2007
Consumer Direct, the government-funded helpline, is announcing today that it has responded to over three million calls and emails since its launch in 2004.
15 June 2007
In a recent customer survey, 92 per cent of users in Wales said they were satisfied with the service and 48 per cent said that they had completely resolved their issue after contacting Consumer Direct.
Respondents also said that in addition to helping obtain refunds, repairs and replacements, Consumer Direct had saved them time and significantly reduced worry and stress.
Last year, the top five most common complaints to Consumer Direct were about home maintenance suppliers, second hand car sales, telecommunications, furniture and audiovisual products.
Since 2004, Consumer Direct’s 350 specially trained advisors have clocked up an estimated 300,000 hours on the phone, providing consumers with information on their rights and advice on resolving disputes. Current demand for the service stands at 120,000 calls and emails per month.
The Consumer Direct service is managed by the Office of Fair Trading and delivered through 11 contact centres throughout Great Britain, in partnership with local authority Trading Standards Services. Consumer Direct delivers first tier advice, allowing Trading Standards and others to focus on more difficult cases.
The information collected by Consumer Direct advisors is logged and used as a source of intelligence by local authority Trading Standards Services, the Office of Fair Trading and others who last year accessed 97,661 reports from the Consumer Direct central database.
Christine Cryne, Director for Consumer Direct at the OFT said:
‘The establishment of Consumer Direct has provided everyone in Great Britain with access to clear, practical and impartial consumer advice. By empowering consumers to exercise their rights, we are encouraging businesses to raise their game and contributing to the OFT’s mission to make markets work well for consumers.’
Ron Gainsford, Chief Executive of the Trading Standards Institute (TSI), said:
‘Consumer Direct and Trading Standards provide an integrated service that shares intelligence and goals. As well as providing individual consumers with valuable front-line advice, the information collected by Consumer Direct is helping Trading Standards Services to protect consumers and enforce the law.‘
For clear practical consumer advice call Consumer Direct Wales on 08454 04 05 06. A Welsh-speaking Consumer Direct service is available on 08454 04 05 05.
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Notes for Editors
1. Consumer Direct is a telephone and online consumer advice service funded by government and managed by the Office of Fair Trading. It operates in partnership with local authority Trading Standards Services to offer consumers clear, practical and impartial advice and information.
2. Consumer Direct has around 350 trained advisers in 11 contact centres across England, Wales and Scotland.
3. The information and advice helpline is available on a single national telephone number - 08454 04 05 06 from 0800 – 1830 Monday to Friday, and 0900 – 1300 Saturday, excluding bank holidays and public holidays.
4. Minicom users should call 08451 28 13 84.
5. Calls to the Consumer Direct 0845 numbers are charged at no more than four pence per minute from a BT landline. Call charges from other landline providers or mobile phones may vary. Please check the rate with your phone service provider.
6. Northern Ireland has its own service called ConsumerLine which is similar to Consumer Direct. Visit the ConsumerLine website.
MEDIA enquiries:
Jody Keogh. Tel 029 2087 1088 or email JKeogh@cardiff.gov.uk
