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Empowering people survey
Are you working with people to give them knowledge, skills and abilities to deal with problems or situations where they are at a disadvantage? The Consumer Education Strategy Group (CESG) – Consumer Focus, the Citizens Advice Service, Trading Standards, the National Consumer Federation and Office of Fair Trading – needs your help.
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Energy saving device scam
Consumers who were tricked into buying a bogus energy saving device last year are being targeted again in a second wave of scamming. The Trading Standard Institute is warning people not to get caught out by the double dupery. Elderly consumers were contacted by telephone and encouraged to buy the gadget for £99. They were [...]
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Energy bill revolution
The Energy Bill Revolution is a public campaign, supported by an alliance of organisations, calling for warm homes and lower energy bills. We are asking the Government to use the money it gets from carbon taxes to make the UK’s homes super energy efficient. This will drive down energy bills, help end fuel poverty, help [...]
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Making open data work for you
Consumer Focus is holding an event in March to explore the opportunities that exist for the voluntary sector to use open data to benefit their clients and organisations. We’re looking for developers and representatives of the voluntary sector, public service providers and government to participate.
- @consumerfocus RT @GreenEnergyCert: Energy Secretary pushes for tougher emissions cuts at EU meeting today http://t.co/xFJS0kGD 2 days ago
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Post office transformation programme must deliver a reliable and sustainable local network – says Consumer Focus
9 March 2012
Responding to Post Office Limited’s plans for a network transformation programme which will turn 6,000 branches into Post Office ‘Locals’ and ‘Mains’1, Mike O’Connor, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus, said: ‘The Post Office network needs to be put on a firm footing for the future, so it can continue to serve communities who rely on their [...]
EDF payment to vulnerable customers for breach of sales processes
9 March 2012
Welcoming news that EDF will pay a package to vulnerable customers after Ofgem found it guilty of breaches to sales processes, Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus said, ‘It’s a positive step forward that an energy company has worked with the regulator to tackle this issue. We’ve called for Ofgem to have the power [...]
OFT revoking Yes Loans’ licence
8 March 2012
Commenting on the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) revoking Yes Loans’ licence, Sarah Brooks, Director of Financial Services at Consumer Focus, said: ‘We must not tolerate companies who use misleading sales practices to leech more money from cash-strapped consumers. The OFT has sent a very welcome message, that firms have to treat their customers fairly from [...]
EDF Energy remain at bottom of energy complaints league table
8 March 2012
The most recent quarterly energy complaints data compiled by Consumer Focus, shows a small overall decrease in complaints levels across the industry. Complaints fell overall by an average of 4% in October – December 2011. Complaints about four of the Big Six suppliers fell during this quarter. The exceptions were E.ON who had a 7% [...]
Talk is cheaper after Ofcom wholesale price move says watchdog
7 March 2012
In response to Ofcom’s announcement on BT wholesale landline and broadband prices, Adam Scorer, Director of Policy and External Affairs for Consumer Focus, said: ‘Talk should be cheaper for consumers from April, as the cost of their landlines and broadband will fall as a result of these moves by Ofcom. Lower wholesale charges should mean telecoms [...]
Latest Publications RSS
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Off-grid fuels – An investigation of the off-grid energy market
29 February 2012
The report draws upon research Consumer Focus commissioned to investigate the off-grid market and considers the potential for Government policy initiatives to address the problems in the market.
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Filling the gaps – Accuracy of Green Deal advice for cavity-walled homes
13 January 2012
Consumer Focus is asking Government to take swift action to make changes to the way energy efficiency assessments treats cavity wall insulation. Consumer Focus has found that RdSAP, the Government’s energy efficiency assessment method, will never recommend cavity wall insulation for homes built after 1983, despite up to 2.3 million homes being built after this date with clear, unfilled cavity walls.
Consumer Focus BlogRSS
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Consumers’ and creators’ common ground on copyright
1 March 2012
Our recent event on copyright turned out to be a thought-provoking day with a busy agenda. Consumer Focus and the Creators’ Rights Alliance brought consumers and creators together to discuss: copyright exceptions – which allow work to be reused without the copyright owner’s permission; ‘orphan works’ – where the copyright owner can’t be found after a diligent search; and copyright licensing – how to ensure that creators get a fair share of what consumers pay for copyright protected content.
Useful Tools and Services
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Energy Apps: Price Comparison tool
Consumer Focus’s Price Comparison tool enables you to compare gas and electricity prices in your area for all energy suppliers.