Consumer- goods and services
Consumer advice and rights covers a vast amount of issues including such things as shopping for goods and services, complaining about faulty goods and knowing your legal rights. It also covers many other topics like buying on credit and how to avoid being caught up in a scam.
Student advisers can give general advice on consumer problems and can refer you to other agencies for more detailed advice if necessary. You can contact us by coming into the Advice Centre in person or:
email us advice@kent.ac.uk
Tel: 01227 824824
Here are some of the main consumer bodies that give useful consumer advice and information. You may find the answer to your consumer query if you visit one of these sites. As well as giving online advice, some of them also have specialist telephone advice lines.
OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING (OFT)
The OFT provides advice on a range of consumer issues including shopping on the high street, shopping from home and by Internet. It also provides more specialist advice on areas such as buying electrical goods, second hand cars, and Internet auctions. The OFT also publishes an information sheet on recent Internet, postal and doorstep scams.
http://www.oft.gov.uk/oft_and_cd/
WHICH?
Which? provides expert advice on a huge range of consumer topics and also campaigns to make sure that consumers are treated fairly. They publish magazines, books and websites to help consumers make informed decisions.
TRADING STANDARDS
Local authority Trading Standards officers provide more local consumer advice service to people living in their area. The site also lists recent product recalls and product safety notices issued by manufacturers when they discover faults or problems with their goods.
Local (Kent) http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/kent
National http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/consumers/consumers.cfm
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (DTI)
The DTI helps to regulate many UK laws, regulations and guidelines on advertising, pricing and product description and weights and measures that help protect the consumer against unscrupulous practices. Follow the link to confident consumers
CONSUMER DIRECT
Consumer Direct gives advice and guidance to consumers and also the opportunity to complain about traders online or speak to a trained consumer adviser.
http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
CITIZEN'S ADVICE BUREAU
The Citizen's Advice Bureau provides free, confidential and independent advice by telephone, email or appointment. You can also get assistance by going to their information website at the consumer affairs section of the link below.
FINANCIAL SERVICES AUTHORITY(FSA)
The FSA is an independent regulator set up by the Government to regulate the financial services industry and protect consumers.
