Policy

Communications services in the UK: Ofcom report

People in the UK spend more time using communications services than ever before – at lower cost – according to Ofcom's latest annual report on the communications industry.

The report highlights the changing use of communications services by older people. Take-up of key communications services remains lower among older people, particularly over-75s, but they spend significantly longer than other age groups using many key media. Older people with an internet connection spend 30 minutes longer online per day than the UK average.

The Communications Market 2008 


Consumer Focus consultation: Age Concern response

Age Concern has responded to the consultation on work programme proposals for the new Consumer Focus body (formed from the National Consumer Council, Postwatch and Energywatch) which becomes operational on 1 October.

Our key recommendations related to campaigning actively on behalf of consumers – especially the most vulnerable – and proactively influencing European consumer policies. We made specific recommendations on energy and fuel poverty, postal services, transport, financial services and sustainability, and included views from organisations such as ours in input to consumer policy at UK and European levels.

Draft forward work programme for the new National Consumer Council. Age Concern response summary Ref: 2008(S).
Tel: 020 8765 7589 (Maggie Lucas, Policy Unit, Age Concern England)


Cooling-off period for sales in the home: new legislation

The government recently passed legislation to give people buying in their own home greater protection. Consumers previously had seven days to change their minds if they ordered goods as the result of an unsolicited visit from a tradesperson. If the trader had been invited to call, the householder had no cancellation rights. From 1 October 2008, the new legislation gives customers the legal right to change their mind within seven days, even if the sales visit was pre-arranged.

Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform press release, 2 July 2008 

Free talking software for blind and visually impaired older people

'Thunder' is a free, talking computer software package promoted by Screenreader.net. It enables visually-impaired users to hear what is on the screen, access the internet, write e-mails and letters. Thunder can be used to access on-line banking, read scanned bank statements and bills, and keep track of family finances, overcoming many of the barriers to financial inclusion that visually-impaired people face. Available support includes email, a telephone helpline, newsletters and web resources.

ScreenReader online information and software download.

Home energy saving measures: Government announcement

The Government has announced proposals to help UK households save on their energy bills. They include:

• insulation and other energy-saving devices provided free for most households on benefits and people over 70, and at half-price for all other households; 
• an information campaign to raise public awareness of the measures; 
• £74 million funding increase for the Warm Front programme of heating and energy efficiency measures; and 
• increases in Cold Weather payments in addition to the Winter Fuel Payment increase announced in the Budget.

Prime Minister’s Office press release, 11 September 2008 and
Home energy saving programme


21st century life index: BT research report

BT’s 21st Century Life Index report looks at people’s views on communications services in Britain and their future needs. The report found that despite a huge take-up of Internet usage, a third of the Britons (mainly people over 65) never go on-line. This is probably due more to lack of confidence or understanding of the internet than to concerns about security and identity theft.

Users across all age groups preferred face-to-face communications, closely followed by email, while telephone call centres had decreased in popularity.

BT’s 21st century life index: consumer research report. 

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