Page content section :
Consumer advice and trading standards service
Trading
standards officers make sure that goods you buy are made to proper safety
standards. If you think you have bought unsafe goods, please refer to the
West Sussex County Council (WSCC) Trading Standards webpages or contact one
of their trading standards officers :
- WSCC : Trading standards advice (including contact information) (www.westsussex.gov.uk/doing_business/running_your_business/trading_standards_advice.aspx)
See also :
- Consumer Direct - help and advice for consumers in Great Britain (www.consumerdirect.gov.uk)
Online government services - don't get conned
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is investigating websites that charge people for government services that are available directly from government, either at no cost or for a lower fee. Visit Directgov to find the official sites.
Copycat sites
A number of private services have been set up online, which often sound and look like the official service. They may pay to appear at the top of internet search results and listings on websites to grab people's attention.
But these websites will often charge you extra 'administration fees'. And some of them will try to get you to ring premium rate phone lines for their advice and services. In most cases, at the end of the day, you will receive exactly the same service but will have paid more.
Finding online services you can trust
As the official UK government website for citizens, Directgov doesn't charge extra fees for online services. If the service isn't free you can be sure you will never pay more than the service actually costs.
And as well as being on the web, people can access Directgov information and services on any internet enabled mobile phone,
Some of the most frequently-used services are as follows. But as general rule, if linked out to from Directgov, you can trust that they are genuine.
The following links take you to the Directgov website relevant webpages :
- European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
Free medical services when you visit EU countries
Directgov website : Travel health and the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) (travel and transport section) (www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Foreigntravel/BeforeYouTravel/DG_4019496) - Driving tests
Book a practical or theory driving or riding test online
Directgov website : Learners and new drivers and riders (motoring section) (www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/index.htm) - TV licences
You can buy a TV licence for the first time or renew an existing one on the TV licensing website.
Directgov website : Buy your TV licence online Opens new window (www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4017480) - Passport applications
Look online for first passports, renewals and lost passports
Directgov website : Passports (travel and transport section) (www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Passports/index.htm) - Claims for child benefit
Directgov website : How to claim Child Benefit (money, tax and benefits section) (www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/ChildBenefitandChildTrustFund/Childbenefits/Gettingstarted/ClaimingChildBenefit/DG_073775) - Getting copies of birth, death, marriage certificates
Directgov website : Registering life events (government, citizens and rights section) (www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Registeringlifeevents/index.htm) - Student finance
New and returning full-time students can apply online for student finance
Directgov website : Student finance (education and learning section) (www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/index.htm) - Other services
Search from the Directgov website : Homepage (www.direct.gov.uk)
