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The CMA fines fake deadlines and pre-ticked extras

On 14 October the CMA fined Wayfair, Appliances Direct and Gold's Gym £6 million combined for fake countdown offers, automatic opt-ins and unclear fees. What it says businesses must do, and a short checklist for your own site.

14 October 2026Read the story →

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WordPress's third update in three weeks

WordPress 7.1.3, released on 6 October, fixes seven security flaws, including one that exposed comments on private posts. How to check which version your site is running, and what the announcement says about automatic updates.

7 October 2026Read the story →

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HMRC's six-month warning on Making Tax Digital

HMRC said on 5 October that Making Tax Digital for Income Tax applies to sole traders and landlords with turnover above £30,000 from 6 April 2027. What counts as turnover, what changes, and what HMRC says to do now.

6 October 2026Read the story →

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Google's slower-than-usual September update

Google's September 2026 spam update started rolling out on 24 September and could take up to two weeks to finish, longer than any of this year's three earlier updates. What a slower rollout means if your search position wobbles over the next fortnight, and why patience beats panic.

25 September 2026Read the story →

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WordPress's critical new security patch

WordPress 7.1.2, released on 22 September, fixes a single flaw rated critical because it needs no account to exploit, five days after the last update. What the Updates screen will tell you, and why this one is more urgent.

23 September 2026Read the story →

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WordPress's new security release

WordPress 7.1.1, released on 17 September, patches eleven security flaws including several ways a lower-level account could be made to act like a higher one. What to check if nobody has logged into your site in a while.

21 September 2026Read the story →

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Meta's new paid plans for business pages

Meta started rolling out Meta One on 15 September, four paid subscription tiers for anyone running a Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp Business account, priced from $14.99 to $499 a month. What each tier actually adds, and why the free Page you already run is not going anywhere.

20 September 2026Read the story →

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Companies House's first ID verification prosecutions

The Insolvency Service won its first convictions on 16 September against directors who never verified their identity with Companies House, months after the legal duty began. What every limited company director should check before their next confirmation statement.

19 September 2026Read the story →

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ASA rules on a '24/7' website claim

The advertising regulator ruled on 16 September that a trade website's '24/7' promise survived a rival's complaint, because the firm could show cover was genuinely booked through the night. What the ruling means for any UK business making a round-the-clock claim of its own.

16 September 2026Read the story →

Google's new Collected Info tab

Google switched on a Collected Info tab inside Business Profile in mid-September, letting owners see and correct what its automated systems have gathered from web crawls, other users and outreach calls, texts or WhatsApp messages. What to check in your own dashboard, and why one of those automated messages might genuinely be from Google.

15 September 2026Read the story →

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HMRC's faster Self Assessment registration

HMRC launched an improved online registration service on 9 September that delivers your Self Assessment reference within 72 hours instead of up to 15 days by post. What the 5 October registration deadline means if you started trading or a side income this tax year.

12 September 2026Read the story →