General advice
Advice Direct Scotland
Advice agency providing free and independent advice across a range of subjects including consumer advice, home heating, money, postal services and energy. For questions, inquiries, or assistance Advice Direct Scotland can be contacted on 0808 800 9060 between 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.
Advice Direct ScotlandCitizen 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.
Citizen Advice BureauxCitizens Advice Scotland
Independent advice network. Advice provided by the service is free, independent, confidential, impartial and available to everyone in Scotland.
Citizens Advice ScotlandScotland’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.
Scotland’s Approved Trader DirectoryWhich?
Advice on scams including what to do if you've been scammed, or have come across a scam.
Which? scamsFinancial advice
Money & Pensions Service
A UK-wide public body providing free and impartial debt advice, money guidance and pension guidance to the public.
Money & Pensions ServiceMoney Map Scotland
Citizens Advice Scotland's Money Map helps you find sources of online support to increase your income, reduce your bills and ease the costs of daily living.
Money Map ScotlandHome 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.
Home Energy ScotlandCheck My Council Tax
Citizens Advice Scotland online tool to help you find out whether you are exempt from having to pay council tax or whether you are eligible for a discount or reduction in your bill.
Check my Council TaxStepChange Debt Charity Scotland
A charity that supports people experiencing debt problems through telephone and online services.
StepChange Debt Charity ScotlandFinancial 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.
The Financial Services RegisterAge Concern
Advice from the national charity for older people including helping you spot and avoid the latest scams targeting your money.
Age Concern scams adviceScottish Illegal Money Lending Unit
An organisation that works in partnership with other agencies and organisations across Scotland to tackle loan sharks. The unit operates a confidential helpline on 0800 074 0878.
Scottish Illegal Money Lending UnitTax Help for Older People
A UK registered charity that provides free, independent and expert advice and help for older people on lower incomes (£20,000 gross a year or less).
Tax Help for Older PeopleBusiness support
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
FindBusinessSupportBusiness Gateway
A publicly funded service contributing to the economic well being of Scotland by providing access to free business support services.
Business GatewayBusiness 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.
Business CompanionReporting an issue
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.
Financial Conduct AuthorityOfcom
Ofcom is the regulator for the communications services and 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.
OfcomTrading 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.
Trading Standards ScotlandAdvertising Standards Authority
The UK’s independent advertising regulator. Raise your concerns about ads you’ve seen or heard across media that you consider are misleading, harmful, offensive or irresponsible.
Advertising Standards AuthorityABTA
A trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry which provides travellers with advice, guidance and support.
Help and complaintsProduct Safety
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.
Product Safety Alerts, Reports and RecallsFood Standards Scotland
Public sector body for Scotland responsible for food safety, food standards, nutrition, food labelling and meat inspection in Scotland.
News and Alerts from Food Standards ScotlandElectrical Safety First
The UK's electrical safety experts dedicated to reducing the number of injuries and deaths caused by electricity across the UK
Product Recalls & Safety NoticesDriver and Vehicle Standards Agency
An executive agency, sponsored by the UK Government's Department for Transport, which monitors whether a manufacturer has recalled a vehicle, part or accessory.
Safety recall checksCyber Security
National Cyber Security Centre
UK Government body that provides advice and support for the public and private sector and individuals on how to avoid computer security threats. If you have visited a website you think is trying to scam you, report it to the NCSC and they will investigate.
Report a suspicious websiteCyber Scotland
Collaboration of key organisations focussed on improving cyber resilience across Scotland. Cyber Scotland provides advice and guidance and information on reporting an incident and operates a cyber incident response helpline on 0800 1670 623
Report an incidentUnresolved issues
Financial Ombudsman Service
Dispute resolution for unresolved complaints in financial services. Includes banking, insurance, PPI, loans, mortgages, pensions and investments.
Financial Ombudsman ServicesOmbudsman Services
Help with unresolved complaints with energy or communications providers.
Ombudsman Services.Scottish Legal Complaints Commission
Complaints about lawyers in Scotland.
Scottish Legal Complaints CommissionScottish Public Services Ombudsman
Complaints about public service organisations in Scotland.
Scottish Public Services OmbudsmanInformation Commissioner's Office
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) upholds information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.
Additional Information
Not what you were looking for? Visit the Ombudsman Services website for a list of other organisations and ombudsman services.