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: 21 November 2011
Commenting on the announcement from Ofgem on better business protection, Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus said: ‘Fair tariffs, clear information and decent service are just as important for a small business trying to get through tough trading as they are for a household trying to make ends meet. ‘We welcome and support [...]
Published: 16 November 2011
Responding to new internet access figures published by the Office for National Statistics, Jonathan Stearn, spokesperson for Consumer Focus, said: ‘After a disappointing start to the year, it’s good news that there has been a noticeable fall in the last few months in the number of people who have never used the internet. However, as [...]
Published: 16 November 2011
Consumer Focus and Citizens Advice are launching a new drive to help people understand what to do and what their rights are if they fall behind on their energy bills. The organisations are launching the awareness campaign as they are concerned that the number of people in debt to their energy firm and needing help [...]
Published: 7 November 2011
In response to Royal Mail’s additional £15 million investment in its Christmas operation, Nigel Woods, postal expert at Consumer Focus said: ‘People across the country experienced frustrating delays to their Christmas post last winter, so it is good to see Royal Mail taking steps to stop this happening again this year with additional investment and [...]
Published: 3 November 2011
Responding to the government’s midata announcement, Mike O’Connor, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus, said: ‘Consumer data is an incredibly valuable commodity and the amount of data kept and used is set to grow as people increasingly use online and digital services. ‘This data should not just benefit the businesses and services who collect it. Midata [...]
Published: 2 November 2011
Richard Bates, Consumer Focus Director of Consumer Empowerment Programme Ctrl Shift event: To hoard or to share: midata and the personal data sharing revolution
Published: 2 November 2011
Consumer Focus, has issued a report today looking at what happens when young people leaving care access public services for the first time. The release of the report coincides with National Care Leavers’ Week 26 October – 2 November.1 Almost 10,000 young people leave care every year in England. Public services such as healthcare, housing [...]
Published: 1 November 2011
Responding to energy complaints figures published today by Ecotricity, Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘Consumers need more information about complaints handling – but this must be meaningful and representative. These figures have not been checked or standardised and they only show complaints not resolved within one working day. It is therefore [...]
Published: 31 October 2011
Responding to Government proposals announced today to reduce the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) paid for renewable electricity produced by solar panels at consumers’ homes, Mike O’Connor Chief Executive of Consumer Focus, said: ‘The Government is taking a sensible approach to protect energy bill-payers with the proposed changes to Feed-in Tariffs. Incentives to overcome the high set-up [...]
Published: 31 October 2011
Responding to Ofgem’s £2m fine of npower for mishandling customer complaints, Adam Scorer, Director of External Affairs at Consumer Focus said: ‘It is welcome to see Ofgem willing to hammer home the point that unless energy companies start treating consumers fairly there will be a price to pay. ‘Dealing with complaints properly is the foundation [...]
Published: 27 October 2011
Responding to proposals from the FSA on consumer protections around packaged bank accounts, Sarah Brooks, Director of Financial Services at Consumer Focus, said: ‘It is right that the FSA looks at whether customers are getting a fair deal on packaged accounts. We have raised our concerns with the FSA that many consumers may have been [...]
Published: 27 October 2011
Adam Scorer, Director of External Affairs at Consumer Focus, said: ‘Ovo customers will be disappointed but not shocked by this announcement. An energy price rise is always unwelcome news, but this is lower and later than other suppliers’ increases. The question many customers of bigger suppliers will be asking is if such a small firm [...]
Published: 26 October 2011
Commenting on the BT/Motion Picture Association website blocking order for Newzbin2, Mike O’Connor, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus said: ‘Blocking websites like Newzbin2 is a sticking plaster in terms of dealing with copyright infringement. We need a comprehensive strategy to address why people are paying for illegal services. ‘The Competition Commission recently found that release [...]
Published: 21 October 2011
This month:
• Royal Mail allows consumers to opt-out of having post delivered to a neighbour
• British Gas and npower end doorstep sales and British Gas commits to Warm Home Discount
• Working together to cut the cost of energy
• An update on our energy event coming up in October
• What’s new from Consumer Focus – our latest research and reports
• ParentPort: a new website to help parents protect children from inappropriate material
Published: 21 October 2011
Responding to Scottish Power’s announcement today that it will be ending energy doorstep sales, Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘It is great news that Scottish Power has finally listened to what its customers want and has agreed to end energy doorstep sales. Energy customers need to know they can rely on [...]
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 [...]
