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: 29 June 2010
Consumer Focus welcomes the measures announced by the OFT to address the gross inefficiencies in the cash ISA market. The consumer champion said these are necessary first steps to drag the £158 billion¹ cash ISA market into the 21st century. Cutting the length of ISA transfers to 15 working days could save consumers up to [...]
Published: 28 June 2010
A new report from Consumer Focus Scotland highlights the key role that area-based projects can play in improving consumer take-up of energy efficiency services in Scotland. Energising Communities: Learning from Area-Based Energy Efficiency Projects in Scotland sets out the context in which energy efficiency activity in Scotland is taking place and the importance of area-based [...]
Published: 15 June 2010
The report of a major review of trading standards services in Scotland is launched today (15th June) by Consumer Focus Scotland. Up to standard: a review of trading standards services in Scotland found a complete lack of consistency in the services offered to consumers and to businesses. It also discovered that there is no effective [...]
Published: 19 May 2010
Best practice in engaging consumers Engaging customers in their decision-making is now an essential part of the work of all Scottish public bodies. Consumer Focus Scotland wants councils, police and fire services, health boards and their partners to nominate examples of work they have carried out to engage consumers in developing and providing services which [...]
Published: 17 May 2010
Engaging customers in their decision-making is now an essential part of the work of all Scottish public bodies and Consumer Focus Scotland is looking for examples of best practice in this area. The consumer champion wants councils, police and fire services, health boards and their partners to nominate examples of work they have carried out [...]
Published: 24 March 2010
Boroughmuir High has been crowned champions in the Scottish Young Consumer of the Year competition for the third consecutive year. In a thrilling quiz final held at the Scottish Parliament, Boroughmuir won a convincing victory over their three opposing teams; Linlithgow Academy, Ayr Academy and Dingwall Academy. In a turbulent economic climate, a range of [...]
Published: 22 March 2010
A survey of gas and electricity customers in Scotland has found low levels of satisfaction and twice as much cause for complaint than the average across a wide range of markets. But consumers in Scotland were just as dissatisfied as elsewhere in the UK. The UK-wide survey conducted by Ipsos MORI for Consumer Focus, of which the Scottish survey formed part, also [...]
Published: 17 March 2010
Responding to the Scottish Government’s announcement today of its decision not to progress legislation on public information notices, Jennifer Wallace, Principal Policy Advocate, Consumer Focus Scotland, said: “We welcome today’s announcement that legislation to end the obligation to publish public information notices in newspapers will not be progressed. The proposal would have meant that local [...]
Published: 15 March 2010
Consumer Focus Scotland has published a new report providing a consumer blueprint for thefuture of the civil justice system in Scotland. Making Civil Justice Work for Consumers sets out the consumer champion’s policy position on civil justice and highlights the key areas of the system that are priorities for reform. The principles underpinning Consumer Focus [...]
Published: 8 March 2010
Responding to today’s announcement of gas price cuts by E.ON, Marieke Dwarshuis, Director of Consumer Focus Scotland said: ‘E.ON customers will see this as a piece of welcome news. Any price cut is better than no price cut at all, but a pattern is emerging and yet again our energy companies are operating with a [...]
Published: 4 March 2010
Consumer Focus Scotland response to SSE gas cuts announcement Responding to today’s announcement of gas cuts by Scottish & Southern Energy, Marieke Dwarshuis, Director of Consumer Focus Scotland, said: ‘This is good news for Scottish energy consumers and hopefully will spark the price war that has been conspicuous by its absence since British Gas cut its gas bills [...]
Published: 24 February 2010
Thousands of people living in Scotland are to get a new tool to help understand how the health service works. Today (24th February) sees the launch of a new multi-lingual guide to NHS services making it easier for people to get the right service when they need it. The easily understood resource is being made [...]
Published: 18 February 2010
Responding to today’s publication of the Office of Fair Trading Market Study report on Home Buying and Selling, Sarah O’Neill, Consumer Focus Scotland’s Head of Policy, said: “This report confirms that people in Scotland are generally more satisfied with the process of buying and selling a home than buyers and sellers in other parts of [...]
Published: 3 February 2010
Consumer Focus Scotland has welcomed the Scottish Government’s budget commitment of one million pounds to establish a Post Office Diversification Fund for Scotland. The announcement comes just a week after Consumer Focus Scotland backed the proposal in a Scottish Parliament debate on increasing support for post offices. Douglas Sinclair, Chair of Consumer Focus Scotland, said: [...]
Published: 3 February 2010
Celebrity Chef James Martin will cook up some tasty dishes for primary school pupils when he visits Killermont Primary School on Wednesday 3 February as a prize for winning a Food Standards Agency in Scotland (FSAS) and Consumer Focus Scotland Calendar competition. Demelza Hart of Killermont Primary School scooped first prize in the competition with [...]
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 [...]
