Consumer
Need Help?
If you need clear practical Consumer Advice for no more than the cost of a phonecall, our partners Consumer Direct are ready and waiting to help you!
Consumer Direct 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 |
| 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 |
| CISAS | 020 7520 3827 | www.cisas.org.uk | One of the two telephone ombudsmen |
| Citizens Advice Bureau (Barnstaple) | 01271 377077 | www.citizensadvice.org.uk | Provides advice on many topics |
| 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 |
| Consumer Council for Water | 0845 039 2837 | www.ccwater.org.uk | Can look into complaints about water companies |
| Consumer Direct | 08454 040506 | www.consumerdirect.gov.uk | Provides advice on consumer law |
| County Court (Barnstaple) | 01271 372252 | www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk | Hears civil cases |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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.org.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 |
| 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.gvo.uk/vosa/ | Regulator of MOT garages |
