Which?

In April 2022, the energy regulator Ofgem brought in a ban on suppliers offering bargain deals to new customers at the expense of existing ones. The regulator has hinted it's minded to remove this ban, with a decision expected this month. Writing in the The i Paper, Rocio Concha Galguera, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, argues that to remove the ban would be a mistake. Existing customers' loyalty shouldn't be taken advantage of. 

Our monthly analysis comparing the prices of popular groceries at eight major supermarkets, now includes loyalty scheme prices. Ele Clark, Which? Retail Editor, said: 'As member-only pricing continues to grow, Which? believes the sector needs to be properly scrutinised and held to account so that all shoppers - including society’s most vulnerable - can benefit, and no one is misled into believing they’re getting a better deal than they really are. With food prices continuing to squeeze household budgets, it comes as no surprise that many people are choosing to shop with the discounters. Our analysis shows that Aldi and Lidl are still cheaper than the traditional supermarkets, even when you include loyalty pricing.' #CostOfLiving #ConsumerRights

Vodafone's scrapping of unpredictable inflation-linked mid-contract pricing proves that big providers can make these changes, so there's no reason Ofcom should give in to industry pressure to delay its ban on inflation-linked increases. For more on our campaign: https://lnkd.in/exWPZ9et #TheRightToConnect #Telecommunications

Lisa Webb, senior lawyer and consumer expert, was on BBC Breakfast today discussing your consumer rights if find yourself at a concert with a restricted view, despite not being made aware of this. Here's her advice: 'The Consumer Rights Act says that you should have any service given to you with reasonable care and skill. If you cannot see the stage and were not told this, you can argue that the Act has been breached. I would go straight to the venue staff and ask them to move your seat, you can even quote the Consumer Rights Act at them. Sometimes they do have alternative seating available, if they don’t I would say you should take lots of pictures and make sure you have all the evidence you need to prove you could not see the stage. The next day, contact the ticket seller and let them know you need, at the very least, a partial refund as you did not get what you paid for.' #ConsumerRights #LiveMusic

Still thinking about the brilliant morning I spent at Global Insight Conferences - Internal Comms Conference last Thursday, exploring the latest trends and innovations in #IC. So many fantastic insights shared by IC leaders. It was my absolute pleasure to kick off the conference discussing how you can supercharge employee engagement with people-centric Comms alongside the wonderful Sally Quigg Chart.PR and Joshua Reynolds, expertly chaired by Nicola Pearson. The icing on the cake had to be bumping into IC guru Sara Kent and getting to reminisce about the old days at DLR/ KeolisAmey Docklands. #internalcomms #paneldiscussion #employeeengagement

Which? and a coalition of consumer groups and energy firms are urging Ofgem to ensure loyal customers are able to access the same energy deals as new customers. The Ban on Aquisition only Tariffs (BAT) was introduced by Ofgem in April 2022. It has played a vital role in delivering fairer outcomes for customers by ensuring loyal customers are able to get the best deals. It also ensures that millions of customers in debt, who may not be able to switch to a new firm for months or even years, are able to access a better deal with their current supplier. Removing the (BAT), as proposed from this October, risks exacerbating the loyalty penalty and unsustainable business practices. #ConsumerRights With Citizens Advice, End Fuel Poverty Coalition, Fair By Design, E.ON Octopus Energy, Rebel Energy UK and So Energy

Last night saw the UK premiere of The Click Trap: The Dark Side of Digital Advertising, a documentary directed by peter porta featuring Which? research, on the deeply troubling rise in fraudulent ads used by criminals to manipulate social media users. Following the film, Lisa Webb, Which? senior lawyer and consumer expert, chaired a Q&A session including Peter Porta, Imran Ahmed CEO, Center for Countering Digital Hate, Ava Lee Campaigns Director, Global Witness, Richard Wilson, Director, Stop Funding Hate, discussing shocking truths about Big Tech and the way algorithms are used to collect and process personal data, and in turn, target our wallets. #ConsumerRights #DataProtection #OnlineScams

Check out where we've seen the Which? brand recently, from billboards to endorsement logos, we are painting the town Which?. If you are a brand, find out more about how we help millions of shoppers make good buying decisions here https://lnkd.in/evmMV8Gz

Writing in PoliticsHome today Rocio Concha Galguera, Director of Policy and Advocacy, outlines Which? recommendations on what the next government should do to support savers to have better standards of living in retirement.  'Workers deserve a comfortable retirement after decades of employment. But on current trajectories, not nearly enough savers will get to enjoy the fruits of their labour. The next government must set about changing that, giving workers the best possible chance of an adequate retirement.' #Pensions #Retirement

Happy Monday everyone, there was an error in the link from my Friday post, apologies. I'm excited to announce the launch of a new Which? endorsement. The new Which? Test Pass logo gives a seal of approval to products that have met the safety requirements in our testing and enables consumers to shop with confidence. Often it is hard to understand what tests have been passed, so we thought we would throw out weight behind this. The first logos have been issued off the back of our suncream testing, in which we assessed how much SPF and UVA protection each product offers to help consumers enjoy the sun (now it's finally here!) and stay safer this summer. You can learn more about how Which? endorsements can boost your brand in this short video. https://lnkd.in/eypypqNt