Chairman's Week

The phrase “cost of living crisis” has been used so often in recent years that it risks losing its impact. But for many Islanders, the reality behind those words is becoming more severe, not less.

Every December, the same quiet but powerful force sweeps through the Island: the pressure to buy Christmas presents.

The UK government has announced significant changes to state pension rules for people living abroad, and these will come into effect from April 2026.

It has been an intense few days at the Jersey Consumer Council. Since the announcement of Blue Islands’ collapse, our phones, inboxes and social channels have been filled with worried travellers trying to work out what happens next.

If you’ve been following the headlines about car finance miss-selling in the UK, you’ll know it’s shaping up to be one of the biggest consumer scandals in years.

When we started planning how to mark the Jersey Consumer Council’s 30th anniversary, we faced a choice. We could have done what many organisations do at such milestones: host a dinner, raise a glass, and look back fondly at our achievements.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Jersey Consumer Council – three decades spent standing up for Islanders, challenging unfairness, and giving consumers a voice. It’s a milestone we're proud of, but rather than throwing a party to celebrate ourselves, we asked a simple question: how can we give something back?

Did you know that in a recent survey of young people in Jersey, “cheaper housing and food” was listed as one of their top priorities? 

One issue that has recently come to the forefront, and rightly so, is the ongoing problems with flight cancellations and delays affecting Blue Islands customers.

Earlier this year we were thrilled to appoint two new Council members, Georgia Beard and Martha McLaughlin. Fresh ideas and views are always welcome at any organisation, but in our case we were particularly pleased as our newest volunteer recruits were sixth form students in Jersey.

The fact that DFDS has been forced by the Government to charge a flat rate, without exception, to any freight company wishing to book space on its new ferry service next month should be a good thing for Jersey, shouldn’t it?

With the latest RPI being revealed this week, showing us that prices have gone up by 2.5% compared to this time last year, we thought we would take a deeper look at our Basket of Essentials.

Our utility companies have free rein to announce a price rise and we have no choice but to swallow it.

Are you a stacker or a rearranger? The Consumer Council team have been researching this issue and we discovered some really useful tips about whether people are using their dishwasher properly and, importantly, how doing so can save you money.

The time has surely come for our utility companies to be independently regulated.

In an Island where we are supposedly ‘putting children first’, it seems very wrong that so many children’s attractions have come up with different ages for when to charge full price

After months of putting the job off, last Friday presented the perfect opportunity to try to improve the internet speeds around our home.

So, the deal is done, and we will soon start to see Morrisons make its presence felt in the Island.

Many Islanders have been in touch this year – and especially this past month – about the eye-watering costs of their insurance renewals.