Published: 11 January 2013
Plans to address rising energy bills, smart-meter roll-out, the future of the Post Office network and the provision of Welsh language services have been set out today as Consumer Focus Wales launches its consultation on the first Annual Plan for a new Regulated Industries Unit (RIU). The consumer watchdog will be replaced in March 2013 [...]
Published: 9 September 2011
A new campaign is being launched today to empower consumers to use their rights as shoppers.
Published: 1 September 2011
Consumer Focus Wales is calling for parents to put pressure on local education authorities and schools as latest figures show almost 50 education premises in Wales have below standard food hygiene ratings.
Published: 30 August 2011
Royal Mail failed to hit its first class stamped and metered delivery targets in half of postcodes in Wales during the first quarter of the year latest figures show. Llandrindod Wells (LD) 88.7 per cent, Newport (NP) 88.9 per cent, North Wales (LL) 89.7 per cent, and Chester & Deeside (CH) 90.8 percent, all fell [...]
Published: 16 August 2011
Consumer Focus Wales is reminding people to check the hygiene ratings of their local food outlets in the light of the latest outbreak of E.coli in South Wales.
Published: 15 August 2011
Wales’ first Welsh Language Commissioner will only succeed if they are a good listener – that’s the warning from Consumer Focus Wales, as applications for the c.95k a year post close tonight (Monday 15 August).
Published: 21 July 2011
‘Knowing another price rise was round the corner will not soften its impact for customers. This increase – by the largest electricity supplier in South Wales – heaps more pressure onto already cash-strapped consumers and will tip many thousands more people into fuel poverty.’
Published: 19 July 2011
Royal Mail paid out more than £300,000 in compensation for lost items in Wales in 2010/11, while the numbers of complaints went up slightly.
After loss, the other categories in the top three complaints were for redirection (£31,000 in compensation paid out) and delay (£10,000) after Royal Mail received almost 50,000 complaints from consumers in Wales, up 500 on the previous year.
Published: 12 July 2011
“We are delighted that the Welsh Government has taken this step so that Wales will be the first country in the UK to put the ‘scores on the doors’ – and put consumers in the driving seat when it comes to food hygiene.”
Published: 8 July 2011
Responding to British Gas’ price rise of 18 per cent for gas and 16 per cent for electricity announced today, Lindsey Kearton, energy expert at Consumer Focus Wales said: ‘This price rise will send a shock wave across the country.’
Published: 6 July 2011
Fuel Poverty campaigners are calling on the Welsh Government to prioritise households in severe fuel poverty as they face rising prices this coming winter. Currently, 61,000 homes in Wales are living in severe fuel poverty spending £1 in every £5 on keeping their home warm.
Published: 3 April 2013
Adam Scorer, Director of Policy at Consumer Focus said: ‘This is not a case of one bad apple or one rogue sales team. The problems at SSE affected the whole direct selling operation and represent a fundamental failure at one of our biggest energy companies. Other companies have also broken direct selling. This has been [...]
Published: 27 March 2013
Responding to the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) Impact Assessment, Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘All serious projections show that our energy bills are likely to keep rising. Consumers have had to weather any number of energy price storms over recent years, and although the ‘cushion’ effect set out [...]
Published: 13 March 2013
Christine Farnish, Chair at Consumer Focus, said: ‘This report on Simple Financial Products could mark a watershed moment in the evolution of retail financial services markets. ‘Simple products are long overdue. They would, at long last, provide consumers with the option of no frills, no catches products that people can understand and buy with confidence. [...]
Published: 1 March 2013
Responding to Royal Mail’s price announcement, Robert Hammond, Director of Postal Policy and Regulation at Consumer Focus said: ‘Posting letters and parcels is an essential service and consumers are looking much harder at value for money and quality of service, even on the price of a stamp. ‘This year’s freeze on stamp prices for letters, [...]
Published: 28 February 2013
Work planning, comparing comparison sites, infrastructure investment, personal data and the green doctor. Plus videos about children in cold homes and consumer vox pops on in-home displays.
Published: 3 April 2013
Trisha McAuley, Senior Director at Consumer Focus Scotland said: “This is not a case of one bad apple or one rogue sales team. The problems at SSE affected the whole direct selling operation and represent a fundamental failure at one of our biggest energy companies. Other companies have also broken direct selling. This has been [...]
Published: 1 March 2013
Consumer Focus Scotland reaction to Royal Mail price announcement today Trisha McAuley, Senior Director at Consumer Focus Scotland said: “Posting letters and parcels is an essential service and consumers are looking much harder at value for money and quality of service, even on the price of a stamp. “This year’s freeze on stamp prices for [...]
Published: 27 February 2013
We should not be surprised if consumers regard these results, and the warning of price rises to come, with a mix of resentment and dread.
Published: 11 February 2013
Watchdog says more to be done to boost take-up of schemes that cut fuel bills. Energy efficiency schemes have a key role to play in tackling fuel poverty and reducing climate change emissions, watchdog Consumer Focus Scotland has told a Scottish Parliament Committee reviewing progress towards climate change targets. Nearly 1 in 3 Scottish households [...]
Published: 6 February 2013
Parcel Summit takes place in capital to get customers a fair deal A summit is taking place today on creating 21st century parcel delivery services which work for customers and businesses. Chaired by watchdog Consumer Focus Scotland and Scottish Ministers Fergus Ewing and Richard Lochhead – Royal Mail and four other parcel delivery operators will [...]
Published: 1 March 2013
Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Policy of Consumer Focus Post said: “Posting letters and parcels is an essential service and consumers are looking much harder at value for money and quality of service, even on the price of a stamp. “This year’s freeze on stamp prices for letters, following the big rise last year, is [...]
Published: 14 January 2013
Created as part of the wider Consumer Landscape reforms,1 the provisionally named Regulated Industries Unit (RIU) takes over Consumer Focus’ responsibilities as the statutory representative for consumers in energy, postal services and for water in Scotland. It will also be a voice on many of the issues that are common to markets subject to economic [...]
Published: 30 November 2012
Consumer Focus Post is urging people to avoid possible disappointment this Christmas by posting cards and presents and ordering online shopping early. New research1 by Consumer Focus Post reveals that last Christmas: almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of people did not know the last posting dates for items to arrive on time approximately 90,0002 people [...]
Published: 13 November 2012
Responding to the news that the Post Office has won the DVLA contract, Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Policy of Consumer Focus Post said: ‘This is a win-win decision for consumers and the Post Office. Winning the DVLA contract will help to secure the sustainability of the Post Office’s network and maintain the service customers [...]
Published: 27 September 2012
Welcoming Ofcom’s decision to allow Royal Mail to roll-out its ‘delivery to neighbours’ initiative nationwide, Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Policy at Consumer Focus Post said: ‘This is good news for consumers. Missed deliveries are an increasing inconvenience for many people and giving postmen the option to leave undeliverable post with a neighbour is one [...]