Consumer confidence rides high in Welsh protection
27 September 2010
People in Wales have a high level of confidence in the consumer protection advice they get, according to a new survey of attitudes, but many have serious concerns about alcohol and cigarettes being sold to children.
In research commissioned by LBRO, the technical expert in local regulation, as part of its work for the Welsh Assembly Government, the Citizen's Advice Bureau was the most readily cited source of consumer rights advice, and the majority of consumers (84%) said they would be confident in the advice it provided.
Local council trading standards and environmental health officer also got a big vote of confidence (both 79%), although advice provided by central government attracted rather less confidence, with levels of trust lower at 59%.
However, a substantial proportion (45%) of the Welsh public was not confident that shops would not sell alcohol and cigarettes to children.
LBRO Chairman Clive Grace said: "The research provides a strong positive message of public confidence in the professionals who protect them through enforcing local regulations but there is clear concern about high profile issues such as sales of age-restricted products.
"We will continue to work with the Welsh Assembly Government to address these issues by creating the right conditions for local authorities to target rogue traders. Our aim is to protect the public and the businesses who operate within the law."
Among the other findings in the research, 35% of the public were not confident of being provided with sufficient information when entering into finance agreements;
30% were not confident of getting a fair deal when employing a tradesman; 30% were not confident of being provided with sufficient information when signing a contract for goods and services; and 29% were not confident of getting a fair deal when a car is serviced.
However, on the plus side, the public trusted environmental information such as energy labelling helped informed choices (82% were confident in this). Restaurants/food outlets were trusted by 80% of respondents to be hygienic and food safe to eat; 79% were confident nutrition information on food labels helped informed choices; and 77% were confident that prices displayed would be the one paid.
The full Wales Omnibus Survey report can be found at www.lbro.org.uk/publications-home.html
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