back to menuThe Conference got off to an excellent start with a Reception and the well-attended pre-Conference Dinner. We must thank the Life Insurance Association for supporting both these events, while The Food and Drink Federation, very appropriately, sponsored the delicious buffet lunch we enjoyed on Saturday. We also had support from other Corporate Associates, Coca Cola, BT, TESCO, Whitbread (who supplied the excellent Conference Bags) and Kelloggs. We even had some help from Great North Eastern Railways.
Monica Shelley, the Conference Chairman, welcomed everyone on Saturday morning. It was a very good turnout, over ninety delegates, many of whom had not been to an NfCG Conference before. City of York Trading Standards Department mounted an exhibition of the work they carry out and there were always two or three members of the team in attendance to talk about it. Their display of samples of counterfeit goods was a telling reminder that one should always wonder whether that bargain really is a bargain.
There were displays of activities of Groups and Individual Members. Webmaster, Dick Mackie, demonstrated the NfCG Web site. It is a useful fount of information for those with access and will get better and better as time goes on and proved to be a constant source of interest throughout the Conference.
Many also saw our recruitment video for the first time. This is not new but has been brought up to date and can be borrowed by anyone endeavouring to start a new Consumer Group. Also on show was our new display unit which is impossible to miss, even in a busy conference room. Originally used for the ITSA Conference, alternative panels will make it applicable for other venues.
Moyra Haynes, Chairman of Oxford Consumers Group, presided over a session of presentations of activities by some of NfCG's federated Groups.
Electrical Goods: Pricing in Plymouth
Fred Horley, Chairman of the Plymouth Consumer Group, described the survey of electrical goods carried out in conjunction with the Devon Co-operative Development Agency, comparing the prices in High Street shops with those in mail-order catalogues.
Local firms, they found, are more often than not cheaper, but may charge for delivery and installation, but will take worn out appliances away. They also examined credit charges and claims of 'interest free credit' which were not always as straightforward as they seemed. The Group has published its findings in the form of a handbook entitled "IS IT A RIP OFF? - the real cost of goods in Plymouth".
Moyra Haynes mentioned the experience of being refused credit, which had happened to her and to other members of the Oxford Consumers Group, and, as it turned out, to others in the audience. She thought it was precisely because she had an exemplary record, or rather, no credit record at all, that she had been refused. Lenders do not want customers who will pay up before they can be charged interest! The Group was going to look into this further and she suggested that the matter should also occupy other Groups and perhaps become a national survey.
Devolution & Consumers in Edinburgh
On behalf of Edinburgh Consumer Group, Dick Mackie shared some thoughts with us about the effect the Scottish Parliament will have for consumers, not just in Edinburgh, but all over Scotland and eventually the whole of the UK. In contrast to Westminster, the Scottish Parliament will have time to deal in detail with the matters devolved to it.
The first session, which had just started, will be dealing with Bills to abolish the ground rights of 'Feudal Superiors', an Education Standards Bill, a Transport Bill which contains a clause concerning the imposition of road tolls into towns, a National Parks Bill (Scotland does not have any) and a Financial Services Bill. There is much in this programme for the Scottish Consumer Groups to scrutinise. [Perhaps they should set up their own Legislation Committee and make certain that they are among the bodies consulted about new legislation. - Ed.]
There was discussion about the proportional regional list system of election. This makes it difficult for constituents to identify their MP in order to lobby him or her. In England power is devolving on to the Regional Development Agencies, and who to contact is an equal problem.
Michael Pentreath, Secretary of Exeter Consumer Group, described an investigation into electricity pricing. The study had been helped by Ken Frere, and Devon Trading Standards Department contributed towards the cost of the resulting leaflet. It had been surprisingly difficult extracting information from the competing electricity suppliers who calculate their charges in different ways, making it (intentionally?) difficult to draw comparisons. However a judgement had been made and, on price, Independent Energy seemed the best.
Ken Frere spoke about Oxford Consumers Group's activities. They had also investigated electricity prices with much the same difficulties and with the same conclusions as Exeter, and had also produced a leaflet. The Group is involved with the City Council in the City Plan and Transport within the City.
The Oxford Group is also involved with the 'Better Government for Older People' Government initiative. There are matters which older people find it more difficult to deal with, but any improvements will affect younger people as well. They carried out a survey of what members thought were important matters and had a good, and well reasoned, response - as he would have expected from Oxford's membership. Top priority is access to transport, while control of residential homes for those unable to look after themselves is also thought very important [OFT please note] as is the provision of one-stop advice shops. Security is also high on the list, with a call for much more help from the police.
The Local Trading Standards Department held a one-day, hands-on, Internet access course for the Group which was very helpful.
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