Who are trading standards officers?

Trading standards officers (TSOs) work for local councils advising on consumer law, investigating complaints and, if all else fails, prosecuting traders who break the law. These laws cover a wide area, which includes: consumer safety. counterfeit goods.

What can you complain to trading standards about?

You should report a business to Trading Standards if they sold you something:

• unsafe or dangerous, like an electronic appliance with faulty wiring or food past its use-by date.
• fake.
• not as described – for example, you bought a package holiday but something advertised wasn’t included.

What is a trading standards enforcement officer?

Trading standards officers act on behalf of consumers and businesses to advise on and enforce laws that govern the way goods and services are bought, sold and hired. As a trading standards officer (TSO), you’ll advise on consumer law and investigate complaints.

Can you get compensation from trading standards?

It’s also possible to claim compensation when a trader you’ve had dealings with is prosecuted under the criminal law. Ask Trading Standards or the clerk of the court if you want to request a claim.

What power does Trading Standards have?

Trading standards services have no direct powers to order you to stop trading. However, they can apply to the courts for orders, which may restrict your activities. What can trading standards services do to stop businesses that break the law?

Can Trading Standards freeze your bank account?

These can even be exercised in some circumstances by Trading Standards or Local Authorities and may cover bank accounts (Account Freezing Orders), assets in a criminal investigation (Restraint Orders), or assets in Civil Recovery Proceedings (Property Freezing Orders).

Can trading standards take me to court?

Trading standards services cannot order redress for individual consumers or take court action on their behalf, although they may offer advice and assistance to consumers making their own claims in court or through an alternative dispute resolution service (see ‘Alternative dispute resolution’).

What can I do if a company won’t give me a refund?

Company Won’t Give You a Refund? Here’s How to Get Your Money Back

1. Try to Work it Out with the Merchant First.
2. Option 1: Request a Chargeback.
3. Option 2: Consider Mediation.
4. Option 3: Sue in Small Claims.
5. Option 4: Pursue Consumer Arbitration.
6. FairShake Can Help Make Arbitrating a Breeze.

In what circumstances is a seller allowed to refuse a refund?

A business can refuse to give you a free repair, replacement or refund if: you simply changed your mind. you misused the product or service in a way that contributed to the problem. you asked for a service to be done in a certain way against the advice of the business, or were unclear about what you wanted.

How to become a trading standards officer UK?

You can apply for work as a trainee trading standards officer with a local authority. You’ll then study towards professional qualifications on the job, and work your way up to trading standards officer. You’ll usually need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including maths.

What do you call someone who enforces trading standards?

Job titles and qualifications vary between different local authorities and between different functions, but for the purposes of this guide they are referred to as trading standards officers, or TSOs. Trading standards services enforce the law across a range of subject areas, including:

Who are the chief officers of trading standards in Scotland?

Welcome to SCOTSS, representing the trading standards service in Scotland. The Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS), is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC047951). Our members are professional trading standards managers representing every Scottish local authority trading standards service.

What are the functions of a trading standards department?

Sometimes, the Trading Standards enforcement functions of a local authority are performed by part of a larger department which enforces a wide range of other legislation: environmental health, health and safety, licensing and so on. These departments investigate commercial organisations that trade outside…