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: 18 August 2011
Responding to Ofcom’s fine against TalkTalk and Tiscali UK, Diane Gaston, Head of Communications at Consumer Focus, said: ‘This fine is a welcome move by the regulator. It is important to send a clear message to the industry on how essential it is that firms play fair by their customers. ‘It is totally unacceptable for [...]
Published: 17 August 2011
Ahead of British Gas price rises coming into effect tomorrow, Hannah Mummery, energy expert at Consumer Focus said: ‘Millions of customers will find themselves paying almost £200 more a year for their energy bills when these rises come into effect. This will put even more pressure on already stretched households and push many more consumers [...]
Published: 17 August 2011
Responding to Royal Bank of Scotland’s (RBS) decision to stop its basic bank account customers from using ATMs operated by rival high street banks, Marie Burton, financial inclusion expert at Consumer Focus said: ‘This is a kick in the teeth for many of RBS’s most vulnerable customers. We would call on RBS to re-consider this [...]
Published: 16 August 2011
Responding to npower’s price rise of 15.7% for gas, 7.2% for electricity and 12.2% for dual fuel announced today, Adam Scorer, Director of External Affairs at Consumer Focus, said: ‘npower’s customers will have been dreading this announcement. It will not come as a surprise, but it will be a source of great frustration when profits [...]
Published: 16 August 2011
Responding to EDF Energy’s announcement that it will be reimbursing customers who were overcharged as a result of problems with their automated meter reading system, Adam Scorer, Director of External Affairs at Consumer Focus, said: ‘Customers clearly have a right to expect that if they take the time and effort to give a meter reading [...]
Published: 12 August 2011
Responding to British Gas’ announcement today that it will be suspending energy doorstep sales, Adam Scorer, Director of External Affairs at Consumer Focus, said: ‘British Gas has responded to our call for action. We applaud the move and call for others to follow the lead set by British Gas and SSE.1 This is the sort [...]
Published: 5 August 2011
Consumer Focus, along with more than thirty other organisations, is today calling for a minimum energy efficiency standard to be legally required of all private rented homes by 2016, so that renters can be guaranteed to live in a warm and healthy home. Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘With almost 12 [...]
Published: 5 August 2011
Responding to E.ON’s price rise of 18.1% for gas, 11.4% for electricity and 15.2% for dual-fuel announced today, Mike O’Connor, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus, said: ‘Yet another price rise will leave the average energy bill weighing in at £1250 a year. Many consumers worry how they will afford to keep their homes warm this [...]
Published: 4 August 2011
Responding to Lloyds Banking Group’s reduction in complaints of 24 percent, Sarah Brooks, Director of Financial Services at Consumer Focus, said: ‘It’s good to see a bank taking action to improve on the areas where it is has been failing its customers. This is a step forwards from Lloyds with the figures showing they are [...]
Published: 3 August 2011
Consumer Focus welcomes the announcement that the Government has accepted the recommendations of the Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property. Mike O’Connor, Chief Executive at Consumer Focus, said: ‘This is a long-awaited victory for common sense. Copyright law is outdated, it does not reflect the way people use music, films and e-books today and hinders innovation [...]
Published: 29 July 2011
Responding to proposals by Royal Mail which would see; customer compensation claim times significantly reduced; changes to compensation for business mail; revised holding times for undelivered items; and moves towards leaving undeliverable mail with a neighbour, Robert Hammond, Director of Post, at Consumer Focus, said: ‘The regulator must look long and hard at whether these [...]
Published: 29 July 2011
Responding to EDF’s results, Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘With two of the Big Six announcing healthy profits in as many days, consumers who are worried about how to afford heating their homes this winter will be feeling their hackles rising. EDF customers will be wondering whether the firm will follow [...]
Published: 28 July 2011
Responding to Centrica’s interim results announced today Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘Centrica seem to win whether wholesale costs are high or low. Retail profits margins may have been reduced by recent increases in wholesale prices – but as they are also major gas and electricity wholesalers, they can still make [...]
Published: 28 July 2011
Commenting on the BT/Motion Picture Association test case ruling on Newzbin2, Mike O’Connor, Chief Executive at Consumer Focus said: ‘Website blocking only treats the symptoms, not the cause of why consumers infringe copyright. Blocking access to Newzbin2 is short-sighted and will not reduce demand for Hollywood movies. Consumers will seek out other sources and the [...]
Published: 27 July 2011
Commenting on computer problems preventing access to Post Office Card Accounts, Andy Burrows, Head of Post Offices & Essential Community Services at Consumer Focus, said: ‘It would be extremely worrying if the Post Office’s computer problems leave vulnerable consumers, especially the many older people who rely on these accounts, unable to access their benefits or [...]
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 [...]
