Consumer advice

We do not provide consumer advice direct to residents. The Citizens Advice consumer helpline provides clear, practical and impartial advice for South Gloucestershire residents on consumer issues on our behalf.

Visit the Citizens Advice consumer helpline website to find information and get support on consumer problems you have, such as faulty goods, misleading advertising or scams. 

They will refer complex cases or complaints that involve criminal legislation to us.  

Report a problem  

​If you think you are a victim of fraud, call the police on 101.

To make a complaint or report a problem with a trader or product to trading standards call the Citizens Advice consumer advice helpline free on 0808 223 1133 to speak to an adviser.

Alternatively you can chat to one of their advisers online by selecting the chat icon in the bottom right corner of their contact page.

What happens next

The details of your report or complaint will be recorded on the Citizens Advice national database.

If you provide address details, they will forward your complaint to us and to the local trading standards team where the trader is based, if different.

We cannot respond to each complaint we receive, but we regularly review the complaints and take action against the worst offenders.

If a complaint is deemed serious, Citizens Advice will contact us urgently to make sure we are aware – for example, where there is a major safety issue, or a vulnerable person is being targeted.

Rogue trader problems

We have seen a growing problem with rogue traders since the cost of living crisis, and particularly rogue builders, with some residents losing large sums of money.

Rogue traders are people who appear to be qualified tradespeople and offer to do work at your home.

If you are planning building work to your home, read our guidance on how to avoid getting caught out by a rogue trader.