The Consumer Movement as we know it came to existence in the 1960's, often in University towns, to raise awareness of the relatively poor rights that consumers enjoyed at that time. Since then, partly as a result of the pressure exerted by them, the situation has improved considerably but it would be wrong to think that the battle is over. As with the development of (medical) viruses, as soon as science has conquered one problem a new one mutates demanding further effort, and so it is with consumer scams.

At the behest of Consumers' Association (Which?), and with its financial support, the National Federation of Consumer Groups was formed to strengthen the pressure that Local Consumers could exert on the suppliers of goods and services, regulators and government. The organisation was also supported financially for a number of years by the DTI, now BERR. In practice however it has been the preserve of unpaid volunteers based around the UK, representing "grassroots consumers" and as such unique.