Trading Standards Trading Standards is responsible for protecting consumers and ensuring a fair and safe trading environment within Southwark. We enforce trading standards legislation and offer free compliance advice to businesses within the borough.
We administer four Good Trader award schemes including one for the building and home maintenance trades. We also offer free microwave oven safety checks and have introduced a free Southwark proof of age card (SPA) for students.
Information for consumers
Making a complaint
Consumer Direct is the national telephone and online service offering information and advice on consumer issues. Consumer Direct is funded by the Office of Fair Trading and delivered in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards Services.
They provide impartial advice to help you sort out problems and disagreements you may be having with suppliers of goods or services.
Trader award schemes
Southwark trading standards currently runs four award schemes for the following areas
Microwave safety testing
We will carry out free leakage tests on microwave ovens for Southwark residents. For an appointment please contact us.
Southwark proof of age card (SPA)
The SPA card is London's first PASS approved proof of age card and is free to all students in Southwark's schools and colleges in years 11 to 13 (15 to 18 year olds).
We also hope to get further PASS approval shortly to enable us to issue cards to all Southwark residents aged 16 to 23 regardless of whether they are in education.
Consumer protection and your rights
- The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has factsheets on lots of issues facing consumers, such as misleading advertising, regulations on price indication, car sales and car servicing, the regulation of estate agents, product safety and more.
- The Office of Fair Trading will give you information about your rights as a consumer on topics from buying a used car to shopping online.
- Trading Standards Central is a one stop shop for consumer protection information in the UK. The site is supported and maintained by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI). This site provides a wealth of information for consumers and businesses, schools, advice and information centres, community organisations, local councils, business support agencies and trade associations.
Information for business
We provide a wide range of information leaflets for businesses in order to help businesses get it right first time.
Contact us
Southwark Trading Standards service
Tel: 020 7525 2000
Fax: 020 7525 5705
tradingstandards@southwark.gov.uk
The Chaplin Centre
Thurlow Street
London SE17 2DG |
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