Consumers First

On June 24th, Consumer Affairs Minister, Nigel Griffiths, launched an attention grabbing initiative - "Consumers first". "This" he said, "invites everyone to nominate businesses and individuals who provide real and positive benefits for their customers. Throughout the country, there are hundreds of businesses and numerous people who go out of their way to do that bit more to put consumers first. It may be a mobile grocer, who makes a special effort for people who are in isolated areas, or a business where staff always have the time and patience to deal with customers with special needs".

'[here must be thousands of businesses where the above principles are observed to the letter and beyond. How else do they stay in business with the all pervading supermarket and huge DIY store making ever increasing inroads into their businesses? But they do survive, the best ones, and even prosper. Just opposite a huge DIY store in the Editor's home town is such an old established ironmonger, surviving on personal service and knowledge about the goods they are selling.

"Consumers First" - awards for outstanding customer service.

As you will see from the enclosed leaflet, the scheme gives you an opportunity to nominate your favourite business - or business person - to be given an award for outstanding consumer service. These awards are also open to those in business-to-business transactions where outstanding service is experienced.

'[he area covered by this award scheme seems to be very wide. Mr. Griffiths also suggested that nominations could be made for a breakthrough in new levels of performance or significant improvements in the safety of goods and services.

Why "Consumers first"?

'[he Government sees this initiative as a means of rewarding businesses and individuals who literally put consumers first. It is also designed to help inspire UK businesses to serve customers better and to become more competitive.

How does it work?

Send in the form. Nominations will be considered carefully by the Consumers first Panel who will prepare a short list from which the Minister will choose the winners. The Panel is chaired by Terry Leahy, Chief Executive of Tesco plc and includes Ruth Evans, the Director of the National Consumer Council and Carolyn Eagle, Young Consumer of the Year finalist.

There is an incentive for you. If your nomination wins, you will be invited to the award ceremony to watch the winners receive trophies and citations. Don't delay, entries close on 15th September.

Safety Net

The Editor has been sent a copy of the Department of Trade and Industry Newsletter "Safety Net" which, not surprisingly, concentrates on home and product safety. It contains the news that the DII has just launched a garden safety related initiative, concentrating on keeping children safe during the summer holiday.

There are warnings about dangerous DIY in the home and tales of people falling off ladders, children drinking paint, using chairs instead of step ladders and falling off them -one man was killed when this happened to him - and eye damage through not using protective goggles. So beware, doing jobs round the house can seriously damage your health if you do not do them correctly.

Voltage Harmonisation

One article was most interesting. Did you know that nominal voltage in Europe was harmonised at 230 volts from 1.1.95? No, neither did I. However permitted tolerance gives an acceptable range in practice of roughly 207 volts to 253 volts. This allows the UK's 240 volts to remain unchanged.

But what about light fittings designed to run at the lower end of the range? Will there be a reduction in safety? This safety relates not only to an increased risk of fire but to related accidents when lights fail. The DII says that there is no evidence of any accidents having occurred as a result of the present situation. Good engineering practice calls for any product to be tested over all its potential operating range, and Test Houses in the UK test objects to 240V, when testing to only 230V seems insufficient to ensure safety. However they are asking BSI to press for a review of relevant standards by UK and EU Standards Committees. This will show whether Standards for particular electrical products provide adequate safety margins at the higher end of the voltage range.

In the meanwhile the Dti would like to know of any safety concerns resulting from unsuitable 230V rated products being used in the UK. The contact to ring is Chris Parish, whose interest is Gas as well as Electrical Safety - 0171 215 1322. For details of DTI free safety publications and orders, phone 0870 1502 500.

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