Published: 23 May 2012
Energy Secretary Edward Davey has today published practical advice for energy consumers looking to get a better deal on their gas and electricity deals through ‘collective switching’, and guidance for organisations wanting to launch their own collective energy purchasing schemes. Businesses, consumer groups, local government groups, housing organisations, charities and energy regulator Ofgem also attended [...]
Published: 6 May 2009
The debate over a private stake in Royal Mail threatens to drown out the voice of consumers, Consumer Focus said. The champion for consumers welcomed the tabling today of amendments to the Postal Services Bill that aim to protect post users. The amendments, tabled by Lord Browne of Belmont, will require public consultation before changes [...]
Published: 6 May 2009
Consumer Focus has welcomed the final front-of-pack (FOP) labeling report published today by the independent group of experts – the Project Management Panel (PMP). Jeff Allder, food expert for Consumer Focus, said: “A universal labelling system will help consumers to navigate the maze of food choices they face, and make choosing healthy options easier. This [...]
Published: 6 May 2009
Consumer Focus response to food labelling research Consumer Focus has welcomed the final front-of-pack (FOP) labeling report published today by the independent group of experts – the Project Management Panel (PMP). Jeff Allder, food expert for Consumer Focus, said: “A universal labelling system will help consumers to navigate the maze of food choices they face, [...]
Published: 6 May 2009
The debate over a private stake in Royal Mail threatens to drown out the voice of consumers, Consumer Focus said. The champion for consumers welcomed the tabling today of amendments to the Postal Services Bill that aim to protect post users. The amendments, tabled by Lord Browne of Belmont, will require public consultation before changes [...]
Published: 30 April 2009
The number is up for mobile phone users’ headaches Responding to consumer complaints about the service they receive from mobile phone operators, Consumer Focus is seeking the views of consumers about their experiences. More households now use a mobile phone than have a fixed line. Consumer Focus is looking to identify the priority issues that [...]
Published: 30 April 2009
Responding to consumer complaints about the service they receive from mobile phone operators, Consumer Focus is seeking the views of consumers about their experiences. More households now use a mobile phone than have a fixed line. Consumer Focus is looking to identify the priority issues that prevent mobile phone users getting a fair deal and [...]
Published: 22 April 2009
Consumer Focus’ response to British Gas profits Robert Hammond, energy expert for Consumer Focus, said: ‘Millions of consumers paying high energy prices will be disappointed, but sadly unsurprised, that energy firms are making such large profits. Any business needs to make a profit but it must also give a fair deal to its customers. ‘Wholesale [...]
Published: 22 April 2009
‘GREEN BUDGET WILL LEAVE MILLIONS OF FUEL POOR FEELING BLUE’ Consumer Focus’s response to the 2009 Budget Ed Mayo, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus, said: “Today’s ‘Green Budget’ will leave the millions of people struggling in fuel poverty feeling blue. Not only are Government’s promises on ending fuel poverty unachievable through the pitiful energy efficiency [...]
Published: 21 April 2009
POL current account is a first step towards a Post Office Bank Post Office Limited intends to launch a current account product next year, its Managing Director Alan Cook has revealed. Giving evidence to the Business and Enterprise Committee today, Mr Cook said that the product would be a partnership with the Bank of Ireland. [...]
Published: 21 April 2009
Post Office Limited intends to launch a current account product next year, its Managing Director Alan Cook has revealed. Giving evidence to the Business and Enterprise Committee today, Mr Cook said that the product would be a partnership with the Bank of Ireland. Consumer Focus has repeatedly called for the creation of a ‘neighbourhood’ or [...]
Published: 17 April 2009
The rationing of consumer credit 17 April 2009 Consumers on low incomes with no savings are being hit hardest as high street lending dries up – and many will be forced to borrow from unregulated, sub-prime money lenders unless Government makes new, affordable forms of credit available, says a report by the Financial Inclusion Centre [...]
Published: 17 April 2009
The rationing of consumer credit 17 April 2009 Consumers on low incomes with no savings are being hit hardest as high street lending dries up – and many will be forced to borrow from unregulated, sub-prime money lenders unless Government makes new, affordable forms of credit available, says a report by the Financial Inclusion Centre [...]
Published: 16 April 2009
The UK’s copyright laws have been rated “the worst, by far’” in a survey of 16 countries¹, beating the emerging economies of both Thailand and Argentina to last place, say Consumer Focus and the Open Rights Group today. The survey looked at how well each country’s copyright law balances the interests of rights holders with [...]
Published: 16 April 2009
Hope for small businesses in new Ofgem proposals Consumer Focus welcomed today Ofgem’s proposals for a much needed package of safeguards to protect small businesses from sharp practices in the energy market. Audrey Gallacher, energy expert at Consumer Focus said: “For a long time, small businesses have been the poor relation in the energy market [...]
Published: 16 April 2009
Consumer Focus is urging the Government to invest in a series of Budget measures to tackle fuel poverty, as part of the ‘green recovery package’ promised by the Prime Minister. This necessary action would protect the poorest households, cut carbon emissions and help the country face the recession. Unless the Government takes radical action, it [...]
Published: 10 May 2012
Consumer watchdog sets out moves needed to make post office changes work better for customers Consumer Focus Scotland is calling for improvements to the new Post Office Local (PO Local) model, if it is to work better for consumers. The call comes as a new report from the watchdog – ‘Open all hours’ – shows [...]
Published: 11 April 2012
Responding to moves announced by the Deputy Prime Minister today (Weds 11 April) to help customers to get the best deal from their energy supplier, Trisha McAuley, Deputy Director of energy watchdog Consumer Focus Scotland, said: ‘There are some good ideas here. For example transferring customers to the best deal when their contract comes to [...]
Published: 10 April 2012
Scotland’s consumer watchdog says Community Benefit Funds from renewables can help tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency Hundreds of thousands of pounds paid by renewable energy developers to local communities could be invested in improving energy efficiency and helping take thousands more Scottish homes out of fuel poverty. In a report published today, Reaping [...]
Published: 27 March 2012
Responding to the news of stamp prices announced today, Trisha McAuley, Deputy Director at Consumer Focus Scotland, said: ‘This is not great news for consumers in Scotland. I doubt anyone is going to think about the challenges facing Royal Mail when they are paying 60p for a first class stamp. Unfortunately, the economics of Royal [...]
Published: 15 March 2012
Rural residents ready for ‘switch’ to renewables 21st century heating in rural homes [Includes West Highland Housing Association Case Study] People living in rural Scotland are being encouraged to install renewable heating devices in their homes if they are not connected to the gas grid. Research by Scotland’s consumer watchdog, Consumer Focus Scotland, is to [...]
Published: 21 May 2012
Our recent research shows there is a need for change within the private rented sector, and it is pleasing to see that this need has been identified by the Welsh Government in their housing White Paper.
Published: 26 April 2012
Consumer Focus Wales is calling on park homes site owners and their representatives to work with them to help improve living conditions for residents. The consumer champion has spoken to every local authority and more than 250 park home owners across Wales. Now they are asking for site owners and [1]industry bodies to participate in [...]
Published: 11 April 2012
New proposals for changes to the consumer landscape were announced today by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The Citizens Advice service will take on responsibility from Consumer Focus for representing consumers’ interests in unregulated sectors across Wales and England. This will leave a new, technical Regulated Industries Unit working with the energy and [...]
Published: 27 March 2012
‘There have been great strides in food safety, with the Welsh Government promising to make it law for the mandatory display of food hygiene ratings on food business premises. But we are disappointed that a year on from our last report, the Food Standards Agency food law enforcement review, commissioned by the Welsh Government, has yet to be published. It is 12 months overdue – this simply isn’t good enough for consumers in Wales.
Published: 27 March 2012
‘This is not great news for consumers... Unfortunately, the economics of Royal Mail meant that something had to give to maintain the Universal Service Obligation (USO).'
Published: 11 May 2012
Consumer Focus, the UK postal watchdog, is calling for improvements to the new Post Office Local (PO Local) model, if it is to work better for consumers. The call comes as a new report from the watchdog – ‘Open all hours’ – shows that while the new model has potential benefits, there are unresolved problems [...]
Published: 30 April 2012
A new report ‘A front office for government services’ by Consumer Focus Post, the postal consumer champion in Northern Ireland (NI), says post offices could and should be providing more key government services. This would have dual benefits of improving access to services for consumers and increasing the sustainability of the post office network that [...]
Published: 27 March 2012
Responding to the news of stamp prices announced today, Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Policy at Consumer Focus Post said: ‘This is not great news for consumers. I doubt anyone is going to think about the challenges facing Royal Mail when they are paying 60p for a first class stamp. Unfortunately, the economics of Royal [...]
Published: 15 March 2012
A new report published today by Consumer Focus Post – called ‘Letter Lockout’1 - explores the nature and extent of mail delivery problems experienced by consumers living in flats across Northern Ireland. While most residents of flats express high levels of satisfaction with their postal service provided by Royal Mail, the new findings also reveal [...]
Published: 9 March 2012
Responding to Post Office Limited’s plans for a network transformation programme which will turn 6,000 branches across the UK, including Northern Ireland, into Post Office ‘Locals’ and ‘Mains’1, Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Policy, Consumer Focus Post said: ‘The Post Office network needs to be put on a firm footing for the future, so it [...]
