Consumer Direct: Difference between revisions

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Consumer Direct was a Government-funded call centre providing basic consumer advice in the United Kingdom. Information was also provided on their website (see below). Following a review by government in 2010, Consumer Direct ceased to operate in March 2012 with its role being handed to the Citizens Advice consumer service. The new service operates using the same telephone number and provides the same level of advice as Consumer Direct did.

Consumer Direct's intention was to make such basic advice available to everyone regardless of the area in which they live.

Previously, provision of consumer advice services varied, with some local Councils operating extensive services with several staff; and others relying on other local advice services such as the Citizens Advice Bureau.

The service operated via a standardised national telephone number (currently 0808 223 1133) and by e-mail. Simpler complaints were dealt with directly; more complex matters that may require direct intervention or indicate some criminality were passed on to the relevant organisation (usually the relevant local Trading Standards office) as a referral. The website also provided a number of advice sheets.

Trading Standards offices were notified of all complaints relating to a trader based in their area. It was expected that this would assist in identifying problem traders more quickly.

Data was transmitted on a secure network using a standardised xml format which assists automated uploading of the information into local databases and eventually into the proposed eTSN (electronic Trading Standards Network). The eTSN never progressed.

Abolition

Consumer Direct closed on 31 March 2012 with its functions being passed to Citizens Advice. The Citizens Advice consumer service provides email and phone advice as well as self-help material through its website.^[1]

References

^ "Consumer".

This article about an organisation in the United Kingdom is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "Consumer".

[1]

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+{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
-'''Consumer Direct''' is a [[Government of the United Kingdom|Government]]-funded [[call centre]] providing basic consumer advice in the [[United Kingdom]].
+'''Consumer Direct''' was a [[Her Majesty's Government|Government]]-funded [[call centre]] providing basic consumer advice in the [[United Kingdom]]. Information was also provided on their website (see below). Following a review by government in 2010, Consumer Direct ceased to operate in March 2012 with its role being handed to the Citizens Advice consumer service. The new service operates using the same telephone number and provides the same level of advice as Consumer Direct did.
-The intention is to make such basic advice available to everyone regardless of the area in which they live.
+Consumer Direct's intention was to make such basic advice available to everyone regardless of the area in which they live.
-Previously, provision of consumer advice services varied, with some local Councils operating extensive services with several staff; and others relying on other local advice services such as the Citizens Advice Bureau.
+Previously, provision of consumer advice services varied, with some local Councils operating extensive services with several staff; and others relying on other local advice services such as the [[Citizens Advice Bureau]].
-The service operates via a standardised national telephone number (currently 08454 04 05 06) and by e-mail. Simpler complaints are dealt with directly; more complex matters that may require direct intervention or indicate some criminality will be passed on to the relevant organistion (usually the relevant local [[Trading Standards]] office) as a referral.  The website also provides a number of advice sheets.
+The service operated via a standardised national telephone number (currently 0808 223 1133) and by e-mail. Simpler complaints were dealt with directly; more complex matters that may require direct intervention or indicate some criminality were passed on to the relevant organisation (usually the relevant local [[Trading Standards]] office) as a referral.  The website also provided a number of advice sheets.
-Trading Standards offices are notified of all complaints relating to a trader based in their area.  It is expected that this will assist in identifying problem traders more quickly.
+Trading Standards offices were notified of all complaints relating to a trader based in their area.  It was expected that this would assist in identifying problem traders more quickly.
-Data is transmitted on a secure network using a standardised xml format which assists automated uploading of the information into local databases and eventually into the proposed eTSN (electronic Trading Standards Network)
+Data was transmitted on a secure network using a standardised xml format which assists automated uploading of the information into local databases and eventually into the proposed eTSN (electronic Trading Standards Network). The eTSN never progressed.
-== References ==
+==Abolition==
+Consumer Direct closed on 31 March 2012 with its functions being passed to Citizens Advice. The Citizens Advice consumer service provides email and phone advice as well as self-help material through its website.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/ | title=Consumer }}</ref>
-[http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk Consumer Direct website]
+== References ==
-[http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/project/ Technical documentation]
+{{reflist}}
+*[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/*/http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/ Consumer Direct website]
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070203081520/http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/project/ Technical documentation]
+*[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/civil-servants-feel-axe-as-osborne-cuts-pound6bn-1981108.html ''Independent'' article]
+*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11540624 Consumer Direct helpline to be run by Citizens Advice]
+*[http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN05717.pdf Public bodies review: consumer bodies]{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
+*[http://www.adviceguide.org.uk//consumer_e/if_you_need_more_help.htm Citizens Advice consumer service]
+[[Category:Programmes of the Government of the United Kingdom]]
-[http://www.tsi.org.uk/etsn eTSN project page]
-[http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/project/pdfs/etsn_faq.pdf Consumer Direct/eTSN proposal]
-{{uk-stub}}
+{{UK-org-stub}}
-[[Category:Government of the United Kingdom]]