Trading Standards

Trading Standards services are operated by local councils in the UK and are responsible for enforcing a wide range of consumer protection legislation, including the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, the Consumer Rights Act 2015, product safety regulations, and laws against counterfeit goods and rogue traders. They investigate businesses that engage in unfair commercial practices, make misleading claims, or target vulnerable consumers.

For individuals who have been defrauded by a business — particularly in offline contexts such as doorstep repairs, fake contractor scams, or counterfeit product sales — Trading Standards is the primary enforcement authority. Consumers can report to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline (0808 223 1133), which triages reports and passes intelligence to the relevant local authority.

Trading Standards also works proactively with Age UK and police to address mass-marketing mail fraud, rogue builder scams, and other schemes targeting vulnerable individuals. Successful prosecutions result in criminal convictions, confiscation orders, and Trading Standards injunctions banning offenders from carrying on specific business activities.