Consumer and scam line funding

The request was partially successful.

Dear The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux,

I understand that you were awarded funding from Martin Lewis to support your scam function, can you detail how that was spent?

Yours faithfully,

Martin Fosse

FOI Requests CitA, The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux

Dear Martin,

R.E. Freedom of Information Request:FOI-JUL-001-2020

Thank you for your request, received by Citizens Advice on the 13 July
2020 in which you have requested the following information:

"I understand that you were awarded funding from Martin Lewis to support
your scam function, can you detail how that was spent?"

 

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. You will receive a response within the statutory
timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject to the
information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third party.
In some circumstances we may be unable to achieve this deadline. If this
is likely you will be informed and given a revised timescale at the
earliest opportunity.

In some cases there may be a fee payable for the retrieval, collation and
provision of the information you request. If this is the case you will be
informed and the 20 working day timescale will be suspended until we
receive payment from you. If you choose not to make payment then your
request will remain unanswered.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please do
not hesitate to contact this office.

Yours sincerely,

FOI Requests Citizens Advice
 
[1]Citizens Advice

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FOI Requests CitA, The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux

Dear Martin,
I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by Citizens Advice on 13 July 2020, in which you seek access to the
following information:
"I understand that you were awarded funding from Martin Lewis to support
your scam function, can you detail how that was spent?" 

National Citizens Advice nor Citizens Advice local offices (formerly known
as bureau) are fully covered by the Freedom of Information Act 2000
(FOIA). The FOIA applies to public authorities.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) the FOIA’s regulator’s
definition is as follows “Public authorities include government
departments, local authorities, the NHS, state schools and police forces.
However, the Act does not necessarily cover every organisation that
receives public money. For example, it does not cover some charities that
receive grants and certain private sector organisations that perform
public functions”.

We can confirm that Citizens Advice are one of the charities where parts
of the business are not covered by FOIA. National Citizens Advice is
subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) in respect of certain
consumer information only, as listed in Schedule 1 Part VI of the Freedom
of Information Act 2000:

“F264The National Association of Citizens Advice [F265Bureaux—(a) ] in
respect of information relating to the function exercisable by virtue of
article 2 of the Public Bodies (The Office of Fair Trading Transfer of
Consumer Advice Scheme Function and Modification of Enforcement Functions)
Order 2013 S.I. 2013/783.][F266 (b) in respect of information relating to
the functions transferred to it by Article 3(1)(a), (b) or (c) of the
Public Bodies (Abolition of the National Consumer Council and Transfer of
the Office of Fair Trading’s Functions in relation to Estate Agents etc)
Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/631).”
All other information held by Citizens Advice as a result of its other
functions and that held by individual local Citizens Advice are not
subject to the FoIA.  The Scams Action service is separately funded and
delivers a separate function to the consumer service and was not
transferred to us from the Office of Fair Trading.

We are however, able to provide some information, which is mostly publicly
available.

The Citizens Advice Scams Action service is funded by Facebook to provide
help and support to clients about online scams, and also to raise wider
awareness of these.

The funding has been apportioned in a number of areas, namely:

* Advisers providing information and support by telephone, email and webchat

* Creation of advice content on the Citizens Advice website

* Design, build and launch of the Online Scams Helper online tool - an interactive digital resource that provides clients tailored advice on the website based on their individual circumstances

* Establishing seamless referral links to local Citizens Advice offices for specialist support with any associated impact of an online scam (such as debt)

* Use of the Facebook platform to promote the service, alongside other channels

* Central oversight and management of the service, including operations, stakeholder management and engagement across the consumer protection and fraud prevention landscapes, communications and impact analysis

* Associated implementation and set-up costs

If you have any further questions, please contact us using
[1][Citizens Advice request email].

Yours sincerely,

The FOI Team

[2]Citizens Advice

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