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Complaints and Enquiries
The Consumer Advice Team is the reception point for
our residents' enquiries and complaints into the section.
If you have a problem with shoddy goods or services
our small team of dedicated officers will always try
to help you but if we can't we will signpost you to
an organisation who can.
The most common areas for complaint are home improvements,
cars, computers, other electrical goods and poor workmanship
generally.
We can advise you whenever you are in dispute with
a trader about something you have bought or a service
provided. The law offers a lot of protection and we
often find that once a trader realises that you are
aware of your rights the problem is often more easily
resolved.
Prevention is better than a cure and we
can also provide South Tyneside residents with pre-shopping
advice so informed choices can be made when buying
goods or services. Although we are unable to recommend
individual traders we can provide general advice and
tips.
However a new addition to our service is the South
Tyneside Safetraders
scheme which a register of businesses from several
trade sectors who have been vetted for use by our residents.
Additionally we can provide you with an advice pack,
tailored to your specific problem, which will guide
you step by step through the process of pursuing your
complaint. We will also where necessary contact the
trader on your behalf to try and resolve your problem.
Self
help leaflets are also available.
If we cannot resolve your problem at that stage we
will advise you of the options that are open to you
such as alternative dispute resolution or County Court
action. At no stage can we make a trader refund your
money, exchange the goods or repair the faults.
Whilst we will try to help you are far as possible
ultimately only you can take this action to make a claim.
Further details on the small claims procedure can be
obtained from the
court service.
Complaints
and Enquiries continued
(page2)
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