Trading Standards

Welcome to Trading Standards

There is hardly any aspect of daily life that isn't affected in some way by the activities of the Trading Standards Service, whether you are a customer or a business and whether you are aware of it or not. A large part of our work can go unseen by the people we serve.

The safety of the goods we buy, their price, weight or quantity, the truthfullness of how they are described, the information we receive if we buy on credit or pay by methods other than cash, protection from scams, unfair trading practices, dodgy dealers, bogus traders or cowboy workmen - the list goes on. Many of the aspects of living in a consumer society fall within the responsibility of the Trading Standards Service.

Probably the service that the public most come into contact with is the consumer advice and intervention and money advice and debt counselling.

Our advisors ensure that local consumers are aware of their rights and obligations when buying goods and services and in working together with the local retail trade ensure a satisfactory resolution when things go wrong, avoiding the need and expense of going to court. However, in some cases our advisors need to actively intervene where the business is not fulfilling their legal obligations.

Consumers and businesses need advice more than ever before on buying or selling in this increasingly complicated and sophisticated marketplace. Sometimes they also need us to resolve problems when things go wrong.

We are all consumers and all, at one point or another, are in some form of debt ranging from a mortgage, personal loan or credit or store card debts. Sometimes we overreach our ability to service these debts or our personal circumstances change and creditors start knocking at the door. Our debt advisors are trained to advise debt clients on working out the extent of the debt, the benefits to which the client is entitled and and prepare a repayment schedule that is acceptable to both consumers and creditors. Reducing the stress on affected families can prevent a range of other social problems such as family break-ups, alcohol abuse, divorce, or even more tragic outcomes.

Other duties include animal health, petroleum and fireworks/explosives enforcement and licensing activities eg., petroleum and animal movements. We also ensure the legality and accuracy of weighing and measuring equipment that is used for trade within the area.

Our objectives are to:

1. Help Reduce Poverty and Disadvantage
2. Help Create Informed, Confident Consumers
3. Help Develop a Safe and Secure Community
4. Help Create Successful and Competitive Businesses