Don't be an April fool – know your rights!

Citizens Advice handbook 2nd edition

Citizens Advice Handbook “Citizens Advice Guide to your rights” (2nd edition) is now out, continuing the charities excellent tradition problem solving. The book, now in its second edition, and published by Penguin, has been fully up dated and gives 600 pages of clear, accurate and up to the minute information on legal and consumer rights in the UK.

Based on a much condensed version of the unrivalled in-house information system, the new edition is the volume required for every stage in life, providing a reliable source of authoritative information on everyday issues that range from money and consumer to legal matters, employment disputes and civil rights.

In clear and accessible English, each chapter deals with different aspects of home and working life, covering family, daily life, basic rights, and money.  Each section gives snapshot answer to some of the most common queries and a helpful listings section, pointing you in the direction of further information and help. It contains information on everything from debt and benefits to discrimination, or to getting your children into school, or even how to deal with your internet service provider.

Citizens Advice chief executive David Harker said:

"For most people, finding their way around the labyrinth of the countless laws, regulations, codes of practice, guidelines and procedures that govern our everyday life can be a nightmare – especially if its urgent and you have got a crisis on your hands. . This book gives you the basic information you need to get your head around a problem that needs solving, quickly and easily, when ever you need it."

With a handy index, it is an easy resource to check specific rights, or simply just inform the public of current employment or consumer law.  The book is available at £11.99 rrp at all good bookstores or through your local bureaux.

Notes to editors:

1. The Citizens Advice service is a network of independent charities that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers.
   For more information in England and Wales www.citizensadvice.org.uk
   For more information and 2008/9 service statistics see Introduction to the service
   For 2008/9 service highlights see the Citizens Advice service impact report
   For 2008/9 social policy campaigning highlights see the Citizens Advice social policy impact report
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. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at over 3,300 locations across England and Wales.
4. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2 million clients on 6 million problems from April 2008 to March 2009
5. Advice and information www.adviceguide.org.uk
6. Volunteer hotline 08451 264264 (local rate)
7. Citizens Advice Guide to your rights, second edition: January 2008 - over 600 pages of practical, independent CAB advice. An invaluable resource for any bookshelf - available from all good bookshops; price £11.99; ISBN: 9780141034089
8. Follow Citizens Advice on Twitter: twitter.com/CitizensAdvice
9. Subscribe to Citizens Advice press releases via RSS news feed: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/pressoffice