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: 30 August 2011
Consumer Focus Scotland has worked hard to deliver yet more wins for consumers. We’ve helped put more money back in people’s pockets and made the big arguments to shape services which put the consumer interest first. Read more
Published: 16 August 2011
Welcoming today’s announcement, Annie McGovern, Policy Manager at Consumer Focus Scotland said: ‘We welcome today’s announcement by the UK Government that it will provide significant new funding to connect more rural communities in Scotland to the superfast broadband network. We know that in many rural and remote parts of Scotland, consumers are missing out on [...]
Published: 15 August 2011
Advocacy for Scotland’s water customers moves to the national watchdog Consumer Focus Scotland from today following a decision by the Scottish Parliament. The move promises a strengthened voice for consumers.
Published: 11 August 2011
Call for Scottish Government, councils and Post Office to work together to expand services at post office counters – watchdogScotland’s postal services watchdog, Consumer Focus Scotland, says local authorities could use Scotland’s network of over 1400 post offices to deliver more council services. The watchdog is calling on the Scottish Government to create a ‘high-level [...]
Published: 4 August 2011
Report – ‘Communications Market Report: Scotland’ Annie McGovern, Policy Manager at Consumer Focus Scotland said: “This report is yet more evidence that many consumers in Scotland are still losing out on the benefits of broadband. “Unlike the rest of the UK, the number of people using broadband north of the border shows no sign of [...]
Published: 28 July 2011
Trisha McAuley, Depute Director at Consumer Focus Scotland, said: “Centrica seem to win whether wholesale costs are high or low. Retail profit 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 healthy profits at the other end. Consumers in Scotland [...]
Published: 27 July 2011
Responding to Ofgem’s £2.5 million fine of British Gas for failures on customer complaints handling, Trisha McAuley, Deputy Director at Consumer Focus Scotland, said: Frustrating the attempts of customers in Scotland to get complaints sorted out is unacceptable. It adds to the lack of trust in energy companies and it denies British Gas important insight [...]
Published: 27 July 2011
Responding to Ofcom’s new research into broadband speeds, Annie McGovern, Policy Manager at Consumer Focus Scotland, said: “It is worrying that the gap between advertised and actual broadband speeds has grown – people often pay more for faster broadband so if they are paying for a premium product, that’s clearly what they should receive. This [...]
Published: 23 July 2011
Consumer Focus Scotland is calling on the energy industry to end cold-call doorstep sales in Scotland. The call comes as new research from the watchdog shows that more than nine out of ten people who have bought energy products on the door would never do so again and only 4% of people are positive about [...]
Published: 21 July 2011
Responding to SSE’s price rise of 18 per cent for gas and 11 per cent for electricity announced today, Trisha McAuley, Depute Director, Consumer Focus Scotland said: ‘Knowing another price rise was round the corner will not soften its impact for customers. “This massive increase heaps more pressure onto households and will tip thousands more [...]
Published: 12 July 2011
Consumer Focus Scotland recognises the need for reform. Keeping the lights on and tackling climate change is in consumers’ long term interests. However, consumers in Scotland can’t be expected to write a blank cheque to decarbonise electricity generation. If today’s policy is to be the least worse option for consumers it needs to be done [...]
Published: 6 July 2011
Deputy Director and energy expert with Consumer Focus Scotland, Trisha McAuley said the outlook is gloomy: “With little sign of energy prices reducing, combined with reduced household incomes, it is inevitable that the number of people falling into fuel poverty – however you define it – will continue to increase. “We would certainly suggest that [...]
Published: 30 June 2011
Commenting on the Christie Commission findings, Douglas Sinclair, Chair of the national consumer watchdog Consumer Focus Scotland said: “We are pleased to see that the Commission has taken on board the importance of designing and delivering public services in Scotland for consumers and not providers. We also welcome the proposal for improved transparency over [...]
Published: 22 June 2011
Consumer Focus Scotland Comment on Ofgem announcement Commenting on Ofgem’s decision to investigate Scottish Power’s marketing, and to press ahead with consideration of the tariff system used by all energy companies, Trisha McAuley, Deputy Director and energy expert with the national watchdog Consumer Focus Scotland said: “The decision by Ofgem to investigate Scottish Power is, [...]
Published: 21 June 2011
The Chair of Consumer Focus Scotland, Douglas Sinclair, welcomed today’s publication by the UK Government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) of a consultation Empowering and Protecting Consumers on the future consumer protection landscape across the UK, including Scotland. “This is the key opportunity to influence how the best arrangements can be put in [...]
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 [...]
