Shoppers know their rights with The Highland Council’s Trading Standards (14/09/09)

• www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

Trading Standards officers from The Highland Council opened their stall to shoppers today, (Monday, 14th September, 09) at the Eastgate Centre, Inverness, to advise them about their rights.  The week long campaign is part of National Consumer Week 2009, organised by the Trading Standards Institute.

Councillor Brian Murphy, Vice Chairman of The Highland Council’s TEC Services Committee was on hand to officially open the stand and expects a busy week ahead for staff.

Councillor Murphy said: “Our Trading Standards staff are promoting a week long event for visitors to the Eastgate Centre to find out about their rights.  Each day will have a particular theme which we hope will attract interest from the public.

“Visitors to the stand can talk to a wide range of advisors from Highland Council’s Finance Service, Age Concern and Help the Aged (Scottish Helpline for Older People) as well as Consumer Direct who can now also advise consumers on issues relating to gas and electricity suppliers as well as how to complain about postal services.” 

The ‘Know Your Rights’ campaign has been created to provide advice and information to members of the public on various topics throughout the week including:

•  ‘Bogus Callers & Doorstep Sellers’ on Monday when Trading Standards officers and Northern Constabulary will advise on consumer rights when buying from doorstep traders and prevention of crime relating to bogus callers.
• ‘Know Your Consumer Rights’ on Tuesday with Consumer Direct Scotland and Highland Trading Standards providing practical advice on all sorts of consumer problems, such as non-delivery of goods, faulty goods, shoddy services etc.
• ‘Know Your Rights’ on Wednesday when Inverness Citizens Advice Bureau will spotlight their range of services such as advice on housing issues, employment, disability, welfare benefits, with Highland Trading Standards provide advice and information on consumer bodies/agencies related to finance such as Financial Services Authority and how to make a complaint.
• ‘Money Matters’ on Thursday with Highland Council’s Finance Service, Customer Income Maximisation Officers providing advice on housing and council tax benefit, discounts, disability allowances, tax credits, other welfare benefits and other entitlements. Highland Trading Standards Officers will also provide information and advice on credit matters such as how consumers can access their credit reference file and how to shop wisely when using a credit card.
• ‘Scottish Helpline for Older People/Scams’ on Friday and the Scottish Helpline for Older People (SHOP) is funded by the Scottish Government and managed by Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland. The SHOP helpline provides free confidential help on benefits, heating, care both at home and residential, housing repairs for older people and their carers.  Highland Trading Standards Officers will provide supporting information and advice as well as how to spot a ‘scam’ and how to stop unwanted telephone and mail scams.

More information about ‘National Consumer Week 2009’ can be found at Trading Standards Institute website on: www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

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