The National Consumer Council, which was recently renamed Consumer Focus following a merger, has reported that it is not part of a relatively new website that was set up to help consumers find the cheapest doorstep lenders. The reports indicate that the consumer watchdog is trying to distance itself from the website, which was set up earlier this year by the Competition Commission to help people to find the most competitive doorstep lender in a climate where an increasing number of consumers have had to turn to these lenders.

Doorstep loans generally come with an extortionate rate of interest attached, and this resource was aimed at making it easier for consumers to find a more competitive doorstep loan for their needs. Consumer Focus, which was then known as the NCC or National Consumer Council, was one of its supposed partners, but it has now stated that it does not want any association with the site. The NCC had originally complained that there was no facility for consumers to compare doorstep loans and the website had been set up in response to this.

The website of the comparison site said that it is ‘operated in partnership with organisations including the National Consumer Council, Association of British Credit Unions, the Consumer Credit Association and other representatives which are independent of the home credit sector’.

However, an official from Consumer Focus said: ‘We don’t know how our name got in there. They are obviously trying to associate us with their work. We’re not against doorstep lending per se, but we believe there is not enough competition in the market. We recognise it is an important source of credit for some people but we want a competitive lending market, which it is not at the moment. Some of the rates charged on this site make it extortionate.’

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