Consumer Advice

The Consumer Advice team

We offer advice and help to consumers on a wide range of matters relating to goods and services.

We also have a Trading Standards team who provide positive advice to help all types of businesses maintain and improve the quality of goods and services they provide.

They also make sure goods are properly labelled and correctly priced. If necessary, they will enforce relevant laws and prosecute businesses.

We are committed to giving everyone in the borough equal access to our services.

We focus on people's needs and use feedback and consultation to improve our services.

We provide support to people making claims through the small claims court.

How we meet our aims

We offer free advice on a variety of consumer complaints including:

Cars and car servicing
Household goods and home improvements
Holidays and leisure activities
Clothing and footwear
Telephones, including mobiles
Double glazing
Gas and electricity
Traders, including rogue traders
Licences
Consumer credit
Pricing and quality
Product safety
Weights and measures
Sales of alcohol and cigarettes to children under 16
Personal computers

What you can expect if you contact us

We will keep your details confidential
Staff who are fully trained in consumer rights will deal with your complaint
We can deal with you complaint either in person or by telephone
We will listen to your complaint and explain your consumer rights
We will answer written complaints within 5 working days
If you visit us, we will try to see you within 20 minutes
We provide private interview rooms for you to discuss your complaint with us

What you can expect if we investigate a complaint

We will contact the trader on your behalf
We will advise whether you could take court action if the trader refuses to deal with your complaint
We will refer those complaints that may break consumer criminal law to our Trading Standards team for investigation