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Consumer advice

Consumers are advised on their legal rights when they buy faulty goods or when they get poor service. They are also advised on what options they have when complaining. Where to find consumer advice and where to find information.

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Where can I find consumer advice?

Citizens Advice consumer service (CAcs) provides free, confidential and impartial advice on consumer issues.

Citizens Advice consumer service is a government-funded telephone and online advice service. East Riding of Yorkshire Council works in partnership with CAcs.

By using the Citizens Advice consumer service website you can make an online request for help or advice.

Citizens Advice consumer service (external website)

Telephone: 0808 2231133 for help or advice.

Opening hours are 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday. Offices are closed on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.

How do I reduce unwanted sales and marketing telephone calls?

If you don’t want to get any calls from sales and marketing firms you can add your details to a list, run by the Telephone Preference Service. Once you are registered most unwanted calls should be blocked.

You can register by:

  • calling the Telephone Preference Service registration line on 0345 070 0707

  • visiting the Telephone Preference Service website
    Telephone Preference Service (external website)

  • writing to the Telephone Preference Service, DMA House, 70 Margaret Street, London, W1W 8SS.

How do I reduce the junk mail I get?

If you want to reduce the amount of unsolicited junk mail you get, you should register with the Mail Preference Service.

You can register by:

  • calling the Mail Preference Service registration line on 0207 291 3310

  • visiting the Mail Preference Service website:
    Mail Preference Service (external website)

  • writing to the Mail Preference Service, FREEPOST 29 LON20771, London, W1E 0ZT.

What is cold calling?

Cold calling is when an uninvited trades person calls at your home and tries to sell you a product or a service. Although some of the trades people are legitimate, some, unfortunately, are not, and prey on the elderly and vulnerable.

What can I do about it?

East Riding of Yorkshire Council in conjunction with the Community Wardens and the local police are helping residents to start 'No Cold Calling' zone. The Zones have proved very successful in the past in helping to educate the public on the dangers of cold callers, also giving residents the confidence to say NO, if they have unwanted callers.

The core requirements of a No Cold Calling Zone, which are:

  • The core objective is the prevention or reduction of crime (including the fear of crime)
  • There is a real prospect that the establishment of the Zone will assist in achieving the crime reduction objective
  • There is a high concentration of consumers who are particularly vulnerable to exploitation (including consumers who have a higher propensity to be misled) within the area
  • There is consultation with householders within the area of the proposed Zone, and the majority of residents agree to a No Cold Calling Zone being created.

You can read more about how it works below:

What can I do about it?

How it works

A person on the street needs to act as coordinator by distributing information and obtaining agreement in the form of signatures of the residents in the street. A warden or a representative from an appropriate organisation may also act as a coordinator, for example from Neighbourhood Watch, or the local police.

Information and the related paperwork can be provided and tailored to fit the needs of each individual zone.

When we have all the signatures from the residents and a request form from the coordinator outlining details of the area and the reason for establishing a No Cold Calling Zone, the area can be designated as a No Cold Calling Zone. To help to identify this designation residents will be provided with door stickers, making cold callers aware that they are not welcome in the area.

Street signs may also be provided to reinforce this message where appropriate. Street signs have to be attached to lamp posts at a height of more than 6 foot from the base. They are most effective and the beginning of the street or area, however, this may not be possible due to the location of lampposts in the area.

For further information please contact consumeradvice@eastriding.gov.uk

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