About Consumer Protection and Investigations (Trading Standards)

The Consumer Protection and Investigations service exists for the benefit of consumers and businesses within East Cheshire. The aim of the Service is to promote a fair trading environment that enables honest businesses to succeed and for consumers to have confidence when dealing with all matters relating to the hire or purchase of goods and services. This is achieved through a variety of activities including the provision of advice and education for businesses and consumers and the detection and investigation of criminal offences.

Helping You

If you live in East Cheshire we can provide you with advice and assistance if you experience problems when buying goods or services. Our expert staff can give you practical advice to help you with your rights as a consumer. We can help you to write a letter of complaint, will act as a mediator to help resolve your problem and, when appropriate, can guide you through the County Court system.

All first line advice is provided by Citizens Advice Consumer Service, if the nature of your enquiry is complex or cannot be resolved after you have received first line advice, Citizens Advice will then refer the enquiry to our team for further assistance. If you are seeking advice and assistance with a matter you are having or you would like to make a complaint against a company,  please visit our Consumers page.

Every year we help Cheshire businesses to cut through red tape so they are able to run successful, compliant businesses. If your business is already established in East Cheshire, or if you’re thinking of starting a new venture in the county, we can help you to by providing advice on your responsibilities under current legislation.

Protecting You

As well as ensuring the law is complied with through a programme of advice and education, we also take enforcement action when appropriate. We consider the harm that the behaviour of the business is having on the community when deciding on what action to take. Where the seriousness and level of complaints warrants it, we will prosecute the offending business or individual.

What can you expect from Consumer Protection and Investigations (Trading Standards)?

Find out about our Concordat on Good Enforcement.