Consumer advice
Advice to Welsh consumers is provided by Consumer Direct Wales, a government funded service. To contact Consumer Direct Wales for advice please contact them on 0808 156 6736 (English) or 0808 156 6771 (Cymraeg). Complaints to Consumer Direct may also be submitted on line by accessing their on line complaint form.
There are many internet sites providing information and resources on consumer advice and some of the most useful can be accessed using the Useful links page.
Trading Standards in Wales provides advice and assistance to consumers on complex legal matters which could result in litigation or dispute resolution and Consumer Direct will refer such enquiries to the appropriate local authority where necessary.
Accessible and expert advice for consumers is a government priority and the partnership between the Wales Heads of Trading Standards and Consumer Direct Wales works to provide this service.
As a part of the Trading Standards Wales consumer advice provision this site contains a range of leafets on the most common problems faced by consumers, please click on the links for further information:
Categorised consumer advice in English | in Welsh
On line advice can also be found at the Directgov site. Content in the Welsh language can be found on the Consumer Direct platform, www.cyswlltdefnyddwyr.gov.uk
Forthcoming changes to consumer advice provision in Wales (update 11/03/2011)
Following last year’s announcement that the responsibility for the functions of Consumer Direct would transfer to Citizens Advice, Citizens Advice are working closely with the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Office of Fair Trading, Trading Standards and Consumer Direct to ensure that there is a smooth transition.
On 4 March, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills approved top level proposals submitted by Citizens Advice as to how they plan to assume responsibilities for consumer education, advice and information, research and advocacy currently held by other bodies.
The education, advice and information responsibilities of Consumer Direct will be the first to transfer across. Citizens Advice will offer telephone, email and chat services across Wales.
These will be delivered through a number of physical contact centres and will be fully integrated with existing operations including online information, face-to-face advice in bureaux, and national telephone services – Citizens Advice Direct and Adviceline.
With BIS approval, Citizens Advice are now embarking on more detailed planning for delivery working to the following high level milestones:
- Testing complete by end December 2011
- Shadow service operating throughout January and February 2012
- New service at full capacity by 31 March 2012 when Consumer Direct ceases to operate
Citizens Advice continues to work closely with the Trading Standards community in Wales to ensure that current and future business needs are understood and met.
Citizens Advice are working closing with WHOTS to ensure that effective channels of communication are developed and maintained. Updates will be placed on this page of the website as developments progress.
For further information please contact John Gillies, who is leading on this initiative for Citizens Advice.
Email: john.gillies@citizensadvice.org.uk
Tel: 020 7833 7018
Mob: 079 6264 7126