Consumer Direct, a new government run national help line to provide the public with advice and information about their rights as customers, will be launched in Ealing Broadway on 15th March.

 

The new one stop help line will mean that trading standards officers at Ealing Council will no longer deal with the majority of consumer enquiries themselves. It's expected that Consumer Direct will now handle 80% of these enquiries.

 

If there are more complex enquiries that need investigation by the local authority, then Consumer Direct will refer these back to Ealing Council’s trading standards team.

 

The council’s trading standards team will be able to monitor all complaints made to Consumer Direct about consumer issues in the borough.

 

Anyone who uses the new service will be able to:

 

• Get advice and information about their rights as a consumer;
• Make a complaint about a trader;
• Access fact sheets on a range of issues, from booking a holiday to buying a house;
• Find tips on how to avoid being a victim of a consumer or credit scam.

 From 15th March any resident in Ealing who needs consumer advice should continue to dial Ealing Council’s trading standards help number 020 8825 6888. They will then be automatically diverted through to Consumer Direct who will deal with the call on the council's behalf. Later this year one national number will be publicised in addition to local authorities’ individual contacts.

 

Cllr John Delaney, cabinet member responsible for trading standards, said: "In partnership with Consumer Direct we'll continue to give the highest standards of consumer protection to our residents.

 

"The new help line will also mean that our trading standards team will be able to spend more time on investigating and prosecuting the minority of traders who flout the law and give more in-depth advice to consumers."

 

March 14th, 2005