The Trading Standards Service
Provides education, conciliation and enforces regulation of consumer protection legislation affecting both consumers and businesses.
Our Trading Standards Advice Centre is situated on the ground floor at Bridgegate House, Irvine with easy access for consumers and traders to information, advice and assistance . No appointments are needed to speak to our duty officers. You can request a specific time for an appointment or a home visit can be arranged should this be required.
Are you a Business?
For advice on your legal obligations please contact us direct or visit The Office of Fair Trading - Sale of Goods Hub
or the Distance Selling Hub which provides businesses and consumers the legal obligations and consumer rights when buying goods or services by mail, telephone or on-line. Each year internet sales increase so it's vital both traders and consumers know the regulations.
Advice on pricing visit BIS - 'Pricing Practices Guide' for businesses
Are you a Consumer?
We ensure your consumer rights are upheld, we protect our communities from unsafe products or unfair practices and traders within North Ayrshire are not placed at a commercial disadvantage by the action of others.
By protecting and correcting we ensure the economic interests of consumers and traders in our area by:
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Advising consumers and business on their rights and obligations
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Providing a conciliation service to resolve disputes between consumers and traders
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Making sure the toys you buy are safe
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Stopping children buying alcohol and cigarettes
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Ensuring dangerous products are stored safely
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Making sure you don't get half measures
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Reacting to animal disease outbreaks
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Preventing the suffering of farm animals
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Making sure you don't get ripped off
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Preventing fake items from being sold
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Stamping out rogue traders
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Helping you feel safe on your doorstep
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Working with others to provide joined up services and better consumer information
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Providing consumer and financial education particularly to young people
We are the first Trading Standards Service in Scotland to be awarded by The Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) the Consumer Quality Mark (CQM) for our legal advice and casework procedures in August 2010.
Trading Standards - Customer Services Charter (PDF, 88Kb)
Please take part in our Survey - what do you think of our service?
Do you need advice or help?
Are there any particular business practices that you feel are unfair or unjust. Then we want to know - telephone, visit or email don't delay just contact us.
There is more information available on what we do (PDF, 4Kb). A Trading Standards Services handbook (PDF, 1.4Mb) produced by LACORS provides excellent information on the range of our work in key areas and how it can influence economic benefits for both consumers and traders.
Trading Standards works very closely together with the Office of Fair Trading and their national on-line and telephone service Consumer Direct. If you telephone Trading Standards and require initial consumer advice only, you can transfer onto Consumer Direct our partner agency.
This enables our specialist staff locally to focus resources more efficiently and effectively on matters which are more complicated or require our direct intervention.
The Trading Standards Institute website has a wealth of topical information on your consumer rights and new developments within our Service. Consumer Focus is the consumer champion for England, Wales, Scotland
The UK ECC website has information that you will find useful if you are shopping across borders in Europe.
Our Consumer Advice Centre is a one stop shop for 'consumer advice and help' as well as a consumer protection regulator. We recover for local consumers around £1m each year for faulty goods or poor services. We deal with scams and unfair or unjust trading practices and action complaints on your behalf with traders both locally and nationally.
We also provide advice and support over a very wide range of topics and work closely with many agencies to expand the help we can provide for local consumers. We work closely with other Council services particularly the Money Matters Team and Benefits Section. NHS and private health providers and voluntary agencies who all provide information and regular surgeries here.
We have regular Energy Advice Surgeries and strive to ensure consumers get the best deals and know what help with energy saving measures are available and also promote employment help via CEiS and support via Working for Families.
Join the Credit Union now and save and borrow wisely here every Thursday and Friday - or sign up for on-line shopping workshops.
Money
The 1st Alliance Credit Union operates here every Thursday and Friday 10am -12.30pm. Come in and join, save and borrow wisely. In hard economic times consumers must not be excluded from financial services which offer better deals and price savings.
Find out what the Credit Union can provide. Plan ahead and avoid short term high interest loans - act now.
In 2010 over 3000 members have come through our doors. They have arranged loans of over £1m. So don't delay join up now. Access to your own current account, savings, loans and other financial products.
Trouble with debt problems and the stress that places on you, please seek help now - get advice.
We can help in two ways-every 3rd Wednesday afternoon of the month from 2-4pm we have expert help on hand - North Ayrshire Council Money Matters Debt Advisor and Benefits Up-take Officer will provide free and confidential surgeries to ensure you get the right advice and help. If you need help now just call Trading Standards directly.
Also report any loan sharks to us who deal in illegal money lending.
Energy
Trading Standards have brought together over 20 local and national agencies, and organisations under the North Ayrshire Local Energy Forum (LEAF) Local Energy Advice Forum (L.E.A.F) which together bring a single approach to energy information and assistance to North Ayrshire residents.
Information on our Local Energy Advice Forum (L.E.A.F) and energy saving video guides
Ask for your free Energy Information Pack (PDF, 5.4Mb)- contains the latest information. - tel: 01294 324917 also available at all Libraries.
We have free face to face surgeries on the latest energy saving deals. Energy costs rising each year?
SOLAS - a charitable company who will provide energy advice and install energy saving products. They provide local face to face surgeries every second Monday from our Advice Centre from 10am-12.30pm.
Energy Agency (Energy Saving Scotland Advice Centre) provides help and assistance on most energy related enquiries.
Fuel poverty (10% of your incomes goes on heating your home) is rising in Scotland - have you considered switching supplier to obtain the best deal - we can provide information - please act now and reduce your carbon footprint.
Health
Free health checks. Face to face surgeries, from KA Leisure on the 1st Wednesday each month.
On the 2nd Wednesday it's free eye checks from local qualified opticians from 10.30am- 12noon.
On the 4th Wednesday morning give your views to The Public Partnership Forum (PPF) and influence how NHS services work. No appointment required although you can book a time - call us on 01294 324917.
We will continue to work closely with NHS and other organisations and advertise future events. To book a particular time call 01294 324917. Health Event Poster 2011 - print off this poster and see what's on every Wednesday - please come along no appointment needed.
Employment
Community employment service CEiS free help - Working for Families support for parents with childcare costs to help with employment. Speak to an advisor 3rd Wednesday of each month 10am - 1pm
Debt & Benefits
North Ayrshire Council Money Matters - speak to a debt advisor - don't get stressed with money problems - act now - every 3rd Wednesday of each month 2- 4pm. Find out what benefits you are entitled to speak to an expert who can help.
Trading Standards holds regular Financial Health Checks and work closely with Schools to improve consumer and financial education.
Shopping on-line
Can you access the Internet? Would you like to have a free short course on how it all works and how to shop safely on-line - give us a call and register your name 01294 324917. We want as many people as possible to have the confidence to go on-line.
Check out where to buy genuine branded goods at Brand - i.
Scams, cons and bogus callers
Watch out for bogus callers knocking at your door or telephoning you at home?
Trading Standards work closely with Police and Customs & Excise and other regulatory agencies to ensure you are protected against unfair or unjust trading practices. We ensure you are not ripped off or conned by traders that take advantage of particularly vulnerable individuals. Suspicious then call us on 01294 324950
We need you to let us know what's going on - our quick response can take effective action and remember you have a cooling off period for most contracts made in your home.
Don't buy on impulse - always obtain at least three quotations with the traders name and contact details clearly marked - and never hand over money up front - when purchasing goods and services always ask for a receipt.
Website with information is available for consumers:
EU Websites