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Trading Standards – help and advice for consumers

Have you ever felt conned or ripped off by a business or tradesperson? Our Trading Standards team work with organisations like Consumer Direct to advise you about your legal rights when buying goods or services.

Getting consumer advice and making a complaint

Getting help from Consumer Direct and advice on making complaints, including reporting underage sales, loan sharks, doorstep selling and how to stop unwanted calls, email and post.

Common problems – latest advice from the Trading Standards Institute

Links to a wide range of Trading standards advice leaflets about handling disputes and information about your consumer rights when purchasing goods, services, cars and other products.

What Trading Standards does

About us and what we can do to help you, and how you can tell us what you think of our services.

Alerts about product recalls, food safety and scams

How to recognise and avoid the latest scams, and recent product or food recalls.

Fair trading businesses in East Sussex – Buy With Confidence

Get in touch with businesses approved by our Trading Standards team.

Neighbourhood help – your local Consumer Champion

You can get advice on consumer issues from trained local volunteers. Could you help? Find out how to join up.

Consumer Support Network for community groups and organisations

How organisations in East Sussex can help provide consumer advice to residents.

Young people – apply to be a volunteer purchaser

Volunteers aged 14 to 16½ are needed to help us check that businesses aren't selling age-restricted goods to underage customers.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)

Who needs an EPC, what it includes, and how to get one.

Website approved by the Plain English Campaign

East Sussex County Council, County Hall, St Anne's Crescent, Lewes, BN7 1UE. Phone: 0345 60 80 190