In February, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Chairman Rod Simms outlined his enforcement priorities for 2013 in a speech to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia. His comments about energy providers and addressing consumer problems caught our eye, and are reprinted below. “On the energy side, we continue to drive energy retailers [...]
22
Feb
01
Feb
Consumer Focus shines a light on the consumer experience of switching energy retailers in the UK
Consumer Focus, the statutory consumer champion in the United Kingdom, has released some illuminating research on consumer switching behaviour in the energy market[1]. The findings show significant changes in consumer behaviour as a result of poor businesses practices – and may make for alarming reading for Australian energy retailers. The UK traditionally has one of [...]
17
Jan
New report from the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre: Minimising Consumer Detriment from Energy Door-to-Door Sales
The team at www.DoNotKnock.org.au welcomes a new report from the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre (CUAC) focussing on door-to-door energy sales. Minimising Consumer Detriment from Energy Door-to-Door Sales assesses the extent of consumer detriment and the effectiveness of regulation in the energy market, and offers eleven recommendations to make the market work better for consumers. Helping [...]
17
Dec
Be alert to Travelling Conmen
Ever been door knocked by someone offering to restore your roof, paint your house, or lop some overgrown trees at a price that seems too good to be true? Unlike licensed tradespeople, travelling con men frequently disappear and leave the job unfinished, or do a poor job – if they do any of the [...]
30
Nov
Do Not Knock website turns 1
The Do Not Knock campaign has reached a new milestone – our website has turned one! In that year, we’ve had 41,627 unique visitors to the website – a fantastic figure when you consider that we achieved this without spending any money on advertising or promotion. We estimate that at least 200, 000 free Do Not [...]
22
Nov
Energy free market needs action from those who champion it
Politicians, energy suppliers, comparison websites all speak of the savings that can be made by switching energy retailers or by putting pressure on your current retailer to give you a better deal. But there are a number of aspects of the energy retail market that make finding the best deal harder than it needs to [...]
09
Nov
Do Not Knock campaign gets a Facebook page
Consumer Action has launched a Do Not Knock campaign page on Facebook. We’ll be posting links to recent media items, articles published on the website, pointing out useful information and resources, and of course answering questions and taking feedback about the campaign. We’ll continue to post information and campaign updates here on www.donotknock.org.au. Please ‘like’ us, [...]
05
Nov
Energy retailers get behind stickers – but are still behind complaints
Our Do Not Knock stickers have been flying out the door thanks to the publicity of last month’s Federal Court’s decision which found that salespeople who ignore visible Do Not Knock stickers are breaking the law. The Australian Consumer Law provides a maximum penalty of $50,000 for companies who break this law. It can be [...]
02
Oct
Don’t Knock – It’s the Law!
Do Not Knock campaign partner Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) has congratulated the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on their historic and significant win in the Federal Court last week, in a case cementing the legal enforceability of ‘Do Not Knock’ stickers. The case, brought against an energy retailer and a marketing company acting on [...]
28
Sep
Landmark Federal Court decision a ringing endorsement of the Do Not Knock sticker
The Consumer Action Law Centre, creator of the Do Not Knock sticker and the organisation behind www.donotknock.org.au, has welcomed a Federal Court decision which found that salespeople who ignore visible Do Not Knock stickers are breaking the law and that their actions could result in fines of up to $50,000. The case, brought by the [...]
