Published: 6 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: 6 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 [...]
Published: 15 September 2011
New research released today by Consumer Focus1 shows that people are unconvinced and unimpressed by Royal Mail proposals to leave post with a neighbour if they are not home. With the high level of consumer concern – and one in five people unhappy for any of their neighbours to receive any of their post – [...]
Published: 27 May 2011
In response to Royal Mail’s performance statistics published today, Chris Thirkettle, Head of Postal Policy Consumer Focus Post, said: ‘We cannot judge whether Royal Mail has failed to meet its service targets from this data. Royal Mail uses figures it has adjusted to take account of disruption from snow and volcanic ash. These adjustments have [...]
Published: 4 March 2011
The Department for Work and Pensions has today announced1 it will award the contract for paying out benefits cheques to Paypoint instead of Post Office Limited. The contract is worth in the region of almost £0.83million2 a year to the Post Office in Northern Ireland and 19,8553 vulnerable people collect their benefits in this way. [...]
Published: 24 November 2010
Consumers in the UK could potentially save a whopping £67.5million this Christmas if they send all their greetings cards by second class post instead of first class, says Consumer Focus Post. According to Royal Mail, 750 million festive greetings will be posted between friends and family this year. With first class stamps costing 41p and [...]
Published: 18 November 2010
Consumer Focus Post, the postal consumer champion, is calling on Royal Mail to introduce more flexible and convenient delivery solutions to accommodate the rise in online purchases and the changing lifestyles of Northern Ireland consumers. This and further recommendations are made in a new Consumer Focus Post report published today – ‘Sorry, you were out’. [...]
Published: 9 November 2010
Consumer Focus Post welcomes the Government’s commitment to making changes to help the post office network survive in the long-term. However the consumer watchdog is warning that there are potential risks in the implementation of these changes. Chris Thirkettle, post expert at Consumer Focus Post, said: ‘We welcome the Government’s commitment to improve the Post [...]
Published: 13 October 2010
In response to today’s Postal Services Bill, Chris Thirkettle, Postal Expert at Consumer Focus Post (Northern Ireland) said: In relation to the postal service…. ‘Consumers need this Bill to be about much more than getting Royal Mail out of its structural predicament. The issues it faces are critical and need to be resolved. But, preserving [...]
Published: 5 October 2010
Responding to the official commencement of operations of TNT Post in Northern Ireland, Chris Thirkettle, Consumer Focus Post, said: ‘Since the full liberalisation of the UK postal market in 2006, Northern Ireland businesses have had limited choice in postal operators when compared to their UK counterparts. The introduction of TNT Post, a major international postal [...]
Published: 25 August 2010
Consumer Focus Post, the consumer champion for postal services in Northern Ireland, is calling on Royal Mail to be more transparent about the performance of First Class mail delivery between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. It must also make sure that the service meets the UK-wide standard for 93% of First Class mail to be [...]
Published: 24 May 2010
Consumer Focus Post is calling on Post Office Limited to tackle limitations in outreach Post Offices that new research by the consumer champion has identified, and to better promote the services to consumers. Consumer Focus Post today released ‘Outreach or Out of Reach’ – a report evaluating the impact of the introduction of outreach branches [...]
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: 2 February 2012
Responding to Ofcom’s new research on UK broadband speeds, Adam Scorer, Director of Policy and External Affairs at Consumer Focus, said: ‘It’s good news that customers are getting faster broadband speeds. But there is still often a very clear gap between the maximum speeds advertised by suppliers and what people actually receive. People don’t expect [...]
Published: 1 February 2012
Following DECC confirmation of Government assurances that it will be voluntary rather than compulsory for households to have a smart energy meter fitted, Zoe McLeod, energy expert at Consumer Focus, said: ‘It is welcome that the Government has clarified that customers have a choice over whether they have a smart meter or not. Smart meters have [...]
Published: 27 January 2012
This month: - Energy news - Post news - What consumers think of online public services - Downsides to digital - What’s new from Consumer Focus – our latest research - Behaviour change and CSR conference
Published: 27 January 2012
Responding to the announcement of the Financial Services Bill, Sarah Brooks, Director of Financial Services at Consumer Focus said: ‘This is a once in a generation opportunity to reform our financial regulation and it is vital we get it right. Consumers have been losing out for too long. It is important that the Bill ensures [...]
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.
CF Labs, Consumer Focus’s online innovation department, has developed the StayPrivate website to help consumers stay in control of junk mail and cold calling. Registration is free and quick.
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