Consumer Advice

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Kingston's Trading Standards provides access to consumer advice and assistance and we also give advice to local businesses on fair trading issues.

Telephone calls are initially dealt with by "Consumer Direct", the government-funded Call Centre, who will give initial consumer advice, and pass on more complex or criminal matters to Trading Standards in Kingston. We provide additional assistance only to the most vulnerable people, however, we will continue to consider all complaints about criminal consumer matters.

We aim to give you an initial reply in three working days to requests for advice or assistance and will tell you the name of the person dealing with your request, what they intend to do and when.

If you do not live in the Borough you can find your local Trading Standards Department on the trading standards website (see related external links below).

Making a complaint

Consumer Direct provide video clips to show you how to complain successfully, please find the link to these at the bottom of this page.

Remember to keep copies of any documents and keep a diary recording all your dealings with the trader. If you want to take a trader to court  you can obtain all the forms you need from Her Majesty's Courts Service.

TrustMark

For information to help you find a reliable tradesperson to carry out repairs and improvements to your home contact TrustMark.

TrustMark is a scheme supported by the Government, consumer groups and building industry to help you find reputable tradespeople. If a trader displays the TrustMark logo you know that a trade association or other certification organisation has checked the trader and found that they meet certain standards the Government has set.