How Citizens Advice and Trading Standards work together to support you

As a consumer, you may wonder why you’re directed to Citizens Advice for help with issues like faulty goods, scams or disputes with traders, rather than going straight to Trading Standards. This approach is part of a carefully designed system that ensures you get the best possible advice and that serious consumer issues are dealt with effectively. Let’s explore how Citizens Advice and Trading Standards collaborate to support you.

The first step: Citizens Advice consumer service

Citizens Advice are your first point of contact when you encounter a consumer issue. Their dedicated consumer service provides clear, impartial guidance on a wide range of problems, including:

– Understanding your consumer rights.

– Resolving disputes with businesses.

– Dealing with faulty goods or poor service.

By starting with Citizens Advice, you can access tailored advice and practical steps to resolve your concern. Their advisers help you understand your options and equip you with the tools you need to take action.

The next step: when Trading Standards gets involved

If your issue involves serious legal breaches – such as unsafe products, rogue trading or unfair trading practices – Citizens Advice refer your case to your local Trading Standards team. Trading Standards focuses on enforcement and protecting consumers by tackling businesses that break the law. Examples of cases they handle include:

– Investigating businesses selling counterfeit or unsafe goods.

– Addressing fraudulent or unfair trading practices.

– Ensuring businesses comply with consumer protection laws.

This partnership allows Trading Standards to concentrate their resources on enforcing the law, while Citizens Advice provide initial support to resolve individual concerns.

Why this system works

The collaboration between Citizens Advice and Trading Standards ensures consumers get the right help at the right time, by providing:

1. Accessible advice: Citizens Advice are equipped to handle a high volume of enquiries, offering guidance to millions of consumers every year.
2. Efficient use of resources: by focusing on enforcement, Trading Standards can target their efforts on cases that pose the greatest risk to public safety or fairness in the marketplace.
3. A streamlined process: referrals from Citizens Advice to Trading Standards ensure that cases requiring legal or investigative action are properly documented and passed on to the right authority.

What this means for you

When you reach out for help as a consumer, you’re getting the best advice and support, and further action can be taken where this is needed.

Together, these two organisations ensure your rights are protected and businesses are held accountable.

How to get help

If you need support with a consumer issue, your journey begins with Citizens Advice:

• Visit the Citizens Advice consumer service [https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/information/contact-the-consumer-service/] to get practical and impartial advice and guidance.
• If your case requires further action, Citizens Advice will refer it to your local Trading Standards team.

By working together, Citizens Advice and Trading Standards provide a robust system to support, protect and empower consumers across the UK.