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: 30 November 2010
The Prime Minister’s recently announced review of copyright law must harness the power of the internet and digital technology to benefit consumers and businesses, according to the chief executive of Consumers Focus, Mike O’Connor. In a speech to be given this afternoon (Tuesday 30 November) to MPs and leading figures in the entertainment industry, Mike [...]
Published: 30 November 2010
Mike O’Connor, Chief Executive, Consumer Focus Presentation to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Creative Industries, Consumers and the Digital Economy Act
Published: 27 November 2010
According to surveys,1 top of consumers’ Christmas lists this year will be a new mobile phone. Festive shoppers will be hunting for the latest handsets to leave under the tree, including the iPhone 4, the HTC Desire HD and the Blackberry Torch. In the run up to Christmas last year, around 340 million mobiles were [...]
Published: 26 November 2010
Responding to Ofgem’s announcement today that it is going to investigate the retail energy market, Audrey Gallacher Head of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘An investigation into the prices charged by energy companies is very overdue. We all have to pay for gas and electricity and the main protection we have against being overcharged is [...]
Published: 24 November 2010
Responding to the Communication Workers Union comments today on post office closures, Andy Burrows, post expert at Consumer Focus, said: ‘Since the last programme of post office closures finished we have continued to see a dwindling in the overall number of branches, which is worrying for consumers. A small number of temporary closures are inevitable [...]
Published: 24 November 2010
Consumers could potentially save a whopping £67.5million this Christmas if they send all their greetings cards by second class post instead of first class, says Consumer Focus. According to Royal Mail, 750 million festive greetings will be posted between friends and family this year. With first class stamps costing 41p and second class 32p, consumers [...]
Published: 23 November 2010
Responding to the announcement that online is set to become the default channel for dealing with a number of Government services, Richard Bates, Head of Community and Public Services at Consumer Focus, said: ‘This is a real chance to get back to the drawing board on how public services are delivered online. It would be [...]
Published: 23 November 2010
Changes to the Post Office network Consumer Focus welcomes the Government’s commitment to making changes to help the Post Office network survive in the long term. However we are concerned about potential risks in the implementation of these changes. A key challenge is to improve standards of service in post offices, for example shorter queuing [...]
Published: 19 November 2010
In response to the Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) decision to conduct an investigation into the mobility aids market, Prashant Vaze, head of fair markets at Consumer Focus said: ‘We are delighted that the OFT has decided to act on this issue after we presented our evidence to it earlier this year. Our research into [...]
Published: 18 November 2010
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) wants shoppers to remember their consumer rights when buying Christmas presents this year. BIS conducted research as part of the ‘Know Your Consumer Rights’ campaign with Consumer Focus, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and Consumer Direct. The research showed that many are still uncertain of their [...]
Published: 18 November 2010
Natasha Dare, Policy Advocate, Consumer Focus Postal Services Bill
Published: 17 November 2010
Responding to Communications Minister Ed Vaizey’s speech today on transparency on the internet and net neutrality, Robert Hammond, Head of Post and Digital Communications at Consumer Focus, said: “The internet should allow unfettered access to all legal content. Allowing internet providers to prioritise access to some websites over others will create a worldwide web where [...]
Published: 17 November 2010
Responding to Centrica’s Interim Management Statement, Audrey Gallacher Head of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘Customers will be baffled as to why they are being told to pay more when British Gas are on track for such huge profits. ‘British Gas admits that high margins due to low wholesale costs have given a major boost [...]
Published: 12 November 2010
Prashant Vaze, Chief Economist and Head of Fair Markets, Consumer Focus Project Discovery workshop Methodist Cental Hall
Published: 12 November 2010
Consumer Focus have reacted with dismay to the announcement by British Gas today of average price rises of 7% for both gas and electricity. Adam Scorer, Director of External Affairs at Consumer Focus, said: ‘Consumers will be dismayed by this news. Winter is going to seem that much colder and budgets are going to be [...]
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 [...]
