Citizens Advice responds to the investigation into consumer redress

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive at national charity Citizens Advice said:

"We welcome this examination of whether consumers' rights to redress could be improved. Under the current system our bureaux too often see people, who have the law on their side, frustrated because they cannot secure the redress they are entitled to.

"In these difficult times, consumers need not only information, advice and education but improved access to redress as well as enforcement and regulation where needed.

"We help people resolve over 400,000 consumer problems every year and for desperate consumers around the country we're often their first port-of-call when they're taken advantage of by a rogue trader.

"The economic situation has created an opportunity for rogues to make money out of desperate consumers. And the immediate future looks set to get worse before it gets better. Cuts in public spending and the general gloomy economic outlook may only encourage more scams and sharp practices, piling extra pain on to consumers."

Notes to editors:

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website .

  2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.

  3. To find your local bureau in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk . You can also get advice online at adviceguide.org.uk

  4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers

  5. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.3 million clients on 5.4 million problems from October 2013 to September 2014. For full 2013/2014  service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends

  6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 3,000 service outlets across England and Wales.