Fair Trading

The primary purpose of this type of legislation is to ensure 'truthfulness of trade' thus preventing consumers being misled during contractual negotiations for goods and services.

We ensure that all goods and services are correctly described, that goods are price marked and that the prices are not misleading, and that traders comply with consumer credit, hallmarking, estate agents and trade marks legislation.

This work can include:

• Checking garages to make sure that they correctly service or repair cars
• Testing clothes to check that they are really cotton and not synthetics

Checking branded goods to make sure that they are genuine and not counterfeit versions:

• Examining gold rings to see that they are accurately hallmarked
• Visiting credit providers to ensure they are correctly licensed and that their adverts and paperwork comply with legal requirements
• Investigating traders who sell goods through press advertisements who pretend to be private sellers
• Investigating scams and rogue traders who try to con the public.

Please see our range of leaflets for consumers to find out more detailed information

Our range of leaflets for businesses also provides more detailed information

Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations

These regulations ensure that descriptions applied to goods and services are accurate and has been used successfully to combat common problems such as car 'clocking' and product counterfeiting. Its scope is very wide and also covers descriptions applied in all areas of trade.

You can contact our Trading Standards Officers using the details below:

Office of Public Sector Information
Provides full text of Acts of Parliament from 1267, plus access to Inforoute, the Government's Information Asset Register.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
DEFRA works for the essentials of life - water, food, air, land, people, animals and plants

Trading Standards Central
A one stop shop for consumer protection information in the UK. Provides information for businesses and consumers.

HM Customs and Excise
Provides information and advice for the public and for businesses.

Office of Fair Trading (OFT)
The OFT is designed with two purposes: to protect consumers and explain their rights; and to ensure that businesses compete and operate fairly.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
Working with businesses, employees and consumers to drive up UK productivity and competitiveness to deliver prosperity for all.

Food Standards Agency (FSA)
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.