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Andrew Mernin is the Digital Journalist for nebusiness »
Ross Smith, Head of Policy and Research at the North-East Chamber of Commerce »
Julian Christopher from Footprint Public Relations, on media and marketing »
Norma Foster from the North East Regional Portal writes about e-business »
Ian Brown, Northumberland farmer and businessman writes about the agricultural industry »
Ian Wilkin, Accountant, is spending a month in Malawi to help a charity hospital »
Accessibilty Champion Steve Wilkinson on the importance of inclusion »When I was in short trousers I remember watching a sketch on The Two Ronnies called the worm has turned. The skit was set in a world in complete parallel to 1970s Britain where women ruled supreme and a small band of men tried desperately to cling on to their rights.
What does this have to do with business? I hear you ask.
Well it seems to me that, just as the worm turned on men in The Two Ronnies sketch, the worm is beginning to turn on the corporate giants, as the customer launches its fight back.
Last week a High Court judge confirmed what bank customers have been arguing for years - that bank charges are unfair and we no longer deserve to be hit in the pocket for going over our overdraft limit.
It is still up to the Office of Fair Trading to assess the situation, but it looks as though last week's ruling will pave the way for customers to win back the fees they have paid.
Meanwhile, as two oil giants posted record-breaking profits this week, truck drivers staged a protest in London's Park Lane, blaring their horns to protest a 30% climb in the price of diesel over the past year.
Shell and BP may have shrugged off any criticism they received, but at least the customer is finding its voice and it could only be a matter of time before the fuel firms are forced to listen.
Anyone looking to join the customer revolution, but needs inspiration on where to start, need look no further than comedian Dom Joly's new TV show The Complainers.
The show consists of various big businesses and institutions getting it in the neck by Mr Joly and friends largely by giving them a taste of their own medicine.
One campaign involves the traffic warden’s warden – armed with an in-depth parking rule book he stops wardens in their tracks by uncovering illegally marked parking spots which, by law, can not be used to enforce fines.
Train operators and call centre companies are also among Joly’s other numerous targets.
To join the revolution watch Channel Five, Monday night at 10pm.
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