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Consumer advice

The Scottish Consumer Council’s role is to promote the interests of consumers through research, supporting consumer representatives and working with decision-makers to campaign for change. We have no enforcement powers and do not give advice, nor intervene in individual cases or consumer complaints against the providers of goods and services.

If you have a consumer problem, try to get help by:

Contacting Consumer Direct (see below). Consumer Direct is a helpline for members of the public to contact for clear, practical consumer advice.
Using the links below
Contacting your local trading standards department
Contacting your local citizens advice bureau.

Links to organisations that can help with consumer complaints

General consumer advice

Consumer Direct
A helpline for members of the public to contact for clear, practical consumer advice.
www.consumerdirect.gov.uk or telephone 08454 04 05 06

Citizens Advice Bureau Scotland
www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland.htm

Trading Standards Central
www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

The Scottish Information Commissioner
www.itspublicknowledge.info

The Office of Fair Trading
www.oft.gov.uk

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
www.scottishombudsman.org.uk

Consumer Rights Expert

www.consumerrightsexpert.co.uk

Online Shopping Rights
http://www.onlineshoppingrights.co.uk/ConsumerRightsCategory.html

Telephone, internet and broadcasting

Ofcom
Ofcom is the regulator for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.
www.ofcom.org.uk/

Ofcom Consumer Panel
The Ofcom Consumer Panel’s role is to understand and respond to the interests and concerns ofthe consumers in the communications market place.
www.ofcomconsumerpanel.org.uk

Otelo
Otelo is the telecommunications ombudsman service. It provides a free and independent service, resolving complaints between consumers and telecom companies.
www.otelo.org.uk

Internet Watch Foundation
www.iwf.org.uk

Press Complaints Commission
www.pcc.org.uk

ICSTIS
www.icstis.org.uk

Postal services

Postwatch
www.postwatch.co.uk

Sales promotions and direct marketing

The Advertising Standards Broadcasting Authority(ASBA)
The Advertising Standards Broadcasting Authority(ASBA) investigates complaints about all forms of advertising.
www.asa.org.uk

Health

NHS 24
www.nhs24.com

Department of Health (Includes health advice for travellers)
www.dh.gov.uk

Heart & Stroke Information Point

www.heartstroketayside.org.uk - the Heart & Stroke Information Point website provides reliable, up to date information for patients and carers affected by heart disease and/or stroke conditions