GENERAL HELP

Office of Fair Trading The Citizens Advice Bureau Trading Standards Net Citizens Advice Burea Scotland Trading Standards - The Department of Work & Pensions Dept of Education & Skills Dept of Transport Dept of Trade & Industry Consumer Direct Food Standards Agency Disability Conciliation Service Euroconsumer. Purchases from EC complaints Health & Safety Commission National Consumers Council - safeguards the interests of consumers National Consumers Federation -same aims Postwatch - for complaints about postal services Ripofftipoff - to report dishonest Traders Welsh Consumers

www.oft.gov.uk www.adviceguide.org.uk www.tradingstandards.net www.cas.org.uk www.tradingstandard.gov.uk www.dss.gov.uk www.dfes.gov.uk www.dft.gov.uk www.dti.gov/ www.consumerdirect.gov.uk www.food.gov.uk www.dcs-gb.org www.euroconsumeror.org.uk www.hse.gov.uk www.ncc.org.uk www.nfcg.org.uk www.postwatch.co.uk www.ripofftipoff www.wales-consumer.org.uk

THE MEDIA As a last resort you can threaten to take your complaints to -

BBC TV - Watchdog programme email watchdog@bbc.co.uk. A pity that this programme has now been thoroughly dumbed down. However it is almost the only national consumer output on BBC TV. BBC RADIO - You & Yours e-mail youandyours@bbc.co.uk OFCOM - Regulator for TV, radio and telecoms in UK

www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog youandyours@bbc.co.uk www.offcom.org.uk

CARS

Retail Motor Industry Federation - complaints about Garages Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders Customer Complaints Scottish Motor Trade Association The Conciliation Service The Vehicle Builders & Repairers Association British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association - offers a conciliation complaints service MyClaim.Personal injury solicitors specialising in car accident compensation claims

www.rmif.co.uk. www.smmt.co.uk www.smta.co.uk www.vbra.co.uk www.bvrla.co.uk www.mycompensation

DIRECT MARKETING, MAIL ORDER & TELEPHONE SALES

Direct Selling Association Direct Marketing Association Mail Order Traders Association Mailing Preference Service (to stop junk mail) Dept 97, FREEPOST, London, W1E 7EZ. or Telephone Preference Service (to stop junk telephone calls) register on-line ICSTIS - To complain about premium rate phone numbers Stop Junk faxes National Newspapers Protection - for complaints on purchases from ads in papers

www.dsa.org.uk www.dma.org.uk www.mota.org.uk www.mpsonline.org.uk www.tpsonline.org.uk www.icstis.org www.fpsonline.org.uk www.shops-uk.org.uk

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Banking Code Standards Board Brittish Bankers Association (BBA) Council of Mortgage Lenders Mortgage Code Compliance Board Financial Services Authority (FSA) Consumer Credit Counselling Service Consumer Credit Counselling Service for Scotland The Insolvency Service - if you are owed money by a company in liquidation

www.bankingcode.org.uk www.bba.org.uk www.cml.org.uk www.mortgages.co.uk www.fsa.gov.uk www.cccs.co.uk www.scottishdebtline.co.uk www.insolvency.gov.uk

THE INTERNET & eCommerce

Community & Internet Services Adjudication scheme CISAS Internet Service Providers Association - have a code of conduct for their members Econsumer.gov. Cross border eCommerce complaints eMail Preference Service - stop unwanted UK marketing emails

www.cisas.org.uk www.ispa.org.uk www.econsumer.gov www.dmaconsumers.org

THE HOME

Architects Registration Board (ARB) deais with complaints against Architects IF YOU SMELL GAS REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY TO TRANSCO on 0800 111999 Glass & Glazing Federation (double glazing) Furniture and floor coverings - Qualitas National Conciliation Service Institute of Plumbing The Radio, Electrical and Television Retailer's Association National Association of Estate Agents The National Federation of Roofing Contractors The Federation of Master Builders - advice on avoiding cowboys Royal Institute of British Architects Royal Insitute of Chartered Surveyors Gas Safe Register - to check tradesmen safety qualifications

www.arb.org.uk 0800 111999 www.ggf.org.uk www.qualitas.uk.com www.plumbers.org.uk www.retra.co.uk www.naea.co.uk www.nfrc.co.uk www.fmb.org.uk www.architecture.com www.rics.org.uk www.gassaferegister.co.uk

JOBS

Accident Line Service Health & Safety Executive Maternity Alliance Information line Minimum Wage helpline Trades Union Congress helpline The Department Work & Pensions

www.accidentlinedirect.co.uk www.hse.gov.uk www.maternityalliance.org.uk www.tiger.gov.uk www.tuc.org.uk www.dss.gov.uk

LEGAL HELP

In Small Print - excellent help to understand legal small print Free Lawyer Community Legal Service Direct Personal Injury Claims and Accident Compensation Law Society - lists 80,000 Solicitors plus advice on fees Legal Services including Small Claims Courts Scotland 0131 2299200 N. Ireland 0289 0328594 Scottish Legal Aid Board Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman Crown Prosecution Service Law Rights Legal Services Ombudsman Law Junction - helps find a specialist lawyer Law on the Web Association of Personal Injury Lawyers The Court Service

www.insmallprint.co.uk www.freelawyer.co.uk www,clsdirect.org.uk http://www.clearanswers.co.uk http://www.solicitors-online.com www.legalservices.gov.uk www.slab.org.uk www.slab.org.uk http://www.justask.org.uk www.open.gov.uk/dpr/dprhome www.lawrights.co.uk www.olso.org www.lawjunction.com www.lawontheweb.co.uk www.apil.com www.courtservice.gov.uk

ARBITRATION

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Scottish Institute 0f Arbitrators Alternative Dispute Resolution Group

www.arbitrators.org www.scottish-arbitrators.org www.adrgroup.co.uk

LEISURE, TRAVEL, HOLIDAYS, HOTELS & TIMESHARE

Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) Air Travel Organiser's Licence(ATOL) Civil Avaition Authority Organisation for Timeshare in Europe Air Transport Users Council Passport Agency Travel Trust Association Passengers Shipping Association Advice to sort out faulty products purchased from Europe Timeshare Consumers Association

www.abtanet.com www.aito.co.uk www.caa.co.uk www.ote-info.com www.auc.org.uk www.ukpa.gov.uk www.traveltrust.co.uk www.psa-psara.org www.euroconsumer.org.uk www.timeshare.org.uk

OMBUDSMEN (they can offer "honest broker" unbiased opinions and assistance)

Financial Ombudsman Banking Ombudsman Estate Agents Ombudsman Housing Ombudsman (for Housing Associations and Private landlords) Legal Services Ombudsman Pension Ombudsman

www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk www.bba.org.uk www.oea.co.uk www.ihos.org.uk www.olso.org www.pension-ombudsman.org.uk

SERVICES

Consumer Council for Water Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWD) Council for registerd Gas Installers (CORGI) OFGEM - Office of Gas & Electricity Markets - the industry Regulator OFWAT - Office of Water Services - the industry Regulator National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting Electrical Contractors' Association TELEPHONES - STOP ANNOYING SALES CALLS Telephone Preference Service -covers the UK In the USA Rail Passenger Council

www.ccwater.org.uk www.dwi.gov.uk www.corgi-gas-safety.com www.ofgem.gov.uk www.ofwat.gov.uk www.niceic.org.uk www.eca.co.uk = www.tpsonline.org.uk www.donotcall.com www.railpassengers.org.uk

PENSION HELP

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