Consumers' Association
Encyclopedia
The Consumers' Association is the umbrella organisation that houses the trading arm Which?
Ltd. The Consumers' Association is a charity, registered in England and Wales No 296072. Which?
Ltd is its wholly owned trading subsidiary.
Which?
is independent and is funded by subscription. It does not take funding from government or companies and there is no advertising in its magazines or websites.
Which? is a not-for-profit organisation. 75% of the income it makes funds its print and online publications and subscriber services. The remaining 25% is used to fund consumer projects to make people's live fairer, simpler and safer.
Which? is based in the UK and was founded in 1957 by Michael Young
in a garage in Bethnal Green
, London. Which? has over 1.2 million subscribers.
The Which? mission is to make individuals as powerful as the organisations they have to deal with in their daily lives.
UK Government
Which? is in regular communication with politicians of all political parties in order to deliver positive change for UK consumers. For example, Which? successfully lobbied to put an end to the '65 day rule' that allowed energy companies to wait 65 days before informing their customers of a price change.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown
said Which?'s 'campaigns and magazines have transformed the world in which we live'.
Which? joined forces with Rt Hon David Davis (British politician)
MP, Rt Hon John McFall
MP and Dr Vince Cable MP, to form The Future of Banking Commission, which launched its recommendations in June 2010.
Scotland
In January 2002, Which? established an office in Edinburgh to strengthen lobbying work with members of the Scottish parliament.
European Union
Which? aims to put itself at the heart of EU policy and decision-making processes to ensure the voices of UK consumers are heard and, where necessary, influence international negotiations.
It works with European sister organisation, the European Consumers' Association (BEUC) which brings together over forty consumer organisations from across Europe to represent common consumer interests to the EU institutions.
The Enterprise Act of 2002 enabled consumer organisations such as Which? to issue super-complaints to the Office of Fair Trading
(OFT).
Which?
is one of eight organisations able to issue a super-complaint. The Consumers' Association was among the first groups granted these new powers. A super-complaint can be made about any market that is not working properly for consumers. As consumers are not in the position to overcome the issue themselves, Which? can issue a super-complaint on consumers' behalf.
The OFT has 90 days in which to assess the complaint and decide what to do about it. It can reject the complaint in part or as a whole, it can launch a market investigation, take action under competition law or consumer law, or refer the market to the Competition Commission for further investigation.
Which? made its first super complaint about private dentistry in 2001. It has since made complaints about care homes, the Northern Ireland banking sector and credit card interest
calculation methods.
Its latest super complaint (March 2011) relates to unfair debit and credit card payment surcharges issued by retailers.
The OFT upheld the super-complaint in June 2011, described as a 'victory for consumers' by Which? chief executive, Peter Vicary Smith.
Legal action against rogue traders
In 2005 Which? was granted legal powers to bring rogue traders to account for their actions under Part 8 of the Enterprise Act 2002
.
Unfair contract terms
Which? has statutory powers under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999
. Which? can seek an injunction
to restrain the use of an unfair contract term by a trader against consumers.
Competition Appeals Tribunal
Which? is one of the 'specified bodies' who, under the Enterprise and Competition Acts, may bring proceedings before the Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT) on behalf of two or more consumers for damages.
Which? was granted specified body status on October 1 2005 by the Ministers of the Department of Trade and Industry
. In April 2007 Which? launched its first representative action on behalf of consumers unlawfully overcharged for football shirts due to price fixing.
Ltd, report to the Consumers Association and ensure the organisation is properly run in the charity's interest.
Council and members
The organisation is governed by a Council of 12 elected and six co-opted members.
Patrick Barwise is the current chairman.
Any Which? member can stand for the Council, with Which?
subscriber Roger Pittock elected in 2003, for instance. None of the Council or Board members are paid, although they are entitled to claim reasonable expenses.
Council members
Which?
Which? is a product-testing and consumer campaigning charity with a magazine, website and various other services run by Which? Ltd ....
Ltd. The Consumers' Association is a charity, registered in England and Wales No 296072. Which?
Which?
Which? is a product-testing and consumer campaigning charity with a magazine, website and various other services run by Which? Ltd ....
Ltd is its wholly owned trading subsidiary.
Which?
Which?
Which? is a product-testing and consumer campaigning charity with a magazine, website and various other services run by Which? Ltd ....
is independent and is funded by subscription. It does not take funding from government or companies and there is no advertising in its magazines or websites.
Which? is a not-for-profit organisation. 75% of the income it makes funds its print and online publications and subscriber services. The remaining 25% is used to fund consumer projects to make people's live fairer, simpler and safer.
Which? is based in the UK and was founded in 1957 by Michael Young
Michael Young
Michael Young, Baron Young of Dartington was a British sociologist, social activist and politician who coined the term "meritocracy"....
in a garage in Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green is a district of the East End of London, England and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, with the far northern parts falling within the London Borough of Hackney. Located northeast of Charing Cross, it was historically an agrarian hamlet in the ancient parish of Stepney,...
, London. Which? has over 1.2 million subscribers.
The Which? mission is to make individuals as powerful as the organisations they have to deal with in their daily lives.
Policy, consultation and parliamentary lobbying
Which? identifies where consumers are experiencing problems and provides practical policy solutions. Which? regularly briefs MPs, Peers, AMs, MLAs, MSPs and MEPs on consumer issues, addressing consumer detriment at a National, European and International level.UK Government
Which? is in regular communication with politicians of all political parties in order to deliver positive change for UK consumers. For example, Which? successfully lobbied to put an end to the '65 day rule' that allowed energy companies to wait 65 days before informing their customers of a price change.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
said Which?'s 'campaigns and magazines have transformed the world in which we live'.
Which? joined forces with Rt Hon David Davis (British politician)
David Davis (British politician)
David Michael Davis is a British Conservative Party politician who is the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Haltemprice and Howden...
MP, Rt Hon John McFall
John McFall
John Francis McFall, Baron McFall of Alcluith is a British Labour Co-operative politician. He was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010, first for Dumbarton and then from 2005 for West Dunbartonshire...
MP and Dr Vince Cable MP, to form The Future of Banking Commission, which launched its recommendations in June 2010.
Scotland
In January 2002, Which? established an office in Edinburgh to strengthen lobbying work with members of the Scottish parliament.
European Union
Which? aims to put itself at the heart of EU policy and decision-making processes to ensure the voices of UK consumers are heard and, where necessary, influence international negotiations.
It works with European sister organisation, the European Consumers' Association (BEUC) which brings together over forty consumer organisations from across Europe to represent common consumer interests to the EU institutions.
Legal powers
Super-complaintsThe Enterprise Act of 2002 enabled consumer organisations such as Which? to issue super-complaints to the Office of Fair Trading
Office of Fair Trading
The Office of Fair Trading is a not-for-profit and non-ministerial government department of the United Kingdom, established by the Fair Trading Act 1973, which enforces both consumer protection and competition law, acting as the UK's economic regulator...
(OFT).
Which?
Which?
Which? is a product-testing and consumer campaigning charity with a magazine, website and various other services run by Which? Ltd ....
is one of eight organisations able to issue a super-complaint. The Consumers' Association was among the first groups granted these new powers. A super-complaint can be made about any market that is not working properly for consumers. As consumers are not in the position to overcome the issue themselves, Which? can issue a super-complaint on consumers' behalf.
The OFT has 90 days in which to assess the complaint and decide what to do about it. It can reject the complaint in part or as a whole, it can launch a market investigation, take action under competition law or consumer law, or refer the market to the Competition Commission for further investigation.
Which? made its first super complaint about private dentistry in 2001. It has since made complaints about care homes, the Northern Ireland banking sector and credit card interest
Credit card interest
Credit card interest is the principal way in which credit card issuers generate revenue. A card issuer is a bank or credit union that gives a consumer a card or account number that can be used with various payees to make payments and borrow money from the bank simultaneously...
calculation methods.
Its latest super complaint (March 2011) relates to unfair debit and credit card payment surcharges issued by retailers.
The OFT upheld the super-complaint in June 2011, described as a 'victory for consumers' by Which? chief executive, Peter Vicary Smith.
Legal action against rogue traders
In 2005 Which? was granted legal powers to bring rogue traders to account for their actions under Part 8 of the Enterprise Act 2002
Enterprise Act 2002
The Enterprise Act 2002 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which made major changes to UK competition law with respect to mergers and also changed the law governing insolvency bankruptcy.-Structure:*Part 1 The Office of Fair Trading...
.
Unfair contract terms
Which? has statutory powers under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999
Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999
The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 is a UK statutory instrument, which implements the EU Unfair Consumer Contract Terms Directive into domestic law.Implemented under the European Communities Act 1972. See also, L95 OJ 29...
. Which? can seek an injunction
Injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. A party that fails to comply with an injunction faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
to restrain the use of an unfair contract term by a trader against consumers.
Competition Appeals Tribunal
Which? is one of the 'specified bodies' who, under the Enterprise and Competition Acts, may bring proceedings before the Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT) on behalf of two or more consumers for damages.
Which? was granted specified body status on October 1 2005 by the Ministers of the Department of Trade and Industry
Department of Trade and Industry
The Department of Trade and Industry was a United Kingdom government department which was replaced with the announcement of the creation of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills on 28 June 2007.-History:The...
. In April 2007 Which? launched its first representative action on behalf of consumers unlawfully overcharged for football shirts due to price fixing.
Organisational structure
The Consumers’ Association is made up of a board who report to a council of trustees. The corporate management group, who run the day-to-day management of Which?Which?
Which? is a product-testing and consumer campaigning charity with a magazine, website and various other services run by Which? Ltd ....
Ltd, report to the Consumers Association and ensure the organisation is properly run in the charity's interest.
Council and members
The organisation is governed by a Council of 12 elected and six co-opted members.
Patrick Barwise is the current chairman.
Any Which? member can stand for the Council, with Which?
Which?
Which? is a product-testing and consumer campaigning charity with a magazine, website and various other services run by Which? Ltd ....
subscriber Roger Pittock elected in 2003, for instance. None of the Council or Board members are paid, although they are entitled to claim reasonable expenses.
Council members
- Mark Addison
- Patrick Barwise
- Anthony Burton (Deputy Chairman)
- Neville Duncan
- Margaret Ginman
- Tanya Heasman
- Sue Leggate
- Natalie Macdonald
- Roger Pittock
- Paul Preston
- Richard Thomas (Deputy Chairman)
- Alison Thorne
- Gary Waller
- Steve Woolgar
- John Zealley