Trading Standards
What we do
Trading Standards is responsible for protecting consumers and businesses by ensuring a fair and safe trading environment within Southwark. Key areas of work include product safety, weights and measures, underage sales, anti-counterfeiting and unfair trading practices.
We enforce trading standards legislation and offer free compliance advice to businesses within the borough.
We also administer four Good Trader award schemes including one for the building and home maintenance trades. We offer free microwave oven leakage checks and have introduced the Southwark proof of age (SPA) card for students. For further details see below.
Information for consumers
Making a complaint
Your first point of call should be Consumer Direct. This is a free national telephone and online service offering information and advice on consumer issues. If you call the Council's contact centre they can transfer your call automatically.
Consumer Direct will provide impartial advice to help you sort out problems and disagreements you may be having with suppliers of goods or services. The service is funded by the Office of Fair Trading and delivered in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards Services.
All information received by Consumer Direct relating to Southwark based businesses or consumers is passed on to trading standards for further action or monitoring.
We receive details of some 4000 complaints a year and, regrettably, we cannot fully investigate every one. However all information received is recorded and monitored and the information is used to help set priorities for enforcement actions or educational initiatives.
Other consumer protection websites
The Trading Standards Institute website is a one stop shop for consumer protection information in the UK. The site is maintained by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI), the association of trading standards professionals. This site provides a wealth of information for consumers, businesses, schools, advice and information centres and community and trade organisations. Information on product recalls can also be found here.
The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) website provides information on a wide variety of consumer subjects and explains how they have strengthened safeguards for consumers in many areas.
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) website gives information on how to avoid scams how to find trustworthy businesses to deal with.
The UK European Consumer Centre has information on your consumer rights in Europe and assistance with any cross-border disputes.
Southwark trader award schemes
Southwark trading standards currently runs four award schemes for the following areas
Microwave oven 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). Schools are still joining the scheme but it is also available to any Southwark resident aged 16 to 23.
Information for business
Please refer to our business information pages.
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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