This section provides the consumer with advice on what to do if they have any problems with the professional services they use. Below is a summary of the different types of professional services. If you would like more detailed information on a specific professional service, then click on the articles in the left hand column to access the appropriate article and any relevant documents.

Accountants belong to professional organisations which are there to ensure that their members abide by a code of conduct and deal with their work in a competent manner. These professional bodies can be approached if there are complaints about the quality of the service provided by accountants. The professional body will investigate the complaint and keep the complainant informed of their decision. The view of these professional bodies is important because they can be expected to have enough expertise to know what has gone wrong and assess how the consumer should be compensated.

Gone are the days when a pronouncement from a doctor is never questioned. People who use doctors and other health professionals expect such professionals to justify the treatments they propose to use. If problems arise, the consumer may have good reason to seek compensation for injuries suffered as a result of negligence on the part of the doctor or health professional. This is particularly difficult to prove. An alternative is to use the complaints procedure, which has been designed by the professional organisations and the NHS in order to hold health professionals accountable.

Consumers are better informed and prepared to challenge the established professions and demand that a competent service is provided. It is important that such professionals maintain high standards because the service they provide can have far reaching effects on the lives of their clients. The Law Society has established a complex procedure in order to deal with complaints of consumers. This system includes thorough investigation and mediation and should remove the need to go to court. In extreme cases the professional body can discipline the solicitor.

Estate agents have been an unregulated group of businessmen and women with no central professional organisation for some time. However, since the banks and building societies have taken over many local estate agencies, many estate agents have joined a professional organisation, the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) , which is able to answer complaints and provide a code of conduct for their members.

The NAEA has an insurance bonding scheme which protects the financial interests of consumers when dealing with its members. Around 60% of residential estate agents are members of the NAEA.