The (NCC) National Consumer Council is to investigate Ofcom and other regulators


"A consumer group has started a year-long review of the work of the UK's regulators.
The National Consumer Council (NCC) said it wanted to investigate whether the bodies were putting consumers at the heart of their decisions.

"See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7283879.stm  

Its worth noting The National Consumer Council's role is to promote the interests of consumers through research, supporting consumer representatives and working with decision-makers to campaign for change. They have no statutory powers and do not give advice, nor intervene in individual cases or consumer complaints against providers of goods and services.

Why should it take a year?  it's just another jobs for the boys and we all know what the outcome will be.

Surely, the key issue is not so much how long it will take, but whether the investigation of Ofcom will actually canvas the opinion and experiences of live citizen consumers, and sources like this forum to collect real evidence, or whether they will just ask for Ofcom's opinion in isolation, of how well they themselves "claim to serve citizen consumers"!

Of course, sadly it will probably be the latter in total isolation, since as we all know the only purpose of all of these supposed investigations and consultations is to supposedly demonstrate that what is supposed to be happening, and what would be honourable is actually happening. [Well of course, we all well remember the supposed investigation into the death of Dr. David Kelly. It was a blatant whitewash to find what the government wanted the outcome to be. The real evidence did not support the official conclusions at all, and still supports a probable assassination!]

It is likely that the NCC will take its last chance to have a go at Ofcom, before it is wound up to be replaced by a new body with the same name.

The new body (which is known as "Consumer Voice" to make the distinction), which will not have any responsibility for Telecomms. The consumer interest in Telecomms will be represented by Ofcom's subsidiary, the Ofcom Consumer Panel.

For more about the project - see the DataBase ERRor website - http://www.berr.gov.uk/consumers/consumer-support/consumervoice/Implementation/index.html.

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Mar 7^th, 2008 at 8:51pm:

[...] The consumer interest in Telecomms will be represented by Ofcom's subsidiary, the Ofcom Consumer Panel. [...]

The OCP is a wholly pointless body, even more insignificant and ineffective than its master. The OCP is fully aware of telephone scams inflicted on the public yet does absolutely nothing to act on behalf of the consumer.

idb wrote on Mar 7^th, 2008 at 11:23pm:

The OCP is a wholly pointless body, even more insignificant and ineffective than its master. The OCP is fully aware of telephone scams inflicted on the public yet does absolutely nothing to act on behalf of the consumer.

THe OCP has no duty to act. It is simply a support mechanism for Ofcom.

Those interested in following this matter may be interested to note that the option of Ofcom being covered by Consumer Voice, as an alternative to continuation of the OCP, was presented in the consultation.

My response to that consultation is available here.

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Mar 8^th, 2008 at 3:34pm:

idb wrote on Mar 7th, 2008 at 11:23pm: The OCP is a wholly pointless body, even more insignificant and ineffective than its master. The OCP is fully aware of telephone scams inflicted on the public yet does absolutely nothing to act on behalf of the consumer. THe OCP has no duty to act. It is simply a support mechanism for Ofcom.

Irrespective of whether it should 'act', it has a duty to advise Ofcom, based on evidence. There is overwhelming evidence of telephone scams, including the NTS shambles. The OCP should be aware of this evidence and thus advise its master. It doesn't. It is a pointless body, run by, at least in terms of consumer protection measures, pointless individuals.

Quote:

It is a pointless body, run by, at least in terms of consumer protection measures, pointless individuals.

Who are, no doubt, totally corrupt and paid off, if not in money, in kind.

mikeinnc wrote on Mar 8^th, 2008 at 4:56pm:

Who are, no doubt, totally corrupt and paid off, if not in money, in kind.

Its money that they are paid off in and not in kind I can assure you.

The only effective member of the Ofcom Advisory Committee For England made it clear to me that Stephen Carter personally saw to it that anyone who rocked the boat on either the Ofcom Advisory Commitees for the four English nations or the Ofcom Consumer Panel was not reappointed at the end of their term. This gentleman was not looking to be reappointed and so was prepared to take that risk.

And membership of the Ofcom Consumer Panel in particular is rather a well paid little number for a very small number of meetings a year.  And the Ofcom Advisory Committees also pays a couple of thousand a year and all expenses for travelling to London to various clueless individuals selected solely on the basis of their to alignment various politically correct New Labour goals but almost never having any form of passionate mission or agenda on behalf of the UK citizen consumer.

And look at where the former Chairman of the Ofcom Consumer Panel has ended up after licking numerous backsides rather than ever asking any awkward questions in her previous role.  Why the said Ms Bowe is now none other than a non executive director of the Ofcom Board on an even higher salary than she was on as Chairman of the Ofcom Consumer Panel....... :o >:( :'(