NCC welcomes call for rethink on post office closure plans

The National Consumer Council (NCC) welcomes the Trade and Industry Select Committee’s announcement today that it will publish a further report seeking substantive answers on aspects of Post Office closure plans.

Jill Johnstone, Director of Policy at NCC says: ‘The Post Office provides much valued products and services to vulnerable people and those in rural and deprived urban communities. We need a replacement Post Office Card Account that fits the bill. Simply giving people access to their money via a hole in the wall is not enough.

‘NCC is calling on the Government to ensure that the replacement card account offers more features such as: interest on accounts, bill payments, and a deposit function for people to receive local housing allowance.

‘We also share the Committee’s view that the local consultation period should be extended to 12 weeks, as recommended by Cabinet Office guidelines. Six weeks to respond is inadequate for local people and their representatives to submit their views.’