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National Consumer Week - Do You Know Your Rights?

Have you been caught out with a mobile phone contract, bought the wrong size jacket in a summer sale or has a door to door salesman ‘persuaded’ you to sign up to double glazing you don’t really want and pay on credit? Confused and unsure of your consumer rights?

Help is at hand from Warwickshire Trading Standards Service during National Consumer Week. 

The week long campaign runs from 14th – 18th September and this year’s theme links in with the launch of the ‘Know Your Rights Campaign’ by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards officers will be out and about to offer advice to Warwickshire residents at five of the Warwickshire Direct One Stop Shops. Officers will be available from 10 a.m. until 4.p.m on:
Monday 14th September Warwick, Shire Hall
Tuesday 15th September Kenilworth, Smalley Place
Wednesday 16th September Nuneaton, Town Hall
Thursday 17th September Atherstone, North Warwickshire Council House
Friday 18th September Stratford, Southam Library & Information Centre

Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Protection said: “We want people across Warwickshire to be confident consumers and this campaign is designed to help people understand their rights as a consumer. 

"From what to do about faulty items such as clothing or electrical items to knowing what to look for in the small print before making a large purchase such as a car we want people to feel confident when they are spending their hard earned money especially in the current credit crunch.

"It can often be quite daunting for people when things go wrong with a purchase, by helping people understand their rights it is hoped that they will be making more informed decisions and prevent them from losing money or getting caught out by unscrupulous traders.”

Meanwhile businesses and individuals who work in retail are being encouraged to take part in an online survey on consumer issues.  Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service is supporting the Trading Standards Institute’s survey, which is available now until August 30.

The online survey - open to thousands of businesses throughout the UK - aims to discover whether there is anything more that could be done to support traders in making sure they provide a fair deal to consumers.

Businesses and individuals that respond to the questionnaire which is online at http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/ncwsurvey will be entered into a draw to win £100 worth of shopping vouchers. The name of the winner of the draw will be announced at the launch of National Consumer Week on Monday September 14.