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: 21 June 2011
Call for New Focus on Food Services for People in their Own Homes Scotland’s national consumer policy watchdog is calling on the Scottish Government and local authorities to recognise that access to food services is a vital component for older people being able to remain in their own homes. Research carried out for Consumer Focus [...]
Published: 10 June 2011
Marieke Dwarshuis, Director of Consumer Focus Scotland said: “The recent announcements on huge energy price increases are the latest in a lengthening list of body blows for consumers. The aftermath of the recession and the ongoing climate of rising inflation means that the cost of many commodities upon which consumers rely, not least energy, are [...]
Published: 27 May 2011
In response to Royal Mail’s performance statistics published today, Douglas White, postal policy expert with Consumer Focus Scotland, said: ‘The ball is now in the regulator’s court. 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 [...]
Published: 26 May 2011
Responding to Ofcom’s research on mobile broadband access1, Douglas White, telecoms policy expert at Consumer Focus Scotland, said: ‘Ofcom’s research shows that the small number of consumers relying on mobile broadband to get access to the internet is increasing. Yet coverage for mobile broadband is still patchy – and consumers in rural and remote parts [...]
Published: 11 May 2011
Sarah O’Neill, Head of Policy at Consumer Focus Scotland, responding to new research from moneysupermarket.com on strains on household expenditure, says the increasing squeeze on people’s finances means it’s more important than ever to get the best deal for household costs: “There seems to be a general reluctance for people to shop around for the [...]
Published: 11 May 2011
Consumer Focus Scotland welcomes the call from Ofcom today asking consumers to get in touch if they have received a higher than expected mobile, landline or broadband bill in the past 12 months. Senior Policy Advocate for Telecoms, Douglas White says the issue of unexpectedly high bills needs to be monitored: “The information that Ofcom [...]
Published: 21 March 2011
Call for change in law as survey for consumer champion shows 70% of consumers of land management services report that they would change land management provider – if they were able to[1] Scotland’s consumer champion, Consumer Focus Scotland, says thousands of householders must be empowered to change the company that provides land management and maintenance [...]
Published: 17 March 2011
Commenting on the passing today by the Scottish Parliament of the Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Bill, Senior Policy Advocate at Consumer Focus Scotland, Douglas White said: “This is an important step forward for tenants living in privately rented accommodation in Scotland. “We are particularly pleased that the Bill includes a requirement that new tenants [...]
Published: 8 March 2011
The consumer champion, Consumer Focus Scotland, says the publication of a consultation on Land Factors is an important step towards addressing an issue that affects hundreds of Scottish householders. The Scottish Government has launched the consultation on maintenance of land on private housing estates, seeking feedback on whether any changes should be made to existing [...]
Published: 3 March 2011
Consumer Focus Scotland is welcoming the publication today (Thursday 3 March) of the Scottish Government’s new digital strategy: Scotland’s Digital Future. Chair of Consumer Focus Scotland, Douglas Sinclair, says allowing people wherever they are in Scotland to have good digital access is fundamentally important: ‘Having access to fast, reliable, high quality digital services can bring [...]
Published: 3 March 2011
Consumer champion welcomes passage of Property Factors (Scotland) Bill, but warns many consumers will continue to suffer Consumer Focus Scotland has welcomed the passage of the Property Factors (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament as an important step in improving the rights of homeowners who use factoring services. However, the consumer champion has also called [...]
Published: 1 March 2011
Consumer Focus Scotland is pleased that the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill has been passed by the Scottish Parliament, and that several amendments have been made to the Bill which will strengthen the impact it will have in practice. Liz Macdonald, Senior Policy Advocate, said “Our main concern has always been that the Bill should contribute [...]
Published: 28 February 2011
In response to Royal Mail’s performance statistics published today, Douglas White, postal expert at Consumer Focus Scotland, said:‘Bad weather has clearly had a big impact on these results, and this weather was particularly severe and sustained in Scotland. However, the weather is not the only reason for these disappointing figures. There have been particular problems [...]
Published: 22 February 2011
A new Consumer Focus Scotland report on energy efficiency in existing private sector housing in Scotland says that there is a strong case for new regulation in the sector, to help cut rising energy costs and address fuel poverty. However, the report also makes it clear that if new regulations are to work, they must: [...]
Published: 21 February 2011
Consumer Focus Scotland, working with the British Water Cooler Association, European Drinking Water Cooler Association and the Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee, has launched a new poster providing advice to industry and consumers in Scotland on using water coolers safely. Sarah O’Neill, Head of Policy at Consumer Focus Scotland, said: “Our 2009 research into water [...]
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 [...]
