Consumer rights
The law protects your consumer rights when you buy goods, services or digital content remotely or in person. Find out who to contact for consumer protection advice.
You can get help if you’re treated unfairly or when things go wrong. This includes problems with:
- faulty goods
- poor service
- contracts
- building work
- rogue traders
- credit and store cards
- counterfeit goods
- fraud
You can call a helpline to get advice.
They can also:
- refer your complaint to local Trading Standards Officers who may then investigate on your behalf
- share complaint information nationally with enforcement authorities - including Trading Standards, the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) and regulators - so that action can be taken
England and Wales
Contact Citizens Advice.
Citizens Advice
Telephone: 0808 223 1133
Welsh language: 0808 223 1144
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Scotland
Contact Advice Direct Scotland.
Advice Direct Scotland
Telephone: 0808 164 6000
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Northern Ireland
Contact Consumerline.
Consumerline
Telephone: 0300 123 6262
Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm
Friday, 9am to 4pm
Further help
You can also get information about refunds, repairs and making a complaint from Which?.
Complain to an ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who investigates complaints about organisations for free. They may be able to help you resolve a complaint without going to court.
There are different ombudsmen for different industries.
You can use the Ombudsman Association to find the right ombudsman for your complaint.
Money advice
You can get free, independent help from MoneyHelper about anything to do with money, for example managing debt.
Buying from an EU country
Contact the UK International Consumer Centre for help with problems buying from an EU country.