Consumer Knowledge – Consumer Organisations – Basic Skills
Introduction
When you have a problem with the goods and services that you have bought, there are several places that you can go to for help and advice:
Local Government helping the Consumer
When we talk about Local Government, we mean the local Council. This is the organisation that exists to develop the economic, social and environmental well being of the community in its local area.
Local Government is usually taken to refer to the administration of public affairs in a specific local area, by elected members of a local council. Although subject to central government in many ways, local authorities possess a considerable amount of responsibility and discretionary power.
Your local Council provides a range of services that are designed to provide you with help and advice.
Trading Standards Service
Your local Council will provide a Trading Standards Service (sometimes called Consumer Protection Department).
The Weights and Measures Act states that the Act must be enforced by a local weights and measures authority and for many years Weights and Measures Departments existed within local authorities to satisfy this condition.
However, in the 1960's there was a surge of new legislation designed at protecting consumers and Weights and Measures Departments were, therefore, renamed Trading Standards Departments to take all of this new legislation into account.
The modern Trading Standards Department provides a more varied service than ever before and a typical department will enforce around 45 Acts of Parliament and more than 1,000 regulations, orders and codes of practice.
The work of the Trading Standards Department can be divided into 3 main areas:
How can you contact your local Trading Standards Service?
You can find the contact details for your own local Trading Standards by visiting the Trading Standards Institute at www.tradingstandards.gov.uk and entering your postcode.
Alternatively, you can submit details about your consumer complaint on www.consumercomplaints.org.uk
Other Consumer Organisations
Sometimes people can be faced with an unexpected legal problem and need to get legal advice to help them deal with it. Apart from going to see your local Trading Standards Department, you can also seek help and advice from:
Consumer Direct is a one-stop service run by the Department of Trade and Industry. It provides information and links to sources of further advice on a variety of consumer issues.
Citizens Advice Bureau offers free, confidential, impartial and independent advice. They help to solve problems such as debt and consumer issues, benefit, housing, legal matters, employment, and immigration.
Trade Associations - Many traders belong to Trade Associations. This is simply a group of retailers/ manufacturers/distributors engaged in a similar line of business who get together to form an organisation that can represent their interest. They often have a Code of Practice by which members must adhere and may also help to resolve any disputes.
Promoting Consumers Interests
There are several organisations that also work towards protecting the interests of consumers. Click on the links under the button on the left to visit these organisations websites and find out more.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) champion UK business at home and abroad. They protect the rights of working people and consumers and stand up for fair and open markets in the UK, Europe and the world.
Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is responsible for making markets work well for consumers. They achieve this by promoting and protecting consumer interests throughout the UK, while ensuring that businesses are fair and competitive.
Trading Standards Institute (TSI) is a professional association representing Trading Standards personnel. It exists to safeguard the health, safety and environment of citizens by enhancing the professionalism of members in supporting the informing of consumers, encouraging honest business and targeting rogue traders.
National Consumer Council (NCC) is an independent consumer expert, championing consumer interests to bring about change for the benefit of all consumers. They work with people and organisations that can make change happen - governments, regulators, businesses and people.
Consumers Association is an independent, not-for profit organisation. They publish Which? magazine and undertake research and campaigns on behalf of consumers. Their aim is to tackle the issues that really matter to consumers, arming them with the information to make confident choices and lobbying for change when consumers are getting a raw deal.
Financial Services Authority aims to maintain efficient, orderly and clean financial markets and help retail consumers achieve a fair deal. They aim to help consumers become better informed about financial matters.
Food Standards Agency is an independent food safety watchdog set up by an Act of Parliament in 2000 to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food.
Consumer Support Network have been set up across the UK to ensure that whenever people seek help - whether they need simple information or advice, mediation or even support in the courts - they are able to approach any of the organisations within the network and receive the right help.