Dutch consumers vote ConsuWijzer.nl as the best government website
ConsuWijzer.nl has been named "Best Government Website 2010". This was announced by the organisation behind Website of the Year, the most important prize for online services and voted for by the public in the Netherlands. ConsuWijzer achieved the highest average score for content, navigation and design in the Government category. The website offers consumers a first step towards finding a solution in issues and difficulties relating to the purchase of products and services. On the website, consumers can find legal advice in plain everyday language and ConsuWijzer.nl also offers practical resources such as letter templates that the consumer can use to take action in order to exercise their rights. Pauline Bijlenga, Head of Consuwijzer, explains: “We are extremely pleased to have already been awarded such a prestigious public award after four years of existence. It shows that consumers value the information provided by ConsuWijzer and take advantage of it, and that is exactly what ConsuWijzer is all about. This prize therefore pays a fine compliment to all staff who run the helpdesk.”
Cooperation of three enforcement authorities
ConsuWijzer is formed from the cooperation of three enforcement authorities, namely the Consumer Authority, the Independent Post and Telecommunications Authority (OPTA) and the Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa). Queries and complaints that are submitted to ConsuWijzer form important signals for the enforcement authorities to be able to do their work and they are able to take action if companies do not structurally adhere to the regulations, such as by imposing a fine.
Popular webpages and letter templates
ConsuWijzer was established in October 2006 and the website since attracts an average of two million visitors per year. In addition to that, the helpdesk receives on average 100,000 queries and complaints annually by e-mail, over the telephone or by post. Every month, the letter templates provided by Consuwijzer.nl are used by around 40,000 people for purposes including submitting a complaint to a company. The most popular letter templates are letters to cancel a subscription or to request the repair or replacement of a defective product. The popular pages on ConsuWijzer.nl in 2010 cover the topics of telemarketing, guarantees, comparing energy companies and SMS services.
Mobile website
Recently ConsuWijzer has also offered a mobile website http://m.consuwijzer.nl which enables consumers with mobile internet to have access to practical advice regarding their rights anywhere and at any time.
More information
More information about the Website of the Year 2010 awards can be found at www.websitevanhetjaar.nl.
ConsuWijzer is the information desk of the government, providing practical advice about your rights as a consumer. The helpdesk can be contacted via www.consuwijzer.nl or by calling +31(0)88 070 70 70 (national rate). ConsuWijzer is an initiative of three enforcement authorities of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation: the Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa), the Independent Post and Telecommunications Authority (OPTA) and the Consumer Authority.
For further information, please contact Saskia Bierling, Spokesperson for ConsuWijzer, telephone: +31(0)70 330 5971, mobile +31(0)6 52527011, e-mail: pers [at] consuwijzer [punt] nl