Consumer Issues

This section will be developed to cover various aspects of consumer rights and to highlight any local issues that people may raise on the Forum. Please report any bad experiences you have with local 'cowboys' on the Forum.

What is so astounding is that there is so little accountability these days. The public can be conned, fleeced, robbed and taken advantage of and those to blame, even if found guilty in a court of law, never seem to have to pay for their crimes. They get off lightly and can be back in business within a few days.

Have you had any bad experiences with cowboy companies? What do you think can be done to improve the situation? Do we need tougher sentences or just better enforcement.? Should the guilty be named and shamed publicly? Speak your mind on the Forum. Maybe it comes back to communities being more pro-active in setting up networks and spreading the word to warn others.

We do have a great many 'rights' but the laws do not seem to be enforced. You only have to watch programs like 'Rogue Traders' or 'Watchdog' to see how feeble the enforcement is in this country to protect the public from the 'cowboys'. If these people are banned from trading, why do they keep coming back?

Consumer Direct - main government portal for all consumer issues

Trading Standards

Office of Fair Trading Consumer Advice

BBC Watchdog - the campaigning program fighting consumer battles.

British Law - community information for citizens and small business.