Consumer Council Helping To Take The Stress Out Of Summer Travel
Friday 17 July 2009
Do you plan to travel by plane, bus or train this summer? Would you know what to do if something went wrong or you had a complaint? If the answer is no, then the Consumer Council can help. Today the Consumer Council launched a series of information days, which will see them out on the ground, in airports and bus and train stations this summer. The first kicks off next Tuesday 21 July 2009 in the Europa Bus Centre, Belfast.
Pictured at the first of the information sessions in the Europa buscentre is Noleen Sheridan from the Consumer Council and passenger Robin Steenson from Cookstown.
Loretta O’Hara, Head of Consumer Support at the Consumer Council said, “Getting out and talking directly to air, bus and train passengers is a very important part of the work we do. This series of information days gives us the opportunity to hear firsthand what issues are affecting passengers as they commute or go on holiday this summer. It will also give us the opportunity to promote our complaints handling role and let passengers know what their rights and responsibilities are. Last year the Consumer Council helped consumers get back more than £54, 000[1] in refunds and goodwill gestures – so effective complaining can and does make a difference.”
The Consumer Council will be in:
- The Europa Bus Centre, Belfast on Tuesday 21 July (8am-6pm)
- Central Station, Belfast on Wednesday 22 July (8am-6pm)
- BelfastInternational Airport from 27th July – 2nd August (9am-6pm)
- George Best Belfast City Airport17th August -23rd August (9am-6pm)
Loretta O’Hara continued, “As well as handling consumer complaints, we also work behind the scenes with the travel company involved to tackle the source of the complaint and work with them to make changes that will benefit all passengers in the future. Making your voice heard is worthwhile – not only can you benefit but other passengers benefit too.”
Pictured with the Consumer Council’s Noleen Sheridan and Ryan Simpson, is passenger Chris Wilson from Aberdeen.
If you have a complaint about buses, trains, planes, ferries, natural gas, electricity, coal or water and you are not satisfied with the response you have received from the company involved, contact the Consumer Council on 0800 121 6022 or e-mail complaints@consumercouncil.org.uk
- Consumer Council media contact: Grainne Duffy, telephone, 028 9067 4813 or e-mail, gduffy@consumercouncil.org.uk
- The Consumer Council is an independent consumer organisation, working to bring about change to benefit Northern Ireland’s consumers. The Council campaigns for high standards of service and protection and a fair deal for all. It also carries out research, gives advice and publishes reports and other publications. It deals with individual complaints about buses, trains, planes, ferries, natural gas, electricity, coal and water.
- For more information, visit our website at www.consumercouncil.org.uk
