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Help and Advice

Your consumer rights – products must be: 

• of satisfactory quality - last for the time you would expect it to and be free of any defects

• fit for purpose – fit for the use described and any specific use you made clear to the trader
• as described – match the description on packaging or what the trader told you.

Not having any luck with sorting out problems? Then call 08454 04 05 06.

Citizens Advice is carrying out a survey on scams. If you have been scammed or know of someone who has been scammed, take part on the Citizens Advice website.

TSI is not able to offer consumer advice. The government service Consumer Direct offers advice on 08454 04 05 06 or via the Directgov website. Trading Standards is a local authority service. Online help may be available through your local trading standards service website for both consumers and business. Use the post code search to find your local office.

Consumer Direct, funded by government, provides clear, practical consumer advice

Their website has been designed to provide you with advice before you buy and the information you need to resolve your consumer issues after you have made a purchase. If you can't find the answers to your problem on the website, their regionally based telephone advisors can give practical advice on various consumer issues - from problems with cars to faulty household appliances.

Consumer Direct on Directgov 08454 04 05 06

Information and support for consumers shopping across the EU

Having a problem shopping across borders in Europe?

There are two services delivered by the Trading Standards Institute that may be able to help:

The UK ECC is part of the European Consumer Centre Network, made up of 29 centres throughout Europe. The aim is to provide advice and support to those who are shopping cross-border within the internal market.

They want you to feel as confident when shopping in Europe as you do at home.

In addition they provide Howard - your online shopping assistant.

Before parting with your money on the internet, it’s worth consulting Howard. Howard will research a website for you and help you decide whether to use it.

The European Consumer Centre for Services has been set up to assist consumers to make informed choices when looking to buy services across Europe.

The European Consumer Centre for Services provides general information on consumer laws and rights when buying a service in another EU member state, as well as contact details for organisations that could provide practical assistance in the case of a dispute.