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: 12 October 2011
Trisha McAuley, Depute Director of Consumer Focus Scotland said: “Consumers in Scotland are being hit hard by recent fuel hikes and many have been left questioning the fairness of this. SSE has taken a step in the right direction by splitting from the pack and introducing a number of measures which should lead to more [...]
Published: 12 October 2011
Responding to SSE’s moves to offer all its electricity for trade to any household supplier, Trisha McAuley, Depute Director at Consumer Focus Scotland said: ‘There are clear questions over how competitive the energy market is so it is welcome that one of the big six players is at last taking steps that will help smaller [...]
Published: 12 October 2011
Scotland’s Healthyliving Award at national food industry awards A Scottish scheme has been praised for encouraging over 1500 catering sites in Scotland to stock healthier snacks and meals. The healthyliving award – a Scottish Government initiative run by Consumer Focus Scotland – received a well deserved nomination for the ‘Nestle Wellness Award’ at the food [...]
Published: 5 October 2011
Response by Consumer Focus Scotland to fuel poverty announcement by Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment Alex Neil at 14.55 today Trisha McAuley, Head of Energy at consumer watchdog, Consumer Focus Scotland, said: “Rising energy prices are tipping thousands more people into fuel poverty. “It’s good news that the Scottish Government is reinvigorating Scotland’s [...]
Published: 21 September 2011
Consumer Focus Scotland has welcomed the announcement by the Scottish Government that one million pounds has been allocated under the Post Office Diversification Fund. The Scottish Government’s commitment to establish this fund was supported by Consumer Focus Scotland when it was announced in the Scottish budget last year. Sarah O’Neill, Director of Policy at Consumer [...]
Published: 21 September 2011
For immediate release: Wednesday 21 September 2011 Commenting on the announcement that RBS customers will be able to make cash withdrawals at the post office, Sarah O’Neill, Director of Policy, at Consumer Focus Scotland, said: ‘This is very good news for consumers who want to do their everyday banking at the post office and for [...]
Published: 16 September 2011
Cheaper broadband would help connect thousands of people in Scotland Thousands of Scotland’s poorest families would have the opportunity to connect to the web if cheaper rates and easier ways to pay were available, Scotland’s consumer watchdog said today. A new report by Consumer Focus Scotland says that, despite the internet increasingly becoming an essential [...]
Published: 15 September 2011
Responding to EDF Energy’s price rise of 15.4% for gas and 4.5% for electricity announced today, Trisha McAuley, Depute Director at Consumer Focus Scotland said: “As the last of the Big Six to put up prices, EDF Energy’s announcement today will take the average energy bill to almost £1300. “It is disappointing they have followed [...]
Published: 15 September 2011
New research released today by Consumer Focus shows that many people are unconvinced and unimpressed by Royal Mail proposals to leave post with a neighbour if they are not home. With one in five people unhappy for any of their neighbours to receive any of their post, Consumer Focus Scotland is calling for Royal Mail’s [...]
Published: 14 September 2011
Households who rely on heating oil are today being encouraged to prepare for winter to get the best deal. Scotland’s consumer watchdog, Consumer Focus Scotland, has today launched a ‘Top Tips for Heating Oil’ campaign providing vital information to help households keep their bills under control. Around 155,000 homes in Scotland rely on heating oil. [...]
Published: 14 September 2011
Scots baby boomers need more help to plan for retirement More should be done to support Scots going into retirement, consumer watchdog Consumer Focus Scotland said today. New research by the watchdog indicates that over-50s in Scotland have not thought through how they will manage in later years. Baby boomers say they can’t rely on [...]
Published: 12 September 2011
Consumer Focus Scotland is calling for people to get in touch through a new survey to share their good and bad experiences of producing solar and wind power at their home. The UK Government has created incentives for households to get involved in making our energy supply greener by paying them, through its feed-in tariff [...]
Published: 9 September 2011
Commenting on the OFT decision to take action to prevent consumers being misled when searching online for heating oil supplies, Consumer Focus Scotland Depute Director, Trisha McAuley said: “This is a welcome step by the Office of Fair Trading in a market where consumers believe they have been losing out. “More than 200,000 households in [...]
Published: 9 September 2011
Thousands of Shoppers’ Rights Cards at till points across Scotland Thousands of cards with information on consumer rights have been placed at till points in shops across Scotland from today. Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing handed over the first wallet-sized ‘Shoppers Rights Card’ at a till point in a Spar store, backing a major drive to [...]
Published: 1 September 2011
New league table shows mixed picture on energy complaints. The fourth quarterly energy complaints league table, published today by Consumer Focus Scotland, shows a decrease in complaints about five of the ‘Big Six’ suppliers, with EDF the only firm which has seen an increase in complaints. The Spring quarter saw a general fall in complaints, [...]
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: 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 [...]
