Our money, our rights! Consumer movement turns the spotlight on financial services

12 March 2010
by eub2 -- last modified 12 March 2010

Consumers International (CI) will lead its 220 member organisations from around the world in a call for action on financial services on 15 March, World Consumer Rights Day.

Consumer outrage at the state of high-street financial services has united consumer rights groups from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, with over 50 organisations planning campaign activities on or around 15 March.

Consumers International is leading global efforts to raise awareness about the import work consumer organisations are doing to secure better financial services and dispel the myths about consumer attitudes to financial matters.

In a new report Our money, our rights: how the global consumer movement is fighting for fair financial services CI looks in detail at the different approaches being adopted by consumer organisations to push for fair treatment from financial service providers.

And, in two unique accounts of financial services in the Global South, CI's latest briefings The evolution of financial services in Africa and The evolution of financial services in Asia reveal the financial ingenuity of poorly-served consumers, assess the increasing role of microfinance, and debunk the notion that developing world consumers are a credit risk.

Joost Martens, CI Director General said:

"Whether protecting consumers from unfair contracts and abusive charges or helping to secure basic access for the many who currently go without, consumer organisations perform vital work on financial services. World Consumer Rights Day 2010 is all about drawing attention to this crucial cause."

Consumers International (CI) is the only independent global campaigning voice for consumers. With over 220 member organisations in 115 countries, we are building a powerful international consumer movement to help protect and empower consumers everywhere.

Consumers International (CI)