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: 20 October 2011
Responding to Ofcom proposals on regulation of the postal service, Mike O’Connor, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus, said: ‘This could be the biggest shake-up to the mail market that we have ever seen. We must ensure the right balance between putting Royal Mail on a stable footing and ensuring value and service for consumers. ‘It [...]
Published: 20 October 2011
Westminster eForum: Implementing the Digital Economy Act – site-blocking, notifications and encouraging behavioural change 20 October 2011 Saskia Walzel – senior policy advocate
Published: 19 October 2011
Responding to the Hills review on fuel poverty published today, Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘Recent energy price hikes have left fuel poverty levels soaring, with energy bills almost double what they were five years ago. With around nine million people in England living in fuel poverty under the current measure, [...]
Published: 19 October 2011
Responding to new energy efficiency data published today by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, Liz Lainé, energy expert at Consumer Focus, said: ‘Making sure your home is properly insulated could save you up to £300 a year. All energy suppliers offer discounted insulation and it is even free for eligible households living on [...]
Published: 18 October 2011
Responding to the OFT’s study into the off-gas energy market and problems experienced by heating oil and other customers: Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘While competition may be working in general customers are still clearly facing problems. It is welcome that the OFT has taken action on comparison sites and is [...]
Published: 17 October 2011
Welcoming npower’s announcement today that it will be ending energy doorstep sales, Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘npower is now the fourth of the Big Six to end cold call doorstep selling – the clamour for E.ON and Scottish Power to follow suit is now deafening. People will be right to [...]
Published: 17 October 2011
Ahead of the UK Energy Summit on Monday 17 October, Mike O’Connor, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus, said:
‘Cash-strapped consumers are worried about energy costs but aren’t sure how best to save energy or where to get a better deal. They will expect to see some concrete proposals that will help them get the help they need to cut their bills.
Published: 15 October 2011
Increased use of credit reference information by energy firms, and the greater use of energy customer data by Credit Reference Agencies1 (CRAs), could have negative consequences for consumers, warns Consumer Focus as it publishes a new report today. Energy firms are increasingly using CRA data to make sure that customers can and will pay.2 However [...]
Published: 14 October 2011
Commenting on the BT/Motion Picture Association test case hearing on Newzbin2, Jill Johnstone, Director of Consumer Rights Policy at Consumer Focus said: ‘Website blocking is a blunt tool which doesn’t address the root causes of why people infringe copyright. By attempting to block sites such as Newzbin2, the movie industry will only ever be papering [...]
Published: 14 October 2011
Responding to Ofgem’s proposals for the reform of the retail energy market, Mike O’Connor, Consumer Focus Chief Executive, said: ‘We welcome this first wave of reforms to hit the energy market. Consumers are faced with a thicket of energy tariffs that can seem designed to confuse all but the most persistent and numerate consumers. More [...]
Published: 12 October 2011
Responding to SSE’s moves to offer all its electricity for trade to any household supplier, Adam Scorer, Director of External affairs at Consumer Focus said: ‘There have been many questions about how competitive the energy market is and the barriers to new energy suppliers. It is good to see one of the big players taking [...]
Published: 11 October 2011
Responding to British Gas’ announcement today that it will be permanently ending cold call energy doorstep sales, Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘This is a welcome further announcement from British Gas in response to our call for action on doorstep sales.1 This move by the UK’s biggest supplier heaps even more [...]
Published: 7 October 2011
Welcoming the Court of Appeal’s decision to grant BT and Talk Talk permission to appeal the High Court decision on the judicial review of the Digital Economy Act, Mike O’Connor, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus said: ‘The Court’ s decision to give permission to an appeal is welcome and we look forward to the next [...]
Published: 30 September 2011
Consumer Focus’s response to Postcomm decision on Changes to Royal Mail Licence Conditions covering compensation claim times and a trial of a proposal to leave post with a neighbour Responding to Postcomm’s decision to agree with Royal Mail’s application to limit compensation claim times to 80 days, Robert Hammond, Director of Postal Policy and Regulation [...]
Published: 30 September 2011
Responding to Co-operative Energy’s decision to rise gas and electricity prices by 18 per cent and 11 per cent respectively, Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus said: ‘This is unwelcome news for Co-operative Energy’s customers but not unexpected – after all even smaller suppliers are not exempt from the pressures of rising costs [...]
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 [...]
