Madrid (EFE).- The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) has asked the parties that go to the polls this year to promote specific public aid to households affected by the rise in the Euribor, in addition to a rule that facilitates agreements with banks to reduce fees by extending terms or granting moratoriums.
These are some of the requests that the OCU takes advantage of on World Consumer Day, in which it contributes by launching its VII collective purchase of energy so that citizens can face the spectacular rise in prices and can save on their bills gas and electricity.
Until April 27, consumers can register through http://www.quieropagarmenosluz.org and, after the auction between the marketing companies, they will receive an individualized offer with the savings obtained. In their last collective purchase, those registered were able to save an average of 448 euros:
That is the contribution that the OCU makes to help consumers at this time, while urging the parties to adopt other measures:
Increase transparency in the energy market and promote reforms in energy pricing and taxation that guarantee that consumers pay for energy the price that it actually costs to produce it.
Development of a Royal Decree on the Vulnerable Consumer, which reinforces their protection and contemplates the creation of a register of them so that administrations and companies can identify them to access aid and benefits.
Creation of a public pool of rental housing, which allows access to housing to groups (young people, vulnerable consumers), who, at present, due to the increase in purchase and rental prices and the increase in the cost of mortgages, it is impossible for them.
Measures to guarantee access to banking services and avoid financial exclusion, which involve maintaining a viable physical infrastructure, which includes at least essential banking services such as access to cash and which are considered a ‘Universal service’ by the administration.
Promote nutrition improvement programs in the general population that also include optimizing food composition and nutritional quality through a front-end information system based on Nutriscore, and approving regulations on advertising baby food as soon as possible.
Consumer protection measures in the field of crypto assets, which include increasing the information obligations on the web and app about the risk of losing the investment, the delivery of a fundamental data document before the purchase of any crypto asset and the carrying out a suitability test before purchase.
Promote better mental health care by increasing the number of psychologists in primary care.
The voice of the consumer in 2023: difficulties are compounded by inflation
Consumers live this Wednesday, World Consumer Rights Day, with more difficulties and problems than last year because “they have worsened”, according to the Council of Consumers and Users (CCU), the body that brings together the associations most representative in this area.
That is what this advisory body of the General State Administration in matters of consumer and user protection maintains in the manifesto that it publishes on the occasion of this celebration.
Consumers, according to the Council, “are suffering deeply” from the “generalized and intense inflationary environment”, especially from energy prices, the shopping basket and mortgage interest rates, which “are mainly affecting to the most vulnerable.
The price of food is creating inequality and that, in his opinion, requires adopting a series of measures:
Set a 0% VAT for staple foods with a healthier nutritional profile.
Establish a super-reduced VAT of 4% for other basic foods.
Increase the personal and family minimums of the taxpayer in the IRPF, which correspond to the part of the taxable base that, since it is used to satisfy their basic personal and family needs.
Take urgent measures to help the most vulnerable: a system of food checks for vulnerable families should be activated now, especially those with dependent minors.
The National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) must adopt a more proactive role in monitoring prices.
The Council does not forget some of the measures that the Government has adopted to deal with this situation, but considers that other shortcomings remain unresolved.
Among them, the lack of attention to citizens in person by public administrations, which in his opinion “unjustifiably maintain this situation typical of the pandemic” and that makes it difficult to process procedures and solve problems.
It also considers it urgent to approve the bill on representative actions for the protection of the collective interests of consumers; encourage the participation of consumer associations; defend social justice, and develop inclusion policies that do not violate the rights of consumers in the digital environment.
On this March 15, some consumer associations will take to the streets and offer press conferences with the messages they want to convey to the Government, also in view of the upcoming election year, as the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) will do. .
FACUA-Consumers in Action will dedicate the commemoration to denouncing the growing abuses of users through deceptive offers, fraudulent contracts or inflated bills and will raise their claims in 18 cities.
The Confederation of Consumers and Users (CECU) has already requested that the energy system be reformed to put an end to uncontrolled price increases, a reform in which renewable energies must be essential to make energy prices more predictable, stable and fair. energy.
The association of financial consumers Adicae will also call on the streets for the approval of five regulations this year: the creation of the Financial Client Defense Authority, the new regulation of collective actions, the law on customer service services and the project of royal decree that regulates the Registry of Consumer Associations itself.