Consumer Focus Blog
Welcome to our blog, a space to let you know what we’re up to and share our views and ideas on consumer issues.
Buy Better Together Challenge launches
21 February 2012
Have you thought of new ways of buying collectively to help save money? Or had an amazing idea on tools that can help individuals group together to buy collectively?
Today Co-operatives UK and The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have launched The Buy Better Together Challenge, an exciting initiative to inspire new models of community buying, stimulate enterprise and promote shared learning. £60,000 will go towards training, mentoring and seed funding for stand out projects, including £15,000 for the overall winner!
Warm Front – use it or lose it
31 January 2012
Making sure homes are properly insulated and have decent heating can make a big difference to reducing energy bills and keeping warm and well.
Fuel poverty is on the up in the UK with almost seven million households estimated to spend more than 10 per cent of their income on fuel. Did you know that Warm Front is the only Government-funded scheme to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency in the poorest households in England? But the scheme is set for an underspend of up to £30 million this year. Older people, families and people with long-term health problems are the ones who will miss out on much-needed help. We’ve joined forces with National Energy Action to encourage anyone who thinks they may be eligible for Warm Front to put in a claim.
What do energy consumers face in 2012?
20 January 2012
It’s Big Energy Week, so it seemed worth looking ahead to see what consumers face in what could be a big energy year. In 2011 you probably saw your energy bills go up. The average energy bill rose over 21 per cent, and the number of customers entering new debt repayment arrangements rose by 20 per cent and 25 per cent for gas and electricity customers respectively.
The downsides to digital
17 January 2012
Digital channels are increasingly being used to deliver products and services to the public, across all sectors. But what does this mean for the consumer? Where do risks lie – new ones, or variations on old themes? From privacy loss to disengagement with the ‘real’ world, to new scams, to abuses of market power…what are the areas that concern people?
Calling non-domestic energy users
13 January 2012
As you may be aware, one of our statutory duties is to be consumer advocate for domestic and micro-business customers. We have been receiving concerning feedback about the experience of micro-businesses in the electricity and gas markets. This feedback, among other aspects, concerns contracting, price and service levels, and sales processes.
Something for you
19 December 2011
With Christmas fast approaching, and last minute parcels being sent, it’s worth remembering that Royal Mail is trialling leaving post with a neighbour (if people aren’t home and the package is too big for their letterbox).
In a number of trial areas, the postie will choose a neighbour and ask if they will look after the package. They’ll then leave a card to tell the intended recipient where the package has been left so it can be collected.
Voice over?
16 December 2011
As we advance into the 21st century, the world is changing fast. Widespread access to social media and other ‘web 2.0’ technologies is transforming how we behave and what we can achieve as consumers. It’s also enabling us to speak out to our peers and speak back to the providers of goods and services.
A Partridge in a Pear Tree
16 December 2011
Get off to a flying start – always include the postcode when addressing your items. This will ensure that they are processed efficiently and help prevent loss or delay.
Keeping FiT
15 December 2011
After six weeks of huge effort to install panels before the proposed cuts to Feed-in Tariffs take effect, many solar PV companies will be waiting anxiously for their phones to ring. How will consumers respond to the cuts in the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) that came into effect on 12 December? And will social housing projects be able to finance systems at the new rate?
Two turtle doves
15 December 2011
Don’t ‘coo’ at the post office counter – use your local sub post office, not a High Street branch, to beat the queues in the run up to Christmas.
