Consumer Advice

The City Council no longer provides a Consumer Advice service. Consumers can access any advice that they may need through the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or by visiting adviceguide.org.uk.

To report someone you suspect of selling illegal goods please submit an online report.

E-Bikes and E-Scooters Fire Safety Advice

E-bikes and e-scooters are becoming increasingly popular. Most are powered by lithium-ion batteries which can be charged in the home. The use of these batteries in a wide range of household products is becoming increasingly common.

It is important when charging e-bikes and e-scooters, you do so safely to avoid a risk of a fire starting and putting your families and homes at risk.

With an increased use of e-bikes and e-scooters, comes a corresponding fire safety concern associated with their charging and storage. The use of these products is expected to continue to rise. Some fire services and fire investigators have seen a rise in e-bike and e-scooter battery fires.

Currently there is limited data relating to the number of fires, but London Fire Brigade reported 8 fires caused by e-bikes and e-scooters in 2019. This rose to twenty-four in 2020 and fifty-nine by December 2021.

On occasions batteries can fail catastrophically, they can ‘explode’ and/or lead to a rapidly developing fire. For media stories go to: BBC News and Sky News of the 27 July 2023. 

For further information go to NFCC

Avian Flu

The risk of avian influenza for all poultry has reduced to low (meaning the event is rare but does occur) and the avian influenza prevention zones (AIPZ) for poultry and captive birds in England, Wales and Scotland have been lifted from midday on 4 July 2023.

Whilst the risk level in kept birds has reduced, the risk in wild birds remains high and all bird keepers should continue to take steps to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading at all times and be vigilant for signs of disease.

All poultry gatherings, including at fairs, shows and markets, remain banned, due to a large number of flocks mixing together and the risk posed by any infections spreading across the country.

Additional mandatory restrictions apply in disease control zones in force surrounding infected premises where avian influenza has been confirmed in poultry or other captive birds. Check if you’re in a zone on the bird flu disease control zone map and follow the rules for that zone.

Keepers should familiarise themselves with the avian flu advice and report suspicion of disease to APHA on 03000 200 301.

Poultry includes for example chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, pigeon (bred for meat), partridge, quail, guinea fowl and pheasants.

Captive birds are any birds kept in captivity, other than poultry, and includes for example – pet birds, birds kept for shows, races, exhibitions, competitions, breeding or sale.

All bird keepers (whether you have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock) must keep a close watch on them for signs of disease and maintain good biosecurity at all times. If you have any concerns about the health of your birds, seek prompt advice from your vet.

You should register your poultry, even if only kept as pets, so we can contact you during an outbreak. This is a legal requirement if you have 50 or more birds. Poultry includes chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, pigeon (bred for meat), partridge, quail, guinea fowl and pheasants.

For further information go to Gov.uk

Newcastle Citizens Advice

Newcastle Citizens Advice offers free services providing general advice and information across a wide subject area. Amongst the many services Citizens Advice offers help with; debt, housing, benefit entitlements, consumer, and employment issues. They can be found at the City Library, New Bridge Street West, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8AX or contacted on 03442 451 288 or via their website.

National Consumer Week

National Consumer Week is an annual campaign which aims to raise people's awareness of specific consumer issues, and provide support and advice for those who need it. 

We’ll be encouraging people to “be wise to being green”. It’s important that we take steps to be more environmentally friendly, like making our homes more energy efficient and installing energy technologies like solar panels. It can save money in the long run, and it’s good for the environment. It’s also an important part of how we can meet our UK climate change target.

But it’s also important that people feel confident when they’re making these decisions. 

That’s why we’re raising awareness of how people can protect themselves from misleading energy efficiency and environmental claims, such as “green scams” and rogue traders. With our advice and support consumers can arm themselves with the knowledge and confidence they need to make the best decisions.

EU Exit

Updated guidance on the changes can be found on Gov.uk   

Which?

Which? Consumer Rights website is a resource to help consumers solve their biggest issues, from faulty goods and delayed flights, to dealing with scams and dodgy tradesmen. There are hundreds of easy step-by-step guides and letter templates available to help you seek redress, and simple summaries of important consumer legislation.

Northumbria University Student Law Office

The Student Law Office at Northumbria University offers a free legal service to members of the public facing a range of legal issues. The service is provided by students who are supervised by qualified professional lawyers from the School of Law staff. The Law office deals with over 800 cases annually and have successfully concluded a number of high profile cases. The Student Law Office can be contacted on 0191 2273909 or by email at studentlawoffice@northumbria.ac.uk.

Newsletter

The Trading Standards service with the aim of providing updates on our work, produces a newsletter twice a year. To access a copy of our newsletter go to High Standard (pdf 1.7 mb).