Saturday, 20 February 2010

Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!

Hmm, it's been a while since we had a scare about something that required the intervention of the government, isn't it?
A wide-ranging investigation has been launched into the safety of pushchairs following reports of children losing parts of their finger in dangerous hinge mechanisms.
Oh, great...
A new consumer taskforce is acting following problems with Maclaren buggies which have sold by the millions in Britain and throughout the world.

The team, which is part of the Consumer Focus body, believes the problems could be far more widespread.
Well, of course it does! Just think of the extra work to be generated.

Oh, and yes, in case you were wondering, Consumer Focus, despite the friendly-sounding name, is just another quango…
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4 comments:

  1. MTG20 February 2010 at 09:52

    Save us, oh lord, from the wrath of the Quango.

    ReplyDelete
  2. BTS20 February 2010 at 10:22

    "Consumer Focus has strong new legislative powers. These include the right to investigate any consumer complaint if they are of wider interest, the right to open up information from providers, the power to conduct research and the ability to make an official super-complaint about failing services.

    We are well-resourced to use these powers and campaign on the issues that matter most to consumers. In fact, with 170 staff, we’re the largest and the best-resourced advocacy body in the history of the UK consumer movement."

    Sounds impressive. Very can do attitude. Tell me more..

    "We are not an advice agency nor are we a statutory regulator. Other bodies such as Consumer Direct, Citizens Advice, local authority trading standards and the Office of Fair Trading play these roles."

    Ah. I see. So.. you don't actually do anything and nor can you advise anyone about anything other than to suggest a bunch of other pre-existing bodies which might be of some better assistance.

    Thank you very much, all 170 of you..

    Does it really get any sillier than this? A "super-complaint"..?

    WTF..?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nick M20 February 2010 at 13:50

    This is Groundhog day.

    I recall the BBCs Watchdog show c. 1990 raising Cain over exactly the same issue.

    ReplyDelete
  4. JuliaM21 February 2010 at 07:07

    "Thank you very much, all 170 of you.."

    Now multiply that by all those useless quangos out there. And add on their pensions...

    "This is Groundhog day.

    I recall the BBCs Watchdog show c. 1990 raising Cain over exactly the same issue."

    You know, I wouldn't be surprised to run an old episode of 'That's Life!' and see Esther Rantzen doing the same thing!

    ReplyDelete