Consumer
Need Help?
If you need clear practical Consumer Advice for no more than the cost of a phonecall, Citizens Advice Consumer Service are ready and waiting to help you! - call 08454040506.
Citizens Advice Consumer Service and Trading Standards work closely together to bring you the best possible service. If you phone to complain about a matter where a Criminal offence may have been committed, the information will be passed straight to us.
The following pages contain advice leaflets to assist you.
- If you have a dispute with a trader view these advice leaflets
- If you are having problems with a motor vehicle view these advice leaflets
- If you have problems with goods view these advice leaflets
- If you have problems with a service view these advice leaflets
- If you have not found what you are looking for the miscellaneous section may help!
- Product safety recall notices
We have listed below some other useful organisations who may be able to help:
| Name | Telephone Number | Website | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising Standards Authority | 020 7492 2222 | www.asa.org.uk | Looks into complaints about advertising. You can contact ASA if you have a problem with a specific television or magazine advertisement |
| Age Concern | 0800 00 99 66 | www.ageconcern.org.uk | Provides advice for older people |
| Bar Standards Board | 020 7611 1444 | www.barstandardsboard.org.uk | Regulator of barristers |
| British Standards Institution | 020 8996 9001 | www.bsigroup.com | Produces British Standards |
| Care Direct | 0845 155 1007 | www.devon.gov.uk/caredirect | Provides advice for older people |
| Charity Commission | 0845 3000 218 | www.charity-commission.gov.uk | Regulator of charities - If you are concerned that an organisation may not in fact be a registered chartiy but is posing as such, you can use this webste to check its status |
| CISAS | 020 7520 3827 | www.cisas.org.uk | One of the two telephone ombudsmen |
| Citizens Advice Consumer Service | 08454040506 | CAB Advice Guide | Provides advice on many topics |
| Citizens Advice Bureau (Barnstaple) | 01271 377077 | www.citizensadvice.org.uk | Provides advice on many topics - Can assist where you need help writing a letter of complaint |
| Citizens Advice Bureau (Bideford) | 01237 473161 | www.citizensadvice.org.uk | Provides advice on many topics |
| Citizens Advice Bureau (Dawlish) | 01626 864110 | www.citizensadvice.org.uk | Provides advice on many topics |
| Citizens Advice Bureau (Exeter) | 01392 201210 | www.citizensadvice.org.uk | Provides advice on many topics |
| Citizens Advice Bureau (Exmouth) | 01395 264645 | www.citizensadvice.org.uk | Provides advice on many topics |
| Citizens Advice Bureau (Honiton) | 01404 44213 | www.citizensadvice.org.uk | Provides advice on many topics |
| Citizens Advice Bureau (Ilfacombe) | 01271 863549 | www.citizensadvice.org.uk | Provides advice on many topics |
| Citizens Advice Bureau (Newton Abbot) | 01626 203141 | www.citizensadvice.org.uk | Provides advice on many topics |
| Citizens Advice Bureau (Okehampton) | 01837 52574 | www.citizensadvice.org.uk | Provides advice on many topics |
| Citizens Advice Bureau (Tavistock) | 01822 612359 | www.citizensadvice.org.uk | Provides advice on many topics |
| Citizens Advice Bureau (Teignmouth) | 01626 776770 | www.citizensadvice.org.uk | Provides advice on many topics |
| Citizens Advice Bureau (Tiverton) | 01884 253688 | www.citizensadvice.org.uk | Provides advice on many topics |
| Citizens Advice Bureau (Totnes) | 91893 862392 | www.citizensadvice.org.uk | Provides advice on many topics |
| Community Legal Services Partnership | 0845 345 4 345 | www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk | Network of legal advisers & legal helpline |
| Companies House | 0303 1234 500 | www.companieshouse.gov.uk | Registrar of limited companies - you can use companies house to check the status of a limited company, including whether it has gone into lquidation or dissolved |
| Consumer Council for Water | 0845 039 2837 | www.ccwater.org.uk | Can look into complaints about water companies |
| County Court (Barnstaple) | 01271 372252 | www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk | Hears civil cases HM Court Service Website - The Court Servce website has lots of useful information on instigation small claims court action including fees information and claim forms |
| County Court (Exeter) | 01392 415300 | www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk | Hears civil cases |
| County Court (Torquay and Newton Abbot) | 01803 616791 | www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk | Hears civil cases |
| Devon & Cornwall Police | 08452 777444 | www.devon-cornwall.police.uk | Enforces criminal law |
| Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Services | 01392 872288 | www.dsfire.gov.uk | Fire safety enquiries |
| Directgov | www.direct.gov.uk | One Stop Shop for government information - Provides useful information on all aspects of ensuring vehicles are legal for road use, as well as benefits information and government service | |
| Environment Agency | 08708 506 506 | www.environment-agency.gov.uk | Looks into complaints about pollution |
| Environmental Health (East Devon) | 01395 517457 | www.eastdevon.gov.uk | Enforces environmental health legislation - Includes enforcement of food and non food hygeine standards, noise pollution and forign bodies in food stuffs |
| Environmental Health (Exeter) | 01392 265193 | www.exeter.gov.uk | Enforces environmental health legislation |
| Environmental Health (Mid Devon) | 01884 255255 | www.middevon.gov.uk | Enforces environmental health legislation |
| Environmental Health (North Devon) | 01271 388870 | www.northdevon.gov.uk | Enforces environmental health legislation |
| Environmental Health (South Hams) | 01803 861234 | www.south-hams-dc.gov.uk | Enforces environmental health legislation |
| Environmental Health (Teignbridge) | 01626 361101 | www.teignbridge.gov.uk | Enforces environmental health legislation |
| Environmental Health (Torridge) | 01237 428810 | www.torridge.gov.uk | Enforces environmental health legislation |
| Environmental Health (West Devon) | 01822 813600 | www.westdevon.gov.uk | Enforces environmental health legislation |
| Equality and Human Rights Commission | 0845 604 6610 | www.equalityhumanrights.com | Provides advice on discrimination law |
| European Consumer Centre | 08456 04 05 03 | www.ukecc.net | Consumer legal advice on problems in other EU member states |
| Financial Services Authority | 020 7066 1000 | www.fsa.gov.uk | Regulator of the financial services industry |
| Financial Services Ombudsman | 0300 123 9 123 | www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk | Ombudsman for the financial services industry - For unresolved complaints relating to fnancial products or insurance |
| Gambling Commission | 0121 230 6666 | www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk | Regulator of gambling businesses |
| Gas Safe Register | 0800 408 5500 | www.gassaferegister.co.uk | Registrar of qualified gas fitters |
| General Dental Council | 0845 222 4141 | www.gdc-org.uk | Regulator of dentists |
| General Optical Council | 020 7580 3898 | www.optical.org | Regulator of opticians |
| Health & Safety Executive | 0845 345 0055 | www.hse.gov.uk | Regulator of health & safety in the workplace |
| Housing Ombudsman | 020 7421 3800 | www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk | Ombudsman for social housing providers |
| Information Commissioners Office | 08456 30 60 60 | www.ico.gov.uk | Enforcer of the Data Protection Act |
| Insolvency Service (Exeter) | 01392 889 650 | www.insolvency.gov.uk | Regulator of bankruptcy & liquidation - If you are concerned about the practices of a liquidating company a complaint can be made to the Insolvency service |
| Law Centres | 01752 519 794 | www.devonlawcentre.org.uk | Provider of legal advice |
| Legal Complaints Service | 0845 608 6565 | www.legalcomplaints.org.uk | Regulator of solicitors - If you have an unresolved complaint against a solicitor you can contact this regulator |
| Licencing (East Devon) | 01395 265702 | www.eastdevon.gov.uk | Provides licences for a variety of requirements |
| Licencing (Exeter) | 01392 277888 | www.exeter.gov.uk | Provides licences for a variety of requirements |
| Licencing (Mid Devon) | 01884 255255 | www.middevon.gov.uk | Provides licences for a variety of requirements |
| Licencing (North Devon) | 01271 327711 | www.northdevon.gov.uk | Provides licences for a variety of requirements |
| Licencing (South Hams) | 01803 861234 | www.south-hams-dc.gov.uk | Provides licences for a variety of requirements |
| Licencing (Teignbridge) | 01626 361101 | www.teignbridge.gov.uk | Provides licences for a variety of requirements |
| Licencing (Torridge) | 01237 428991 | www.torridge.gov.uk | Provides licences for a variety of requirements |
| Licencing (West Devon) | 01822 813600 | www.westdevon.gov.uk | Provides licences for a variety of requirements |
| Local Government Ombudsman | 0300 061 0614 | www.lgo.org.uk | Ombudsman for local government - for unresolved complaints against a local government authority |
| Mail Preference Services | 0845 703 4599 | www.mpsonline.org.uk | To have your name removed from direct mailing lists |
| MHRA | 020 7084 2000 | www.mhra.gov.uk | Looks into complaints about medicines & medical devices |
| Money Claim Online | www.moneyclaim.gov.uk | Putting in civil claims online | |
| National Debtline | 0808 8084000 | www.nationaldebtline.co.uk | Provides advice on debt related issues |
| OFCOM | 020 7981 3040 | www.ofcom.org.uk | Regulator of telephone & television companies |
| Office of Fair Trading | 08457 22 44 99 | www.oft.gov.uk | Issues credit licences, enforces competion law, promotes consumer interests |
| Office of Legal Services Ombudsman | 0845 601 0794 | www.oslo.org | Ombudsman for the legal services profession |
| OTELO | 0330 440 1614 | www.otelo.org.uk | One of the two telephone ombudsmen |
| Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman | 0345 015 4033 | www.ombudsman.org.uk | Ombudsman for government departments & the NHS |
| Passenger Focus | 0300 123 2350 | www.passengerfocus.org.uk | Independent watchdog for rail passengers |
| Pensions Ombudsman | 020 7630 2200 | www.pensions-ombudsman.org.uk | Ombudsman for pension services |
| Phone Pay Plus | 0800 500 212 | www.phonepayplus.org.uk | Regulator of premium rate phone services |
| Property Ombudsman | 01722 333306 | www.tpos.co.uk | Ombudsman for estate agents |
| Royal Pharmaceutical Society | 020 7735 9141 | www.rpsgb.org.uk | Regulator of pharmacists |
| RSPCA | 0300 1234 555 | www.rspca.org.uk | Investigates cases of animal cruelty in relation to domestic animals |
| Shelter | 0808 800 4444 | http://england.shelter.org.uk/ | Provides housing advice |
| South West Illegal Moneylending Team | 0300 1234247 | http://stoploansharks.direct.gov.uk | For reporting loan sharks |
| Telephone Preference Service | 0845 070 0707 | www.mpsonline.org.uk/tps/ | To register that you do not want to receive telephone sales calls |
| Timeshare Consumers Association | 01909 591100 | www.timeshare.org.uk | Provides information to potential timeshare purchasers |
| Trading Standards Institute | www.tradingstandards.gov.uk | Provides information about the work of the Trading Standards services | |
| Trust Online | 020 7380 0133 | www.trustonline.org.uk | Register of County Court Judgements |
| Victim Support | 0845 30 30 900 | www.victimsupport.org.uk | Support for victims of crime |
| VOSA | 01392 279564 | www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/ | Regulator of MOT garages |
