Consumer Advice
You can report a problem trader or get consumer advice by contacting the Citizens Advice Consumer Service. The Citizens Advice Consumer Service provides free, confidential and impartial advice on consumer issues. It channels complaints about traders to the correct local trading standards service. You can get clear and practical advice on all kinds of consumer issues from faulty goods to dealing with unsatisfactory services, from guarantees to finding out whether you can cancel a contract for goods or services. Additionally, if you are aware of a scam or a business acting unfairly or illegally, report your concerns to Citizens Advice.
Consumer advice and information is available online from the Adviceguide website.
To contact the Citizens Advice consumer service, please call 03454 040506 (textphone users should dial 18001 then the full number) or email, using their online consumer complaint form.
A variety of sample letters are also available on the Citizens Advice website to assist you in resolving your dispute on topics such as complaining about faulty goods, poor services and returning goods purchased over the internet.
There is also information on common scams.
Trading Standards Consumer Guides
You can also check out the consumer guides provided by the Trading Standards Institute, which holds useful information for different consumer needs.
The Buy Wise Be Safe website has been compiled by a working group with representation from Avonsafe, Bristol Lifeskills Centre and the South West Trading Standards Partnership (SWERCOTS) which represents 14 local council trading standards departments accross the south west of England. The project has received financial support from National Trading Standards.
To find approved traders in Bath and North East Somerset please use our Buy With Confidence Directory.
For information on electric blanket testing please see the information here.
The following no cold calling zones have been set up jointly with the local Police and usually Neighbourhood Watch. The purpose of ‘No Cold Calling’ zones is to discourage cold callers from specific residential areas - usually a street or small cluster of houses.
LOCATION OF NO COLD CALLING ZONES
Chandler Close, Weston, Bath
Swainswick Gardens, Larkhall, Bath
The Green, Odd Down, Bath
Trinity Road, Combe Down, Bath
St Nicholas Court, Bathampton, Bath
Mountain Wood, Bathford, Bath
Blagdon Park, Southdown, Bath
Quebec, Hanna Close, Twerton, Bath
Hinton Close/Iford Close, Saltford
Sherwood Close/Carpenters Lane, Keynsham
Hantone Hill, Bath
Old Vicarage Green, Keynsham
Stirling Way, Keynsham
Wedmore Park, Southdown
If you are not within a no cold calling zone but wish to obtain a sticker discouraging cold callers at your door please contact Trading Standards on 01225 396753 for a door sticker.
For further advice on doorstep crime please see here.
We can also provide talks to community groups on scams, doorstep crime and the general work of Trading Standards. Please contact us on 01225 396753 to discuss your request.