This section details a number of common problems experienced by consumers and possible preventions and remedies. A brief summary of each of the topics covered in this section and how this site may be able to help you can be found below. To access more detailed information on a topic and the relevant documents, click on the links on the left hand side of the page.

Advertising is a vital way for companies to drum up business. However, consumers need to watch out for unscrupulous advertisers trying to sell dodgy goods and services. Learn what to look out for and what to do if you think you have fallen victim to a misleading advertisement.

We all sometimes spend far more than we mean to. It can be all too easy to get the things we want without stopping to work out how we will pay for them when the bills roll in. There are lots of times when it makes sense to borrow money, either by getting credit or taking out a loan. The trouble is, it is not always easy to work out exactly how much it will cost us. There are so many competing schemes to choose from that most of us need advice on how to get the best deal. Learn the best way to borrow money and what to do if you spend too much and other issues involved with credit.

Every day people throughout the UK are falling victim to a scam of one kind or another. These scams come in different forms - letters, email, telephone calls and text messages. It could be an unexpected prize draw or lottery win, or a chance to invest in an exciting new moneymaking or investment programme. Learn how to protect yourself against these types of scams and what action to take if you have fallen victim to one yourself.

The Trade Descriptions Act makes it a criminal offence for a trader to put a misleading trade description on his goods. This includes false or misleading labelling about where something was made. Learn what to watch out for when looking at different product's labels.

If you wish to resolve a serious dispute without going to court, you may solve your problem using an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme. ADR is a term used for methods of sorting out complaints and legal problems without going to court. Learn more about ADR schemes and how to use one to settle a dispute.

There are a number of issues when buying from overseas. If you encounter problens, suing a supplier based overseas can be difficult, expensive and take a lot of time. A person could easily be ripped off if they don't know what their rights are. The contract may be governed by the laws of the country from where the goods were supplied rather than bought, or even by the laws of some third country. Learn what your rights are when buying from overseas and how to protect yourself from being ripped off.

It is illegal to sell certain goods to children and teenagers below a certain age. Learn what types of goods fall under this category of 'age restricted.'

Counterfeit goods are a huge problem and they are becoming more widely available. Technology levels have improved so much that it is easy for criminals to make sophisticated copies so that the consumer does not even realise that they are buying counterfeit goods. Learn how to protect yourself against making such a purchase.

Under the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations you have special rights as a consumer when you shop from home. Learn what your rights are when shopping from home, how to ensure you are shopping safely and securely, as well as what to do if something goes wrong.

Once you have decided to buy something over the Internet, be sure you know what is being sold, the total price, the delivery date, the return and cancellation policy, and the terms of any guarantee. By keeping track of all this information, you can help protect yourself should things go wrong. Use this section to learn how to buy safely on the Internet as well as what to do if something goes wrong while shopping on the web.

The Consumer Protection Act 1987 allows the consumer to obtain compensation when they have suffered any damage to a defective product without having to prove that someone is at fault. All that is needed is proof that there is a defect in the product. The Act is intended to compensate the individual and not commercial firms or companies. This section contains information on what rights you have under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and what steps to take if you have suffered any ill effects due to a defective product.