Trading Standards

Consumer and business advice, information on scams, find a Trusted Trader, how to raise a simple procedure.

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Scotland's Trusted Trader logo

Find a Trusted Trader

The East Lothian Trusted Trader Scheme is a joint Council and Trading Standards initiative to help consumers find reputable and reliable local businesses.
Trading Standards Blurb

Our Trading Standards service protects consumers and supports fair, safe, and legal trading within East Lothian. We enforce a wide range of legislation covering areas such as product safety, fair pricing, weights and measures, the health & welfare of agricultural animals and the sale of tobacco and nicotine vapour products.   We investigate complaints, conduct inspections of businesses, and take action against those who break the law, ranging from offering advice and guidance to business, issuing fixed penalty notices or pursuing formal action via the courts.

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For consumers

Get consumer advice

Consumer advice is provided on behalf of Trading Standards by Advice Direct Scotland (ADS) who are a specialist consumer advice service set up and provided by the Scottish Government. Advice Direct Scotland pass information onto Trading Standards, helping provide a national intelligence database.

If you need advice or wish to make a complaint about any goods or services you have bought, please contact Advice Direct Scotland. 

Their advisers will:

  • offer free, confidential and impartial advice on consumer issues
  • give you advice on ways to help you resolve your complaint
  • pass information about your complaint on to Trading Standards or another partner organisation, if appropriate

Scams

All suspected fraud or scams should be reported to Advice Direct Scotland – https://consumeradvice.scot/

If you think a crime has been committed this should be reported to Police Scotland on 101, in case of an emergency dial 999.

Trading Standards Scotland (TSS) have listed some of the most common email, phone, text and cyber scams reported by Scottish consumers. Click the link below to find out more about the latest scams and how to avoid them.

 https://www.tsscot.co.uk/latest-scams/

The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is the UK’s only official ‘Do Not Call’ register for landlines and Mobile numbers. It allows people and businesses to opt out of unsolicited live sales and marketing calls.

It’s free and quick to register a telephone number. Doing so will reduce the amount of unwanted sales and marketing calls you receive. There is also a register for businesses, the Corporate Telephone Preference Service.

If a number is registered with the TPS/CTPS, organisations are legally required – by the Privacy and Electronic (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 – to refrain from calling it. In the UK, the Information Commissioner’s Office enforces the law and has power to fine firms that break it.

Organisations are required to screen against TPS/CTPS at least once every 28 days.

Register your telephone number(s) here: https://www.tpsonline.org.uk/register

Public weighbridges

A public weighbridge is a weighbridge operated by a company, usually primarily for their own use, but which they will also allow anyone to use for a small charge.

Please contact the operator of the weighbridge you wish to use to confirm the price and opening hours prior to visiting.

 

To find a public weighbridge please visit: 

https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/directory_record/255442/andrew_black_ltd

https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/directory_record/255440/dods_of_haddington_ltd

https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/directory_record/255444/p_n_broad_and_son

https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/directory_record/255441/viridor_waste_management

https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/directory_record/255446/w_b_hamilton_and_son

https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/directory_record/255443/windymains_farm_ltd

How to raise a simple procedure

Simple Procedure is a court process designed to provide a speedy, inexpensive and informal way to resolve disputes. A claim is made in the sheriff court by a claimant. The party against whom the claim is made is known as a respondent. The final decision in a claim is made by a sheriff or a summary sheriff. You do not need to use a solicitor to use the simple procedure, but you can do if you wish.

For more information visit: https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/taking-action/simple-procedure/guide-to-simple-procedure/

For business

Business advice

Business Companion provides free, impartial legal guidance and information for businesses and individuals that need to know about Trading Standards and consumer protection legislation

https://www.businesscompanion.info/

Trusted Trader

For more information and details of how to join the East Lothian Trusted Trader scheme please visit:

https://www.trustedtrader.scot/EastLothian/signup

Scottish tobacco retailer register

Retailers who sell tobacco or Nicotine Vapour Products must sign up to the Scottish Tobacco Retailer's Register. It is illegal for retailers who are not on the register to sell tobacco/NVP products. By doing so retailers could be fined.

The registration scheme helps us to enforce age restriction law 

https://tobacco.epass.service.gov.scot/

Registration and approval of feed businesses

Food Standards Scotland administer the feed hygiene register. Should you wish to register or to find your current feed hygiene registration number please contact https://www.foodstandards.gov.scot/business-guidance/industry-specific-advice/animal-feed/registration-and-approval-of-feed-businesses-form

For business who require further advice please Contact us

Please include your full business name, address inc. postcode and a contact email and phone number.