Consumer support

Advice Direct Scotland

Advice agency providing free and independent advice. If you have a complaint or concern about goods or services you can contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000. The helpline is open from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.

Citizen Advice Bureaux 

A tool to help people find their local Citizen Advice Bureaux that offer face-to-face advice on a wide range of issues. 

Citizens Advice Scotland

Independent advice network. Advice provided by the service is free, independent, confidential, impartial and available to everyone in Scotland.

Scotland’s Approved Trader Directory

More than half of Scotland’s local authorities operate approved trader schemes through their Trading Standards services, such as Trusted Trader and Buy with Confidence. They are all displayed on the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland managed website, allowing consumers to choose between traders in different council schemes via a simple postcode and trade type search.

Money & Pensions Service

A UK-wide public body providing free and impartial debt advice, money guidance and pension guidance to the public.

Money Advice Scotland

Scotland’s money charity, providing anonymous and confidential help for people with money worries.

Money Map Scotland

This tool helps to rounds up people’s online options to maximise their incomes and cut their costs.

Home Energy Scotland

Links to some organisations and funding that can help you manage your money, provide financial support and check if you’re eligible for benefits.

Check my Council Tax 

This tool allows people to check if they are entitled to some of council tax reduction.

StepChange Debt Charity Scotland

A charity that supports people experiencing debt problems through telephone and online services.

Financial Conduct Authority

In the UK, nearly all financial service activities must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can search their register for firms and individuals and the activities firms have permissions for.

Find Business Support

An organisation that directs businesses to Scotland’s public sector support. It gives customers an overview of all funding and services offered by public sector organisations across Scotland. Information is available for businesses of all sizes

Business Gateway

A publicly funded service contributing to the economic well being of Scotland by providing access to free business support services.

Business Companion

A UK-wide government-backed organisation providing free information for businesses and individuals that need to know about trading standards and consumer protection legislation. Users in Scotland can select "Scotland" from a drop down tab at the top of the website.

Financial Conduct Authority

The conduct regulator for financial service firms and markets in the UK. Report a scam or unauthorised firm or make a complaint about a financial product or service.

Ofcom

May be able to help you complain or report issues relating to phone, broadband and postal services, TV, radio and on-demand programmes, interference to wireless devices, or something you have seen on a video-sharing platform.  Please note, Ofcom may not be able to deal with individual complaints for each of these areas and you can find out what they do and don't do.

Trading Standards Scotland

A local government service that works to protect consumers from illegal trading practices. To report an issue, contact your local trading standards office.

Office for Product Safety and Standards

UK-wide information on product safety alerts, reports and recalls for unsafe products and resources for consumers, businesses and regulators.

Food Standards Scotland

Public sector body for Scotland responsible for food safety, food standards, nutrition, food labelling and meat inspection in Scotland.

Electrical Safety First

The UK's electrical safety experts dedicated to reducing the number of injuries and deaths caused by electricity across the UK

Financial Ombudsman Service

Dispute resolution for unresolved complaints in financial services. Includes banking, insurance, PPI, loans, mortgages, pensions and investments.

Ombudsman Services

Help with unresolved complaints with energy or communications providers. 

Scottish Legal Complaints Commission

Complaints about lawyers in Scotland.

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman

Complaints about public service organisations in Scotland.

Not what you were looking for? Visit the Ombudsman Services website for a list of other organisations and ombudsman services.