Consumer issues

Recent publications and reports

Here's a selection of recent and important documents. For related Age UK publications please use the search box below.

 Empowering and protecting consumers (Sept 2011) (PDF 222KB)

 Updating the National Payments Plan (July 2011) (PDF 167KB)

 Consumer Redress for Mispresentation and Aggressive Practices (July 2011) (PDF 110KB)

 The Way We Pay: Payment systems and financial inclusion (PDF, 2MB)

 Age UK response to OPG Consultation – Fees (PDF, 155KB)

 Consultation response: Smart Metering Spring Package (April 2011) (PDF 113KB)

Financial services

Lack of access to financial services can cause practical difficulties, increase costs and prevent older people from participating fully in society. Age UK works to ensure that the financial services industry, regulators and government co-operate to provide suitable, secure and fair value financial services that help people prepare for retirement and allow people who are already retired to manage their money.

Our report  The Way We Pay: Payment systems and financial inclusion (PDF, 2MB) looks at the issues for older people arising from the potential abolition of cheques.

Age-friendly consumer markets

People in later life are an important and growing group of consumers. This presents an enormous opportunity for those companies willing to address their needs. However, 46% of people aged over 65 agreed that business and retailers had little interest in meeting the needs of older consumers. Age UK will encourage businesses to innovate in response to the growing spending power and diversity of this group.

Our report  The Golden Consumer (October 2010) (1MB) discusses how an ageing population could present new opportunities for business.

Utilities and essential services

Pensioners spend significantly more of their budget on food, water, household fuel and healthcare than non-pensioners. They have been hit hard by recent price rises for necessities such as fuel and water. It is estimated that in 2009 5.5 million households lived in fuel poverty in the UK of which half were pensioner households. Age UK will lobby government to ensure older people get a fair share of energy efficiency measures under the Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation.