Business information

Our Pledge to Consumers

The service you can expect when contacting our advice units.

The County Council is committed to reduce crime, including consumer crime and promote the local economy. BUT, not everything that is wrong is illegal.

Trading Standards only enforces the law, we don't make it. That is the job of your MP and Parliament. In addition the law in this country falls into two categories - Civil and Criminal.

Civil means you, the individual, have to exercise and pursue your rights.

Criminal means Trading Standards can investigate and, if appropriate, prosecute the offender.

It is not a criminal offence to: do a bad job, sell something that goes wrong, or fail to deliver furniture on time etc. All these sort of problems breach civil law.

In these instances Trading Standards (initially via Consumer Direct) will offer you advice on how to resolve the issue.

But, if a trader misdescribes something to you or you buy a product you think is unsafe, then a criminal law may have been broken, and Trading Standards will need all your receipts and paperwork to decide what action they may take.

Remember prevention is always better than cure and cheaper for all concerned. We can't reverse what has happened but we will endeavour to keep you informed of our progress and investigations. However, it will still be your responsibility to pursue your civil law rights.

If you have a complaint about the Trading Standards service then please select the Complaint form link. Please do not use this form to complain about a trader or product. Select the 'About Hertfordshire Trading Standards' link on the right of this page for our contact details.Consumer Support

Consumer Direct is a government funded service, providing clear, practical consumer advice. It is the first port of call for consumers who have a complaint.

Trading Standards will provide additional support by:

• Providing advice online and in leaflets about consumer and contract law.
• Making best use of resources by targeting areas where our help is most needed.
• Listening to your concerns and complaints.
• Offering advice on complex disputes with traders over goods or services you have purchased or hired.
• Consider enforcement action for any breaches of 'criminal' legislation .
• where we investigate 'criminal' breaches relating to goods or services involving you, we will endeavour to keep you informed at regular intervals.
• checking traders that are part of the Herfordshire TrustMark Scheme, are competent, reliable and have good customer services in place.
  

We will not

Be able to automatically get you a refund.

Get the business 'shut down'.

If you wish to give feedback about the Trading Standards pages on this website, or about the way we undertake our work then please select the link “Trading Standards Feedback”.