Useful Links

Please find below details of organisation in the UK and Europe who may also be able to provide additional advice, assistance and information.

European Small Claims Procedure Information

Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) – www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/infoabout/claims/eu_cross_border_claim/index.htm
Information on European Union cross-border claims

EX725 - Making a cross-border claim in the EU – www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk
Information leaflet, provided by HMCS, on making a cross border claim in

European Commission's Judicial Atlas website - http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/judicialatlascivil/html/sc_filling_uk_en.htm
In order to complete a European small claim you will need to use the standard forms which can be found on this website.

European Commission Recognised ADR Schemes For The UK

ABTA – The Travel Association – www.abta.com
Deals with holiday complaints regarding Member Companies

British Carpet Technical Centre – www.bttg.co.uk
Testing and Consultancy on floor coverings

British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) - www.bvrla.co.uk
Consumer advice on car hire

Chartered institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) – www.arbitrators.org

Communications & Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) – www.cisas.org.uk
Telephone complaints regarding Member Companies

Consumer Credit Trade Association (CCTA) – www.ccta.co.uk
Conciliation on financial disputes with Member Companies

Direct Selling Association (DSA) – www.dsa.org.uk
Adjudication provided with Member Companies (various industries)

The Energy Supply Ombudsman – www.energy-ombudsman.org.uk
Assitance in sorting out a complaint with an energy supplier

Finance and Leasing Association (FLA) – www.fla.org.uk
Conciliation services for disputes involving member companies on finance and leasing

Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) – www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk
Arbitration services involving financial institutions (not restricted to Member companies)

Furniture Ombudsman – www.fira.co.uk
Conciliation and arbitration with member furniture companies, inspection and testing for non-members

Independent Housing Ombudsman (IHOS) – www.ihos.org.uk
Housing disputes with Member Companies and organisations

Legal Services Ombudsman for England and Wales (OLSO) - www.olso.org
Arbitration with professional bodies regarding a member practitioner

National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) – www.nafd.org.uk
Arbitration for funeral service disputes with Member companies

Office of the Telecommunications Ombudsman (OTELO) – www.otelo.org.uk
Arbitration for telephone complaints with Member Companies

Ombudsman for Estate Agents (OEA) – www.oea.co.uk
Mediation on disputes involving Member estate and letting agents

Pensions Ombudsman – www.pensions-ombudsman.org.uk
Investigates complaints regarding the way a pension scheme is run

Public Services Ombudsman (PSO) – www.ombudsman-wales.org.uk
Investigates complaints about public services in Wales

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) – www.spso.org.uk
Investigates complaints about public services in Scotland

Useful UK Services

Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) – www.asa.org.uk
The ASA is independent regulator for advertisements, sales promotion and direct marketing in the UK. The ASA stop misleading, harmful or offensive advertising, ensure sales promotions are run fairly, help reduce unwanted commercial mail - either through the post, e-mail or by text message - and resolve problems with mail order purchases.

Adviceguide – www.adviceguide.org.uk
information on a range of topics, inc. benefits & housing, employment rights & discrimination, debt & tax issues service provided by Citizen Advice Bureau .

Air Transport Users Council - www.auc.org.uk/
UK’s consumer watchdog for the aviation industry

Air Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL) - www.caa.co.uk/cpg/atol/default
Protects consumers if a tour operator or flight company cease trading

Bank Safe Online – www.banksafeonline.org.uk
Information on how to bank safely online and avoid scams

Charity Commission - www.charity-commission.gov.uk
Works relating to charities

Companies House - www.companieshouse.gov.uk
Register of Ltd and Plc companies, enforces the Companies Act

Consumer Direct – www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
Offers information and advice on consumer issues within the UK. Act

Consumerline– www.consumerline.org
A resource for consumer advice in Northern Ireland

Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) – www.bis.gov.uk/
The department aims to create the conditions for business success; promote innovation, enterprise and science; and give everyone the skills and opportunities to succeed. Works across Government and with the regions to raise levels of UK productivity.

Directgov – www.direct.gov.uk
The official government website for citizens. Easy access to the public services you use and the information you need, delivered by the UK government.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) - www.dvla.gov.uk
Registers drivers and vehicles, collects vehicle excise duty, facilitates road safety

Econsumer - www.econsumer.gov
Investigates cross border E-Commerce complaints

Equality and Human Rights Commission - www.equalityhumanrights.com
The new commission is working to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and to build good relations, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society.

Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) - www.fact-uk.org.uk
Protecting the interests of the audio-visual industry against counterfeiting, copyright and trademark infringements

Federation Against Software Theft (FAST) – www.fast.org.uk
Protects the intellectual property of software publishers against counterfeiting, copyright and trademark infringements

Financial Services Authority (FSA) – www.fsa.gov.uk
Regulatory body for financial institutions

Foreign and Commonwealth Office – www.fco.gov.uk

Get Safe Online – www.getsafeonline.org.uk
Information on being safe online

Her Majesty’s Court Service (HMCS) - www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk
Information and online services for the Law Courts

Home Office Identity Theft Steering Committee - www.identitytheft.org.uk
Information on identity theft and how to protect yourself

Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of the Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) – www.icstis.org.uk
Regulatory body for all premium rate charged telecommunications services within the UK

Insolvency Service - www.insolvency.gov.uk
Works related to bankruptcy and insolvency

Office of Fair Trading (OFT) - www.oft.gov.uk
Promotes & protects consumer interests in UK, ensures businesses are fair and competitive

Revenues and Customs (HMRC) - www.hmrc.gov.uk
Deals with taxes, benefits, import, export within the UK

Timeshare Consumers Association - www.timeshare.org.uk
Help and advice on timeshares and holiday clubs within Europe

Useful European Services

Agathepower.eu - www.agathepower.eu
Information on the campaign on the opening of the electricity and gas markets and on energy consumers’ rights in the European Union.

Consumer Liaison Office - www.ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/publications/competition_policy_and_the_citizen/consumer_liaison Competition queries within europe

Court of Justice of the European Communities (CURIA) - www.curia.europa.eu
Information on the European Court of Justice and Court of First Instance

Europa - www.europa.eu
Information on the European Union

European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA) - www.easa-alliance.org
Promotes high ethical standards in advertising within Europe, investigates complaints.

Europe Direct - europa.eu.int/europedirect/index_en.htm
General information on EU Matters and EU policy

European Judicial Network (EJN) -www.ec.europa.eu/civiljustice
Information about the law in other European countries e.g. getting married/divorced

European Parliament – www.europarl.europa.eu
Information relating to the European parliament

European Youth Portal - www.europa.eu/youth
European information relating to young people

Is It Fair? - www.isitfair.eu
Practical information on unfair commercial practices.

FIN-NET - www.fin-net.eu
Network for settling cross-border financial disputes out of Court

SOLVIT - www.ec.europa.eu/solvit/site/index_en.htm
Solves problems regarding the misapplication of Internal Market law by public authorities within Europe

Taxation and Customs Union - www.ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/index_en.htm
Deals with taxes and customs within europe

Other Useful Services

Guernsey Trading Standards -www.gov.gg/ccm/navigation/commerce---employment/industry-commerce---trading-standards
Provides Trading Standard services in Guernsey

Jersey Trading Standards - www.gov.je/Industry/TradingStandards/Pages/default.aspx
Provides Trading Standard services in Jersey

If you regularly shop online or just about to for the first time it may be beneficial to visit Howard the ECC-Nets online shopping assistant, Meet Howard - your online shopping assistant

The UK European Consumer Centre has available a free newsletter, “UK ECC – your update”. The aim of the newsletter is to provide you, the consumer, with a flavour of what the UK ECC does, provide examples of cases we have been working on and, more importantly, provide you with the best advice on cross-border shopping.

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European Consumer Centre for Services (ECCS) – www.ukecc-services.net/
Website and telephone service on consumer laws and rights on buying a service in other European countries.