” who had committed “calculated and planned” offenses that he recorded for his own enjoyment. Addressing Mr. Xu directly, Judge Christopher Grout said: “You are a sexual predator who would gain the trust and confidence of women before raping and sexually abusing them.

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Awad Abdel Samad, 24, of Weatherbury Talbot Road, Westminster, received his life sentence with a minimum term of 27 years for the murder of 19-year-old Mohamed Abdi. The attack took place on June 4, 2024, at the junction with Edgware Road, Westminster. Abdi, driving a Porsche Cayenne, flashed his lights at the back of Samad's Seat Leon. From the moment the Porsche's lights flashed, the fatal attack took just 25 seconds to unfold. Police were called at 10.40pm on June 4, 2024, to reports of a fight on Bell Street, at the junction with Edgware Road.

Paris Smith LLP made its debut on the prestigious list for its excellence in corporate and commercial deals. READ MORE: Law firm partner named to panel protecting some of society's most vulnerableParis Smith was commended for its "technical expertise, commercial acumen, and client-centric approach." (Image: Paris Smith)Paris Smith was commended for its "technical expertise, commercial acumen, and client-centric approach." The firm's head of corporate, commercial, and finance, James McNeil, said: "Being recognised by The Times as one of the UK’s best law firms is a proud moment for all in the department. Paris Smith’s corporate team has advised on more than 60 transactions in the past year, including several high-profile regional deals.

Cumbria secured fourth place in a list of top seasonal destinations, according to a survey of more than 12,000 people by holidaycottages.co.uk. The poll revealed the most-loved UK spots for autumn stays, highlighting the joy of vibrant landscapes, fresh walks, and cosy fireside evenings. Joby Mussell, chief commercial officer at holidaycottages.co.uk, said: "Now is a great time for holidaymakers to explore the happiest and most affordable destinations the UK has to offer out of season. Other destinations in the top ten included North Yorkshire, Suffolk, Argyll and Bute, the Isle of Anglesey, and Gwynedd in Wales. Holidaycottages.co.uk reported a rise in October half-term bookings compared to last year, marking autumn as an increasingly popular season for UK travellers.

The 2025 Camping and Glamping awards by Campsites.co.uk highlights some of the best camping, glamping and touring sites the UK has to offer. From peaceful off-grid campsites to stylish glamping escapes with hot tubs, there’s an outdoorsy holiday to suit everyone. Offering ‘camping with a twist’, Hill Farm Camping in Mill Road, Great Bardfield has been named runner up for Best Family Campsite in the East of England. Hill Farm also offers rides across the beautiful local countryside on specially designed, wheelchair friendly trailers. Hill Farm Camping has an impressive 4.91 star rating on its travel listing, with 100 per cent of reviewers saying they would recommend it.

The Guardian leads on the BBC's apology to Donald Trump, external for the edited video clip on Panorama, and its rejection of demands for compensation. The paper notes it remains to be seen how Trump will respond. The paper leads on the thousands of documents released by US lawmakers related to the convicted sex offender, including testimony from the ex-prince's accuser, Virginia Giuffre. The Daily Mail leads on a report into the murder of the 10-year-old schoolgirl, Sara Sharif. Animal rights campaigners are warning that hundreds of pigs in the New Forest are under siege from "smartphone-brandishing piggy tourists", according to a report in the Times, external.

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Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy noticeOpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and his husband Oliver Mulherin have backed a controversial startup investing in genetically engineering babies to eliminate hereditary diseases. Gene editing to create a baby is illegal in the US, UK, and many countries around the world, with critics arguing it is unethical and unsafe. Armstrong backed investing in gene editing, arguing that it was necessary to eliminate preventable diseases. “More than 300 million people globally live with genetic disease,” he said to The Times.

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