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: 29 June 2010
Consumer Focus welcomes the measures announced by the OFT to address the gross inefficiencies in the cash ISA market. The consumer champion said these are necessary first steps to drag the £158 billion¹ cash ISA market into the 21st century. Cutting the length of ISA transfers to 15 working days could save consumers up to [...]
Published: 24 June 2010
Audrey Gallacher, Head of Energy Policy at Consumer Focus, said: “Despite millions of the poorest households living in the most energy inefficient housing, and facing unaffordable energy bills, help has not been targeted effectively at this group.1 “Chris Huhne’s promise to refocus the energy efficiency obligations on energy companies to help fuel poor households is [...]
Published: 24 June 2010
Mike O’Connor CBE, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus, said: “It is vital that the Universal Service Obligation is maintained so that every home in the UK continues to get its mail collected and delivered at a single affordable price. Royal Mail is further along the road to modernisation now than when the original recommendations were [...]
Published: 22 June 2010
Commenting on today’s Budget announcement, Mike O’Connor CBE, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus, said: “The Chancellor has the difficult job of managing the nation’s finances in a way that distributes the pain fairly. Inevitably, the emergency budget will be setting off alarm bells for consumers. “Thousands of the things we buy everyday are going to [...]
Published: 22 June 2010
Supporting consumer advisers Consumer Focus enjoyed a prominent presence at this year’s Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards Annual Conference and Exhibition in Edinburgh (15-17 June). The event provides an excellent opportunity to reach a wide range of people who work directly with consumers, in one place. Our Chief Executive, Mike O’Connor joined a speakers panel [...]
Published: 17 June 2010
Responding to Ofcom’s announcement that charges for consumers who leave their landline contract early will be cut, Robert Hammond, head of post and digital communications at Consumer Focus, said: “These cuts are good news for consumers who have long been paying over the odds for cancelling their fixed line contracts early. The scale of these [...]
Published: 15 June 2010
Responding to the OFT review of the £7.5bn market for high cost credit, Marie Burton, financial services expert at Consumer Focus, said: “It is a cruel irony that people who are already struggling financially have to pay so much to borrow money. Unless more affordable credit is available, simply clamping down on high cost lenders [...]
Published: 10 June 2010
Responding to the announcement of government plans to scrap new regulations for private landlords, Richard Bates, head of community services at Consumer Focus, said: “Contrary to the minister’s claim that the vast majority of private tenants are happy, more than a quarter have had cause to complain in the last year, making it one of [...]
Published: 10 June 2010
Saskia Walzel, policy advocate. Consumer Focus A critique of the Digital Economy Act from a ‘subscriber’ view point
Published: 10 June 2010
Consumer Focus Labs, the online arm of watchdog Consumer Focus, has today launched a new site to help consumers reduce unwanted junk mail and cold calling. StayPrivate.org provides an easy way of opting out of receiving junk mail and sales calls by simplifying the process of registering with the Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) various preference [...]
Published: 9 June 2010
Audrey Gallacher, Head of Energy Policy at Consumer Focus, said: “We welcome the findings of Ofgem’s investigation and hope that EDF can learn from the problems experienced at Dartford. It is however essential that the tens of thousands of people who were affected by this power cut now receive appropriate compensation. This blackout caused huge [...]
Published: 9 June 2010
For most people, running their lives without a bank account would be unthinkable, yet nearly a million adults in Britain have to cope without one¹, living almost entirely in the cash economy. ‘On the Margins’, a new report by Consumer Focus,² explores the experience of some of the most vulnerable individuals in 21st century Britain [...]
Published: 4 June 2010
Commenting on figures from Uswitch.com on regional differences in energy prices, Audrey Gallacher, Head of Energy Policy at Consumer Focus, said: “While prices will vary due to the different cost of distributing energy in each region, these figures show just how important it is for consumers to make sure they are getting the best possible [...]
Published: 2 June 2010
In response to EDF paying £200,000 towards energy advice work after Ofgem’s finding that the company had breached new regulations on customer complaints handling Audrey Gallacher, Head of Energy Policy for Consumer Focus, said: “Nothing frustrates customers more than the hoops you are forced to jump through to get a problem acknowledged and dealt with. [...]
Published: 2 June 2010
Consumer Focus is warning that thousands of England fans travelling to the 2010 FIFA World Cup could face huge mobile phone bills. Costs for calls, texts and data use could add up to over £100 on a match-day, more than the £55-£80 face value of a ticket.1 Figures compiled by the consumer champion2 show that [...]
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 [...]
