If you've used our consumer education project database how would you like it to be improved? If you haven't, then tell us why not and what would encourage you to use it.
The database, which we launched in conjunction with CELG in January 2009, is due for an upgrade next month. We have the opportunity to improve it, but you need to tell us what you'd like to see. For example, would you like it be in a different format? Should it be organised by project theme rather than by country? What glitches need to be smoothed out?
Following internal and external feedback, the next two modules of our Skilled to go consumer education programme will be on Scams and Buying and running a car. Publication of the modules is planned for summer 2010. Our development partner, LLU+ at London South Bank University, has started work on the content for learners and teachers.
The scams module will concentrate on developing the skills and knowledge that people need to be able to spot and avoid being sucked in by potential scams. It will develop appropriate skills including the ability to research and to identify factors which typify a scam mailing or website. Activities will build knowledge about types of scam and their evolving nature, spotting victims, reporting scams and how intelligence is used. The range of content will help people to develop the confidence to say no and to communicate with potential scam victims.
The Skilled to go module on buying and running a car will include developing skills to research a reputable contractor and communicate effectively with garage staff. People will also learn what to do if they're unhappy after a car service or repair and about their rights in relation to servicing and repairs.
If you'd be willing to feed back on the next stages of developing the version of Skilled to go for local authority Trading Standards Services (TSS), contact Sam Brew at sam.brew@oft.gsi.gov.uk. Your involvement would be during October or November 2009. We won't need much of your time. You can give your views by email, phone or we may be able to visit you for a talk face to face. Thanks to those of you who got involved in our workshops in London and Edinburgh to shape the toolkit. We hope it will become a useful addition to the resources that you currently use if you visit secondary schools to talk about Trading Standards' work. It will be published in February 2010.
In September 2009 the OFT is launching a campaign to increase consumer awareness of scam ticketing websites. The campaign will include a website to demonstrate to consumers how professional scams sites can appear and will also provide information on things to check when buying online. We will be using online promotion, links from relevant websites and PR to promote the website.
The OFT's campaign against doorstep rogue traders takes place in November 2009 and is aimed at consumers aged over 70. Across the UK there is a diverse network of anti-doorstep crime initiatives, with a range of organisations working nationally and locally to combat the problem. The 2009 OFT campaign aims to boost this activity, not compete with it or re-invent the wheel. As a result our campaign will be made up of two key elements: helping partners to raise awareness in the media and support for their outreach work. We will be designing a toolkit to support the campaign. One element of the toolkit will be role play scripts to help consumers practice dealing with persistent callers. You can find out more by reading the Doorstep selling campaign strategy for 2009-10 on our Campaigns page.
This year's National Consumer Week (14th to 20th September) sees the launch of the Know Your Consumer Rights campaign, a collaboration between Consumer Direct, the Trading Standards Institute, Consumer Focus and BIS.
The campaign objective is to inform consumers that they have rights every time they buy goods, whether at the shops, online or at home. The focus is on three main rights - goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit the description given and be suitable for purpose. Consumers will be encouraged to visit the Consumer Direct website for more information on their rights, and to visit the campaign micro-site.
Retail partners such as B&Q, figleaves.com, Wickes, asos.com, whatafind.com and Asda will all be promoting the campaign in their stores, on their websites and via home shopping. We will be launching the campaign on Monday 14th September 2009 at Bluewater in Kent with stakeholder and consumer events taking place and a programme of events up and down the country will be hosted by Consumer Direct and TSS. A TV ad has also been produced to support the campaign.
In the new year, the OFT will target businesses to raise awareness of their responsibilities under the Sale of Goods Act. Launching as part of the Know Your Consumer Rights campaign, the campaign will also encourage businesses to educate and train their sales staff to provide a more informed service to consumers. More information will follow in the next issue.
This is the third quarterly newsletter which focuses on providing consumer education updates for Alliance members. It's also a place where Alliance members can publicise or share their consumer education activities with other members, so why not do so by contacting us at oftconsumereducationteam@oft.gsi.gov.uk.
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