Staffordshire Trading Standards

Staffordshire County Council Trading Standards is part of the Community Services division, within the Social Care and Health Directorate.

What we do

Our work includes:

Weights and measures - from checking the quantity control systems in a food manufacturer, to making certain that you receive the full pint of beer in your local or the full litre of petrol at your garage. We also offer an independent and impartial calibration and verification service for weighing and measuring equipment.
Descriptions - making sure that the prices you are quoted and the description of goods and services are accurate.
Safety - from the safety of children's toys and the sale of cigarettes and solvents to children, to dangerous second-hand cars and overloaded vehicles. We also deal with the licensing of petrol sites.
Information, advice and assistance - free advice and assistance to consumers and business on consumer law.
Investigating rogue traders - we investigate traders who break consumer laws, including the turning back of car mileages (known as 'clocking') the selling of pirate copies of products (known as counterfeit goods), and loan sharks - unlicensed money lenders who prey on the vulnerable.

Consumer Advice

Consumer advice and information in Staffordshire is now provided by Consumer Direct. Consumer Direct is a telephone and online consumer advice service, which is supported by local authorities and by Government.

Consumer Direct provides clear, practical advice. From overcharging to faulty goods, and dodgy workmanship to reporting dishonest traders and scams, Consumer Direct works in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards Advice Services offering first leve advice and information on a wide range of consumer issues. More complex problems, or complaints requiring further investigation or assistance are referred to Trading Standards or other advice services.

What does Consumer Direct do?

Consumer Direct can:

Help sort out a problem or disagreement with a trader

Help complain to a trader

Help make a complaint about a trader that you believe has done something wrong

Tell the consumer what their rights as a consumer are

Provide pre-shopping advice before consumers buy goods or services

Provide general advice on how to avoid unscrupulous traders or "cowboys"

Explain consumer-related issues such as warranties, buying on credit, internet shopping, refunds and replacements etc.

Provide advice on avoiding trading scams and rip-offs

Direct consumers to a regulator or another organisation if it is better suited to assist

Refer a consumer's case to their local Trading Standards Authority or similar agency if they are better suited to assist them

A wide range of consumer information and advice is also available online from the Consumer Direct website at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk

Business Advice

Telephone 08453 303 313
E mail businessadvice@staffordshire.gov.uk

Getting a fair deal

Our job is to make sure that Staffordshire's consumers get a fair deal and that honest local traders are protected from the cheats and rogues that, sadly, still operate in the County.

Trading Standards Officers try to ensure that local people get a fair deal in a number of different ways:

Offering advice to businesses on how to comply with the laws in their line of work.
Visiting business premises to ensure that the laws are in fact being complied with.
Taking samples of goods for examination to see whether they meet the legal standards - animal feed, for example, which is tested by the County Council's food scientists for ingredients that have been banned as a result of BSE.
If the public is put at risk or there is fraud, Trading Standards Officers may prosecute the offenders.

We're seeking your help

We want to make sure that the way we work is relevant to local needs. That is why we want local people to step forward and help us by joining our Consumer Watchdog Scheme.

We are looking for local people who:

would like to find out more about our work; or
would like to act as our eyes and ears in their communities; or
represent people that have special needs.

If you are interested in joining our Consumer Watchdog Scheme, please contact Nicola Wilson, Community Development Officer on 01785 277835 or e-mail Nicola.wilson@staffordshire.gov.uk

Community Services has launched a new website made for young people, by young people to inform them of their consumer rights:

www.no-ur-rites.com

Staffordshire County Council Trading Standards provides free advice and a range of consumer leaflets. For more information, please contact our offices:

57 - 60 High Street,
Burton-upon-Trent, DE14 1JS.

14 Martin Street,
Stafford, ST16 2LG.

20 Sidmouth Avenue,
The Brampton,
Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 0QN.

Administration and other enquiries

Email janet.holloway@staffordshire.gov.uk
Telephone 01785 277888
Minicom number
01785 854156

All our leaflets are available in a range of formats and languages, including Braille and large print. If this would be useful to you or someone you know, please contact us.

Last Modified: 04/06/2009 14:02:44
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