Consumer Focus

Consumer Focus is the new statutory organisation campaigning for a fair deal for consumers in England, Wales, Scotland, and, for postal services, Northern Ireland.

Advice for individuals on energy and post is given by Consumer Direct ( 08454 04 05 06 ). Click here for more information on Consumer Direct

Consumer Focus will be the voice of the consumer, and work to secure a fair deal on their behalf. Consumer focus was created through the merger of three consumer organisations - energywatch, Postwatch and the National Consumer Council (including the Welsh and Scottish Consumer Councils). The new approach allows for more joined-up consumer advocacy, with a single organisation speaking with a powerful voice and able to more readily bring cross-sector expertise to issues of concern.

Consumer Focus is new and their priority at this early stage is to get the right staff in place, to lay the groundwork for achieving the aims set out in their Forward Work Plan and to strengthen their relationships with their key partner organisations and individuals. It will take time for Consumer Focus to fully establish the organisation, but they have already made considerable progress towards the aims set out in our Forward Work Plan. They have also been working to strengthen their relationships with our key partner organisations and individuals.

Consumer Focus has strong new legislative powers. These include the right to investigate any consumer complaint if they are of wider interest, the right to open up information from providers, the power to conduct research and the ability to make an official super-complaint about failing services.

Consumer Focus is well-resourced to use these powers and campaign on the issues that matter most to consumers. In fact, with 170 staff, Consumer Focus is the largest and the best-resourced advocacy body in the history of the UK consumer movement.

Consumer Focus is not an advice agency nor are they a statutory regulator. Other bodies such as Consumer Direct, Citizens Advice, local authority trading standards and the Office of Fair Trading play these roles.