Trading Standards

What we do

• Advise consumers via Consumer Direct about their legal rights
• Advise traders about their legal responsibilities
• Make regular routine visits to trading premises to check on compliance with current law and check weighing and measuring equipment for accuracy
• Investigate complaints concerning trading practices which may offend against the law
• Monitor the marketplace for dangerous products and illegal trading methods
• When necessary, pursue breaches of criminal legislation through the Courts.
• Grant licences for the storage of petroleum spirit, explosives and poisons and ensure compliance with their conditions

Advice leaflets

We have a number of information leaflets, which are available free of charge. They will provide you with vital information about the goods and services you buy and use. All the trading standards advice leaflets are available on the Trading Standards Central website.

Need to know about your shopping rights?

The Office of Fair Trading produce several useful leaflets for consumers, these include:

• A Shopper's Guide - information about faulty goods and services, and what to do when things go wrong.
• Home Improvements - this publication explains about simple contracts when you want work done at home, and lists the various organisations that can be of assistance.
• Buying a Used Car? - this booklet is a must if you intend to purchase a second hand car, either from a dealer or by private sale.
• Doorstep selling - know where you stand with the do's and don'ts about buying from doorstep sellers.
• Shoppers factsheets - which can give assistance on buying and repairing shoes, buying by post, paying in advance, using a pawnbroker, buying on the Internet.

You can download these leaflets from the Office of Fair Trading web site at:
www.oft.gov.uk

Further information is also available from the Trading Standards Central website.

Need to know about personal finance?

Did you know that if you cannot get credit, in certain circumstances you are entitled to see any credit information that is held about you?

Did you know that if you've purchased something over £100 by credit card and the trader has disappeared, you may be able to claim against the credit card provider?

Further information on credit and other consumer issues, please visit the consumer section of the Trading Standards Central website.

If you require advice on a purchase or you think that a trader needs investigating please contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit the Consumer Direct website.

Our contact details (for business only)

• Trading Standards
• Thurrock Council
• Civic Offices
• New Road
• Grays
• Essex
• RM17 6SL

Telephone: 01375 652955
Fax: 01375 652780
E-Mail: trading.standards@thurrock.gov.uk

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