News
Knowledge is power - The same is true for consumer policy. Knowledge is also the prerequisite for learning. That is why ConPolicy shares information about relevant news in the world of consumer policy and activities of the institute.
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Older news can be found in this section.
OFT calls for online businesses to be more transparent about use of customer data
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) was sending letters to over 60 leading online businesses to remind them on their duty regarding transparency of customer data. A recently published Personalised Pricing Report by the OFT looked... > read more
New proposal for a Directive on the right of bank accounts for everyone
The single market legislation has ensured that banks can operate throughout the European Union and offer their services cross-border like European citizens are able to work and vote on municipal level cross-border. However their... > read more
Competence Center Consumer Research NRW publishes theses on vulnerable consumers
On the 14th of April 2013 the Competence Center Consumer Research NRW organised a workshop in Düsseldorf on “Vulnerable consumers: The social-policy dimension of consumer policy”. Today the workshop documentation and theses were... > read more
British Financial Conduct Authority publishes complaints data
Today the British Financial Conduct Authority published complaints data received by banks, building societies, insurers and mortgage providers during the second half of 2012. The data reveals a number of findings: In the... > read more
British Office of Fair Trading investigates free children’s web and app-based games
Today the British Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has announced to launch an investigation into whether children are being unfairly pressured or encouraged to pay for additional content in ‘free’ web and app-based games, including... > read more
British Financial Conduct Authority announces stronger integration of behavioural insights
Today the newly created British Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced that it will incorporate insights form behavioural economics in its regulatory work. Behavioural insights should assist the regulator to better... > read more
Consumers Union calls for flexible re-payment & refinancing programmes for private loan borrowers
More and more US students leave university with heaps of depths caused by student loans. This is due to the fact that it is not always guaranteed that students find a well-paid job after graduation to re-pay their depths.... > read more
New British Financial Conduct Authority commences work
Today the new British Financial Conduct Authority commences work. Under the UK Government’s plan, financial services regulation is now split between the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority... > read more
British Financial Services Consumer Panel launches four pillars to enhance consumer protection
On World Consumer Rights Day the British Financial Services Consumer Panel launched its four pillars of consumer protection. The objective of the framework is to enable a more effective assessment of EU legislation, standards and... > read more
American consumer and privacy organisations advocate for effective Do-Not-Track mechanism
Today American consumer and privacy organisations advocated for an effective Do-Not-Track (DNT) mechanism that allows individuals to decide when, whether, and how they will be tracked online, no matter what kind of technology or... > read more
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and ConPolicy will host workshop series on the state of consumer interest representation in Germany
Due to deregulation, liberalisation and globalisation consumer markets have gained in complexity for consumers. In light of these developments it is to ask whether the current landscape of consumer organisations is still... > read more
British Financial Services Authority publishes discussion paper on transparency
Today the British Financial Services Authority has published a discussion paper looking at how transparency and more effective disclosure could improve the accountability of the regulator and the financial services industry, and... > read more
EU consumer organisations issue opinion on consumers and vulnerability
In recent years public interest for the concept of vulnerable consumers has increased. In February 2013 the European Consumer Consultative Group (ECCG) published an Opinion on consumers and vulnerability. The ECCG argues... > read more
ConPolicy celebrates its 3rd anniversary and says thank you
Today ConPolicy – the Institute for Consumer Policy – is celebrating its third anniversary and thanks its partners for their support in the previous years. Last year the Institute implemented a privacy innovation project for the... > read more
Biggest British energy companies beaten by smaller rivals on satisfaction
Today the British comparative testing organization Which? published the results of a consumer satisfaction survey. 10,000 consumers were asked about their experience with energy companies regarding the value for money, customer... > read more
British Financial Services Authority publishes guidance to help firms avoid poorly managed incentive schemes
The British Financial Services Authority (FSA) published final guidance that should help financial firms to avoid creating and operating incentive schemes that drive mis-selling. Already in September 2012 the FSA published... > read more
ConPolicy evaluates Mini-Contracting-Programme for the NRW Ministry for Climate and Consumer Protection
Low-income households can often not effort replacing inefficient household appliances such as fridges. The Wuppertaler Stadtwerke (the local energy provider) has launched a programme that aims to offer low-income households such... > read more
UK consumer watchdogs call for action to empower consumers in vulnerable positions
On 20 December 2012 the UK consumer watchdogs Consumer Focus, Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland have published a report on the actions needed from Government, companies and regulators to empower consumers in vulnerable... > read more
ConPolicy moderates “CSR-Dialogue Business – Academia” of the NRW Ministries for Economy and for Sciences
In recent years, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is gaining in importance. Therefore it is important that future employees and mangers already at the university are sensitized for this issue and gain the necessary... > read more
ConPolicy presents résumé at a workshop of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung on impact assessments in consumer policy
Consumer policy deals with a wide range of markets and challenges. Political interventions therefore often have wide implications for consumers and businesses. Often these impacts are not systematically analysed and taken into... > read more
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