MSE News: Citizens Advice to replace axed Consumer Focus

poppy10_2

I_luv_cats wrote: »

The Citizens Advice consumer service took over responsibility for providing consumer advice and information from Consumer Direct on 1 April 2012.

Why does MSE say WILL

Citizens Advice will replace the taxpayer-funded Consumer Focus group under Government plans to shake up the consumer protection system.

"Providing consumer advice and information" is only one part of Consumer Direct's remit.

Citizen's Advice have already taken over this part of Consumer Focus's role as of 1st April, but CF will continue to exist for now, performing its other functions such as holding consultations, lobbying industry and working with regulators for the next year, when it will be axed completely and CAB takes over all of its roles.

This announcement only came today - MSE aren't "10 days late" as you claim.

squeaky

Hi all

I'll sticky this one for a while.

foundationsmcr

This is an absolute joke. Funding isn't the issue, its the quality of the advice that is key. Unless CAB are to receive months of industry training, and years worth of experience (which we know you can't buy) this will only result in consumer detriment.

Those who believe that Consumer Direct are pointless have obviously never fell foul of an unregulated service.

CAB are already underfunded, overstretched and under-trained (although they would never admit it themselves). Just look at Debt Management, they believe they are giving sound advice, but how many people visiting CAB for debt advice have been supported in County Court Claims (and I don't just mean admitting the claim at an affordable cost), or how to reclaim missold PPI etc. The training MATERIAL is excellent at CAB, but the follow up and testing is poor. This leads to many advisors giving poor advice at the front end, whilst the managers at the top kid themselves everything is hunky dory.

Time will tell I guess, but I don't see this as a positive move at all!

mo786uk

The former CD aspect of CAB is still run by the same staff that used to work at CD.

The people that work at the actual physical 'shops' are seperate from that I believe and obviously deal with a huge rnage of issues other than just consumer issues.

Neil_CAB_worker

As a CAB worker I take offence from Which comparing us to a GP (as opposed to the specialists of Consumer Focus) as a campaigning charity with proper local roots we do more for clients every day than organisations like Which do all year. Consumer Focus was another wasteful quango. By CitA national running it, they can cover their overheads more effectively and not need more government grants. Locally we are already benefiting from being part of a more integrated service. CABs are local charities and are all quality assessed and we are very lucky to have an independent advice sector in this country, most countries don't.

Arg

How independent will they remain with these changes and their sources of funding.

davidgmmafan

"Good to see another pointless quango being shuttered. Consumer Focus did hardly anything to justify their existence, or the big salaries paid to its executives"

Erm they did a pretty good job regarding getting compensation for gas sculpting. Far better than Ofgem did. In fact I'd go so far as to say this shows the problems with culls of this kind. Ofgem (utterly utterly useless but cheap) is spared because it is paid for by the industry (impartial???) yet Consumer Focus which in the above example got far more for customers despite having no real power is a goner.

lemontart

more work for the already over stretched service provided by cab

crin

a really bad idea/move by this government yet again undermining the help for consumers that is needed.

Most local CAB offices are run by volunteers and not by people well versed in the problems that they are asked to help with. This in turn means that not all the 'help' or advice is correct and even then because it isn't a 'proper' government dept/company many of the firms that they are asked to help people with will not take much notice or say/agree to something then totally disregard that agreement.

Yes, the training is in place to help the staff but, as volunteers nd not paid employees you will never receive the same sort of service as you currently receive from Consumer Focus/direct and the OFT.

Plus, why scrap 2 excellent departments and set up 2 new ones which will not have the expertise currently available and will probably end up costing the tax payers more which in turn will mean that the voluntary sector (i.e. CAB) will get less funding giving a knock on effect of even worse help.

This is another example of this government meddling with all sorts and not thinking things through.