Trading Standards enforce a wide range of environmental and consumer legislation by investigating complaints, inspecting and advising businesses, and taking legal matters where necessary.
Speak to a Citizens Advice Consumer Service advisor over the telephone on 03454 04 05 06.
You can submit your information anonymously, but providing your contact details may assist in our investigations.
Browse our database of reliable approved traders to carry out maintenance work in and around your home.
If you think you may have been targeted by a rogue trader or a scam, find out more and how we can help you.
The Dudley Council work in partnership with the Citizens Advice Consumer Service (CACS). Please visit CACS for details on how to report an incident. They will record details of your complaint, provide advice on your consumer rights, and will then forward your complaint on to the relevant Trading Standards department or police.
You will also be able to access information and guidance on avoiding problems in the future.
Find out more about what we do, and how we can help you.
We promote fair trading practices in Dudley, and have a statutory duty to enforce a wide range of consumer protection legislation. We also provide advice to local businesses to help them comply with consumer protection laws.
Trading Standards Officers ensure compliance with consumer protection legislation by inspecting premises, investigating complaints and carrying out proactive work. This includes product safety surveys and test purchasing exercises of age-restricted goods such as tobacco and alcohol.
Where necessary, trading standards may instigate legal proceedings against traders on matters such as unsafe goods or where traders have deliberately misled consumers.
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute's Business Companion website provides comprehensive, free guidance for businesses who need to know about trading standards and consumer protection legislation. Topics covered within the Business Companion website include underage sales, food and drink, product safety and activities regarding animals, agriculture, weights and measures, and other business information.
(You can also contact us via our Business Advice line 01384 817997, please note however that we do not offer businesses contractual advice. For such matters you will need to contact a solicitor or relevant trade body if you are a member.)
See more on:
Legislation prohibits the sale of certain products to persons under certain ages. We enforce legislation that restricts the sale of goods that may be harmful to young persons, including;
Laws related to underage sales exist to safeguard the health of young people and reduce community disorder.
Advice for retailers
Guidance for retailers on age restrictions and the relevant Legislation is available on the Business Companion website.
Report underage sales
If you know of a retailer selling age restricted products to people under the age of 18, you can report it to Trading Standards (using the contact details at the bottom of this web page).
Proof of age
You can apply for a proof of age card from the Citizencard website.
As part of the Proof of Age Standards Scheme, if you are a retailer you can request a free retail support pack to promote the No Id - No Sale campaign.
The law prohibits the sale of tobacco, alcohol, fireworks, solvents and knives to individuals under the age of 18 as many present a real threat to their health.
Therefore we are looking for volunteers aged between 13 and 16½ years of age to assist us in our test purchasing operations. While working for our team, you will assist the department by attempting to buy age restricted products, and conducting any further checks on local businesses.
If you are interested in a career in law enforcement this would help to give you some experience in a similar setting.
When will testing take place?
Test purchasing is carried out during school holidays, evenings and weekends.
Permission from your parent(s) or guardian(s) will be required.
How to volunteer
If you would like more information or to express your interest, please contact us using the details at the bottom of the page.
We will need to know your name and age along with your parent(s) or guardian(s) contact telephone number.
Trading Standards work in conjunction with the National Measurement and Regulation Office to standardise trade that use weights and measuring equipment.
We routinely check the accuracy of scales, spirit measuring instruments, petrol pumps and other equipment used in transactions. This is to ensure that customers really do get what they pay for.
Equipment includes items used on, but not limited to:
The measuring equipment is verified by conducting regular inspections on the premises. We also investigate consumer complaints.
Businesses looking to have equipment tested for compliance with weights and measures laws are able to use Trading Standards facilities (see Fees and Charges). We also offer a limited number of equipment tests, please contact us for more details.
Fee InformationOur Trading Standards team relies on information from members of the public, businesses and organisations to catch criminals who trade in illegal goods and use scams to target vulnerable people.
The issues we need you to tell us about:
If you can provide information about the sale of illegal goods or scams, please let us know via our online reporting form or by our hotline on 01384 814600.
Do not use this online reporting form for supplying information if you need advice or for making a consumer complaint. This form is just for reporting an issue listed above which may provide Trading Standards with intelligence to be investigated. If you need advice or wish to make a consumer complaint, please use the link to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service in the section above.
Follow our twitter feed @myDudleyTSO to get the latest advice and information, or view the documents below.
Online complaint: Citizens Advice Consumer Service
Telephone helpline: 03454 040506
Telephone lines open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (except bank holidays). Calls to the helpline cost up to 9p per minute from a landline. If you're calling from a mobile, it'll cost between 3p and 40p per minute - if you have inclusive minutes it's the same as calling a landline.
Out of Hours Telephone: 03454 040506
Bogus Caller Hotline: 01384 812045
Action Fraud: 0300 123 2040
Telephone: 01384 817997
Opening hours: 9.00am–5.00pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)
