Consumer watchdogs set to merge
07 August 2008
Reform due to be implemented by 1 October
The government will soon be announcing that the National Consumer Council will be merging with Energywatch and Postwatch.
The resulting body will campaign for consumers and the current Consumer Direct service, available by telephone and online, will be the first port of call for consumers in need.
This merger will be part of the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act, which was approved in 2007.
The reform, which will also include a new ombudsman scheme, is due to come into effect on 1 October.
Consumer Direct, which currently offers the general public advice via a government-funded telephone and online service, will now also take on the role of giving advice on energy and postal issues.
The advantage of the merger is that the new body will have greater powers than each individual body on its own, including the jurisdiction to investigate complaints.
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