Shirley Hedworth, from Teignmouth in Devon, as well as writing about the loss of all her worldly goods has other observations. She writes:
"Signs are that consumer problems are taking on a much higher profile. On a recent visit to Cambridge I noticed at least four or five signs for "Consumer Advice" and "Trading Standards" in the City Centre. Also the BBC programme "You and Yours" is to be extended to 50 minutes from next April. It will feature consumer issues and cover disability matters as well. Have other readers noticed this?
Ruth Koprowski, Individual Member from Watford writes:
I was interested to read in Consumer News a report of our visit to Lever Brothers Careline, run for them by the L & R Group, which I also attended. I certainly agree that the telephone staff are well trained, courteous, efficient and helpful.
As my experience with St. Ivel (same issue, page 6) shows, Lever’s are not alone in providing Help/Care Lines. Certainly Sainsbury does, as do Currys and Dixons, Elida Gibbs, the toiletries manufacturer, and, no doubt, many more. The expense, in relation to sales, is probably minimal and for solving simple queries from the public it must be an excellent public relations exercise. However, I did get the impression, during the presentation, that the "Corporate Affairs" people were not expecting quite such a well informed audience.
Is this an opportunity to be proactive, as our Chairman wants us to be? Some of us may have grey hair and creak a little when taking part in the Great North Run, but nothing is wrong with our brains, nor our breadth of knowledge on consumer matters.
Ruth says that my suggestion that one of the paragraphs in the letter she received from St. Ivel and reported in the last issue’s letter page was a standard one and not directly relating to her complaint is unjustified. In fact she had complained that she had cut herself on the sharp edge and the lady handling the matter responded satisfactorily and in detail to all her points. A bouquet indeed.
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