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About us

Where are we in the Council?

Aberdeen City Council's Trading Standards Service is a part of Neighbourhood Services (Central Area) 

Trading Standards, or as they are sometimes known, Consumer Protection Departments are a local authority service. Officers within these departments enforce a range of legislation, over 100 Acts of Parliament and over 600 separate Regulations.

These duties are carried out through inspection, sampling, testing, investigation and advice......increasingly by informing, advising and educating traders and consumers. Many Trading Standards Departments also have a consumer advice section, which can advise consumers on their rights when they have a consumer problem.

We can:

-give impartial advice on consumer law and your rights (whether you are the buyer or seller)
-suggest action you can take
-advise on civil court procedure
-investigate if the criminal law has been breached

WE CAN'T:

-close businesses down
-automatically obtain a refund for you
-recommend businesses
-take action when the criminal law has not been broken
-tell you which businesses to avoid

Performance 07/08

In the year 2007/2008 we:

  • Maintained an (office hours) duty system, with an officer ready at all times to provide an instant response.
  • Dealt with 3829 complaints and enquiries.
  • Gave advice to 228 traders.
  • Took enforcement action in 319 cases.
  • Carried out 2095 inspections
  • Took 11 prosecutions 

We also undertook the following projects: -

  • Under Age Sales: - These were carried out using 16 year old volunteers to check compliance with the raising of the legal age to purchase cigarettes to 18.
  • Fair Measure Fortnight: - Checks were carried out on a number of pubs and clubs in Aberdeen to see if the appropriate drinks measure was served.

Consultation and what you told us

We regularly consult our customers about their satisfaction with the service and ask them what they think our priorities should be.

Satisfaction with the service.

Our latest report on consumers shows satisfaction to be running high at 94%. Some of the comments received show why: -

  • ‘Mrs D was helpful to the utmost and recovered most of what was owed’.
  • ‘Very efficient. Dealt with complaint in a sensible manner and v. swiftly too’.
  • ‘Although you couldn’t actually help in my case I was very impressed with the speed of your response and the information leaflets you included’.
  • ‘I am very happy with the service that I have been given, friendly and co-operative. Couldn’t ask for anything more’.
  • Found the young lady’s advice sound and most helpful. Thank you. I was able to put right the situation with added confidence after speaking to her’.
  • ‘We are grateful for the professional support and advice’.

The response from traders we had visited records all traders rating the service they received as OK or better. 50% thought it was good, 20% excellent.

Customer Priorities.

To assess our customer’s priorities we asked consumers, traders & council members not only what they thought we should be doing, but how they thought we should do it.

The replies indicated that all areas of Trading Standards work were considered to be important by all user groups. These are what were stated to be the highest priorities: -

Areas of Trading Standards Work deemed most important;

  1. House improvements, (Builders, plumbers, double glazing etc)..
  2. Safety of Goods, (Toys, electrics, 2nd hand goods, ).
  3. Cars, (Mileages, safety).
  4. Credit, (Mortgages, loans, store cards, moneylenders etc.).
  5. Underage sales, (Cigarettes, fireworks, solvents, etc.).
  6. Pricing.
  7. Weights and Measures.
  8. Scams and cons, (Home working, prize draws, etc.).
  9. Civil advice.
  10. Holidays, (Prices, misdescriptions etc.).
  11. Counterfeits.

Methods of Trading Standards Work prioritised;

  1. Complaints
  2. Prosecutions
  3. Inspections
  4. Trader Advice
  5. Education
  6. Publicity
  7. Projects

Speak Out

Please tell us your views on our services. We take account of all comments made by any of the people we provide services for. We are also committed to tailoring and targeting our resources to meet your needs. You can make comments in writing, on the phone, by e-mail or here on our website. Please complete our confidential response form.

Contacting Us

Aberdeen City Council, 
Trading Standards Service, 
St. Nicholas House, 
Broad Street, 
Aberdeen, AB10 1BX
 
Telephone: (01224) 523737 
Fax: (01224) 645786

Our office hours are 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday

We are closed on Local and Public Holidays.

 
Web: http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/Aberdeen/
E-Mail: tradingstandards@aberdeencity.gov.uk

Want to know more?

A wide range of leaflets are available on this website and from our office. General leaflets can be obtained from libraries and council information centres around the city.

If you need any further advice or information, please let us know and we will be pleased to help.

Top of Page Message

Aberdeen City Council, Trading Standards Service,
St. Nicholas House, Broad Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1BX
Telephone: (01224) 523737 Fax: (01224) 645786
 
Web: http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/Aberdeen/
E-Mail: tradingstandards@aberdeencity.gov.uk
 
Copyright © Aberdeen City Council Trading Standards Service 2008