Frequently Asked Questions
- What do you do?
- Who are your members?
- How does my organisation become a member?
- How were you founded?
- Who runs Consumers International?
- How are you funded?
- Where are you based?
- Do you have an anti-corruption and bribery statement?
- Do you handle individual consumer complaints?
- What are the consumer rights?
We bring together over 200 Member organisations in more than 100 countries to empower and champion the rights of consumers everywhere.
We offer four Membership categories: Full, Affiliate, Government and Supporter.
Through these categories, we represent consumer organisations of all sizes. From the largest consumer organisations in the world to smaller, semi-voluntary associations concentrating on education and community development.
Our Government Members include major competition and trade agencies, as well as recently established government departments.
If your organisation is interested in becoming a Member, visit here and
contact members@consint.org for further information.
Consumers International, formerly known as the International Organisation of Consumers Unions (IOCU), was founded in 1960 by five consumer organisations from the US, Western Europe and Australia.
Our global staff are led by our Director General, who is guided by and accountable to Consumers International’s Board of Trustees. Consumers International’s trustees are ultimately responsible in law for the charity, its assets and activities.
The Board of Trustees is appointed from our Council. The Council is an advisory body to the Board of Trustees and is elected by voting members at the General Assembly that takes place every four to five years.
Learn more about How We're Run.
The core of Consumers International’s funding is from membership contributions from consumer organisations around the world which are selected to join us as Members. Ensuring Consumers International has diverse and secure funding streams allows us to increase our collective reach and impact. Therefore, Consumers International also accepts funding from select foundations, national governments, multi-lateral agencies, the private sector, civil society and other sources.
Read more about how we're funded.
We are a global organisation. While our registered global office is in the UK, our staff are based in countries around the world.
Anti-corruption and bribery policy
Consumers International is committed to carrying out all our activities in an honest and ethical manner and we take a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption.
Read the policy here.
Privacy policy
We are committed to respecting your privacy, protecting your personal information and collecting the minimum amount of personal information required to ensure that we deliver the best possible experience across all of our platforms and services.
Read the policy here.
Event participation code of conduct
Our events allow participants to join an inclusive, respectful and safe environment.
Read the policy here.
Consumers International does not run a consumer complaints service. We are the secretariat office of a membership organisation.
Every commercial organisation is governed by the laws and regulations of their own country, there is not ‘one’ single law or complaints service for international complaints. Therefore, to escalate your complaint you will need either a lawyer or a consumer protection agency in the country of operation of the company you wish to challenge.
Please visit our member directory, scroll down and enter the country where the organisation is based; if we have a Member in the relevant country it will be listed.
If we do not have a Member in the appropriate country, please search online for a consumer protection agency or a consumer protection lawyer.
Other useful points of contact:
Cross border issues: ICPEN (International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network)
European based issues: European Consumer Centres (funded by European Commission)
Following successful campaigning by Consumers International, the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection were adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1985. These were brought up to date in 2015, when the General Assembly adopted the revised UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection. The guidelines are an important tool, giving added legitimacy to the principles of consumer rights and practical support and guidance for the development of consumer protection around the world. They contain a number of consumer needs that broadly reflect the consumer rights.