Published: 7 February 2012
Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘We welcome the move by E.ON to change its Direct Debit policy. It is a victory for common sense and hopefully the first of many steps the company will take in its Reset Review programme to improve the experience of its customers. ‘With this in mind [...]
Published: 12 July 2011
Consumer Focus recognises the need for reform. Keeping the lights on and tackling climate change is in consumers’ long term interests. However, consumers can’t be expected to write a blank cheque to decarbonise electricity generation. The huge costs of these changes will flow through to electricity bill payers at a time when similar price hikes to [...]
Published: 12 July 2011
Lucy Yates, Consumer Focus Empowered Consumers team, presentation to the Sustainable Consumption Forum. 12 July, 2011 PwC, 7 More London
Published: 8 July 2011
Responding to SSE’s announcement today that they are suspending doorstep sales, Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘Cold-call doorstep sales have been a continuous problem since the competitive energy market was introduced. Suppliers have an appalling track record on mis-selling and have failed to offer their best deals face-to-face, leaving a huge [...]
Published: 8 July 2011
Responding to British Gas’ price rise of 18 per cent for gas and 16 per cent for electricity announced today, Mike O’Connor CBE, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus said: ‘This price rise will send a shock wave across the country. The impact on customers will be severe, piling more pressure on severely stretched household budgets [...]
Published: 7 July 2011
In response to Ofcom’s warning to npower and HomeServe issued today, Gillian Cooper, energy expert at Consumer Focus said: ‘Unsolicited sales calls are a major concern for most of us. Abandoned calls are annoying and few people welcome being disturbed in their own home. Ofcom is right to threaten fines to any firm caught doing [...]
Published: 6 July 2011
Responding to the report on behaviour change and energy use published today by the Cabinet Office and Department of Energy and Climate Change, Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘The UK Government has shown the savings energy efficiency can make. As energy prices rise and the cost for improving our energy supply [...]
Published: 5 July 2011
In its response today to the Independent Commission on Banking, Consumer Focus calls on the Commission to recommend wide-ranging changes to shake up our retail banking sector and promote stronger competition. The watchdog believes that for far too long customers have suffered a raw deal from their banks resulting in high complaint numbers and poor, overly [...]
Published: 1 July 2011
Responding to Ofgem’s fine of British Gas for miscalculating how much of the electricity that it supplies to its business customers had come from renewable sources, Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘Consumers need to be able to have faith that what energy firms report is accurate and that they will be [...]
Published: 30 June 2011
Welcoming the new smart meter protections proposed today by Ofgem, Zoe McLeod, energy expert at Consumer Focus said: ‘We have long called for protections such as these to help safeguard households, especially the most vulnerable, from remote disconnection or being switched to prepayment meters without their consent. However, close monitoring of suppliers is needed if [...]
Published: 30 June 2011
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) should help house-hunters choose warmer, cheaper-to-run homes. Instead, they languish at the bottom of a paperwork pile because they are too long, technical and confusing.1 EPCs must make the potential savings on bills much more prominent if they are to achieve their purpose of making consumers act on their energy efficiency [...]
Published: 30 June 2011
Responding to the National Audit Office’s report, warning of major risks which DECC must address before the roll-out of smart meters, Zoe McLeod, energy expert at Consumer Focus, said: ‘This is a welcome spotlight on the cost of this scheme and the importance on getting it right. Smart meters have significant potential benefits for consumers [...]
Published: 28 June 2011
Welcoming the OFT upholding the Which? super-complaint against credit and debit card surcharges, Prashant Vaze, Chief Economist at Consumer Focus said: ‘This is a victory for common sense. The OFT has confirmed what we all suspected – that online firms have been pulling the wool over their customer’s eyes. ‘Consumers have rightly been baffled about [...]
Published: 23 June 2011
Philip Cullum speaks at the Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards Conference on 22 June
Published: 22 June 2011
Welcoming the announcement of an overhaul of the gas and electricity market by Ofgem, Mike O’Connor, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus said: ‘This is a good sign. Ofgem has listened to consumers and will press on with the task of reforming our energy markets. But, if competitive pressure cannot deliver good value and fair treatment, [...]
Published: 21 June 2011
Responding to the proposals set out in a new consultation Empowering and Protecting Consumers’ from the Department for Business, Innovations and Skills today, Christine Farnish, Consumer Focus Chair, said: ‘We welcome the consultation on how consumers can be more empowered and better protected in the future. Given the huge changes that are needed in private [...]
Published: 2 February 2012
Responding to Ofcom’s new research on UK broadband speeds, Annie McGovern, Digital Expert at Consumer Focus Scotland, said: ‘It’s good news that the Ofcom research shows customers are getting faster broadband speeds but many people across Scotland will take some convincing. There is still a digital divide in Scotland between the speeds people can get [...]
Published: 31 January 2012
Annie McGovern, digital expert at Consumer Focus Scotland said: “Consumers in Scotland want fast and reliable broadband services and to be able to keep pace with all the new fantastic technology developments the 21st century will offer. Having the right infrastructure in place is absolutely critical to doing this. “These commitments by the Scottish [...]
Published: 25 January 2012
More work needed to make Green Deal right for consumers The success of the UK government’s Green Deal – the new scheme intended to transform the energy efficiency of homes and businesses and lower fuel bills – needs more work for consumers in Scotland to be convinced. In response to the UK government’s ‘Green Deal [...]
Published: 24 January 2012
Consumer watchdog response to post office deal Responding to the UK government’s announcement that Royal Mail and Post Office Limited (POL) have agreed a commercial arrangement that will provide a significant amount of security for the network over the next ten years, Sarah O’Neill, Director of Policy at Consumer Focus Scotland said: “This ten year [...]
Published: 24 January 2012
Trisha McAuley, Deputy Director at Consumer Focus Scotland said: “It is good news that water charges are not going up. Households budgets are under a lot of pressure with the high cost of basic items such as energy and food so consumers need to see value for money from their public services and will expect [...]
Published: 6 February 2012
In a report Staying Local: the Future of the Post Office Network, the consumer watchdog found that while there are clear benefits for customers in PO Locals, consumers also have concerns.
Published: 2 February 2012
Consumer Focus Wales is calling on consumers to back their campaign to make changes to food law in Wales.
Published: 31 January 2012
Consumer Focus Wales has asked AMs to support action to protect people who live in park homes from financial abuse by rogue site owners.
Published: 18 January 2012
“More than two in every five Welsh consumers have never switched their energy supplier. Many of those who have switched have done so just once, switching from separate gas and electricity suppliers to a dual fuel deal. That means as many as eight out of ten households in Wales could be paying more than they need to heat their homes." - Lindsey Kearton, Consumer Focus Wales.
Published: 9 January 2012
We believe that these goals, which have been drawn from our major consultation exercise with consumers in all corners of Wales – will provide a fitting legacy for all the hard work undertaken by Consumer Focus Wales.
Published: 5 February 2012
A new report published today by Consumer Focus Post – called ‘Consumer Friendly Post Offices?’1 – examines how well the Post Office network is meeting the needs of Northern Ireland consumers. The new findings show that post offices are well-used and valued, with four in 10 consumers visiting the post office once a week, increasing [...]
Published: 24 January 2012
Responding to the news that Royal Mail and Post Office Limited (POL) have agreed a commercial arrangement that will provide a significant amount of security for the network over the next ten years, Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Policy at Consumer Focus Post said: ‘We welcome this announcement by Edward Davey – a ten year [...]
Published: 5 December 2011
Consumer Focus Post is calling for people to think about posting cards and presents and ordering online Christmas shopping earlier this year. Many people may be risking Christmas disappointment by posting their Christmas mail and doing their online Christmas shopping at the last minute. Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Policy at Consumer Focus Post said: [...]
Published: 24 October 2011
Responding to Simon Hamilton MLA’s call today for drivers in Northern Ireland to be allowed to renew their car tax online, Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Policy at Consumer Focus Post, ‘Consumers in Northern Ireland need a range of options for renewing their car tax, or indeed accessing any government service. Access both online and [...]
Published: 20 October 2011
Responding to Ofcom proposals on regulation of the postal service, Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Policy, Consumer Focus Post, said: ‘The proposals made by Ofcom today suggest major change for the future of Northern Ireland’s postal service. We must ensure the right balance between putting Royal Mail on a stable footing and ensuring value and [...]
