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: 9 March 2010
Responding to today’s npower price cut announcement, Audrey Gallacher, energy expert at Consumer Focus said: ‘npower customers will be pleased that they are next for a price cut. But the days of cut throat price competition seem a distant memory. All suppliers now cut by almost identical margins within days of each other. There are no sprinters [...]
Published: 9 March 2010
Broadband minded: encouraging low income consumers online Money is not the only barrier preventing low income consumers from connecting to the internet, according to new Consumer Focus research, which also shows how many ‘non-connected’ consumers see the internet as irrelevant to their lives. Following the findings the consumer champion is calling for the Government to [...]
Published: 8 March 2010
Robert Hammond, postal expert at Consumer Focus said: ‘Hopefully this will resolve this issue once and for all and both sides will work to provide the service consumers need. Royal Mail needs to concentrate on improving its business for the future – strikes and the prevailing climate of uncertainty have been an unwelcome distraction. ‘Royal [...]
Published: 8 March 2010
Consumer Focus sees the growth of the legal online music market as the best way to tackle online copyright infringement, but new research from the consumer champion shows how the music industry is failing to promote the many legal alternatives. The research released today shows that four in ten people are unable to name a [...]
Published: 8 March 2010
Robert Hammond, energy expert at Consumer Focus said: ‘E.ON customers will see this as a piece of welcome news. Any price cut is better than no price cut at all, but a pattern is emerging and yet again our energy companies are operating with a pack mentality. It speaks volumes that this announcement is remarkably [...]
Published: 8 March 2010
With the publication of today’s Sustainability First report, Consumer Focus is urging the Government not to miss the once in a lifetime opportunity to help millions of prepayment meter customers which the roll-out of smart meters offers. Including a pre-payment meter facility in all smart meters could remove a large part of the additional costs [...]
Published: 5 March 2010
Cem Suleyman, Senior Policy Advocate, Consumer Focus Liquidity in European Wholesale Electricity Markets
Published: 4 March 2010
Robert Hammond, energy expert at Consumer Focus said: ‘This is good news and hopefully will spark the price war that has been conspicuous by its absence since British Gas cut its gas bills last month. ‘Wholesale gas and electricity prices have been falling for months and we believe price cuts for both should have been [...]
Published: 4 March 2010
Jillian Pitt, digital expert at Consumer Focus said: ‘Equality of access and affordability must drive considerations to roll-out next generation broadband across the UK. While we welcome the Government’s commitment on next generation broadband, the gap between the haves and have nots is widening, with the market delivering to affluent and highly populated urban areas. [...]
Published: 3 March 2010
Prashant Vaze, Chief Economist and Head of Fair Markets, Consumer Focus A new energy infrastructure workshop
Published: 2 March 2010
Consumer Focus welcomes the Government’s drive to reduce the digital divide. The consumer champion will be launching its own research next week to highlight the further hurdles that need to be overcome if more consumers are going to get online. Responding to Government’s National Digital Participation Plan, Jillian Pitt, digital expert for Consumer Focus, said: [...]
Published: 2 March 2010
Philip Cullum, Deputy Chief Executive, Consumer Focus, said: “We have serious reservations about the way this approval process has taken place. The potentially far-reaching implications of this deal for UK consumers should have been examined by UK regulators, as the Office of Fair Trading and consumer groups requested, not behind closed doors in Brussels. This [...]
Published: 2 March 2010
Jonathan Stearn, energy expert at Consumer Focus said: “There is a lot in this announcement that we can applaud. Pay as You Save loans will help many consumers improve the energy efficiency of their homes, so long as they have the correct advice and information on how to do so. “However, it does little to [...]
Published: 28 February 2010
A new report from Consumer Focus warns that, despite exceeding their 2008-09 commitments, energy suppliers could fail to meet their obligations to help their poorest customers this year unless they invest more in social tariffs or price discounts. The ‘What’s the deal?’ report shows that in 2008–09 the Big Six energy firms exceeded their agreement [...]
Published: 26 February 2010
Commenting on Royal Mail missing nearly every target in their Quarter 3, Quality of Service figures, Nigel Woods, postal expert, Consumer Focus, said: “Whether or not these results are down to industrial action, consumers were let down by Royal Mail last autumn. “The figures are similar to those recorded during the industrial action of 2007-8 [...]
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 [...]
