The influential consumer association wants to influence the presidential campaign. UFC-Que Choisir publishes 22 proposals for “responsible consumption, freeing up 15 billion euros in purchasing power” for the French, or “500 euros per household”. This Prévert-style inventory, bringing together the main battles led by the association for years, is intended to be taken, at least in part, by the candidates for the presidential election.
“I am sending a letter to everyone today (this Wednesday), to each of them to invite them to discuss it publicly with our teams, in front of the French, supports Alain Bazot, president of the UFC-Que Choisir. This list of proposals poses a general question: what society do you want tomorrow for consumers? »
The UFC-Que Choisir wishes to tackle three particular sectors, which it deems “not sufficiently regulated” by the State: banking, energy, and mass distribution. For the latter sector, it wishes to remove the “minimum threshold for resale at a loss”, prohibiting a brand from reselling a product at a price lower than that at which it purchased it. “This has increased the price by 10% on certain major brand products”, enrages Alain Bazot.
A social VAT on energy
On the banking side, the president of the association demanded that the intervention commissions levied during an unauthorized overdraft be abolished, to impose the automatic reimbursement of “duplicate charges for the rejection of direct debits” and finally to establish a right to bank account number portability. “Bank charges are set outside of any competition, households are forced to avoid them. This subject has lasted too long”, thunders the president of the association.
Finally, in the midst of the energy crisis, the UFC demands a reform of the “regulated sales tariff so that it is oriented towards EDF’s costs”. And above all, review energy taxation. “The state cannot afford to impose a 20% VAT on such essential goods, by inflating the already high constrained expenses of the French, grumbles Alain Bazot. We want a social VAT, which makes sense. We hope that all of this will resonate with the candidates. »