Reporting rogue traders can help others avoid heartache
A: If you think a business has broken the law or acted unfairly, you can report them to Trading Standards.
Trading Standards use the information you give them to investigate unfair trading and illegal business activity, like rogue traders and scams.
Trading Standards can take businesses to court or stop them operating, but they won’t help you fix your problem – for example, they can’t help you get a refund.
You should report a business to Trading Standards if they sold you something:
■ unsafe or dangerous, like an electronic appliance with faulty wiring or food past its use-by date ■ fake ■ not as described - for example, you bought a package holiday, but something advertised wasn’t included
■ you didn’t want to buy – for example, they put pressure on you
You can also tell them about a business if:
■ they scammed you – for example, you paid for something online that you didn’t receive and you couldn’t contact the seller
■ they tried to stop you using your legal rights – for example, they said you can’t return faulty goods
■ they weren’t clear about the price or added on extra costs – for example, they advertised theatre ticket prices without booking fees
■ they sold products to people who looked underage without asking for ID – for example, alcohol, knives or fireworks
■ they didn’t carry out work properly – for example, kitchen fitters left your home in a dangerous state
To report to Trading Standards, you need to contact Advice Direct Scotland’s consumer service via freephone on 0808 164 6000 or online at www. consumeradvice.scot
Trading Standards will use the information you give to decide if they will investigate.
They will only contact you if they need more information.
Even if Trading Standards don’t contact you, they might use your evidence to take action against the business in the future – for example, if other people make complaints about the same business. You could also report it through the Trading Standards website: www.tsscot.co.uk/consumeradvice/consumer-advice/ to report it online
Q: My husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer back in November. After chemotherapy sessions in March, we were told he was terminal. I look after him and assist him every day. We both receive pensions. Would we be entitled to any help or extra benefits?
A: You should apply for Attendance Allowance straight away if you meet the eligibility criteria – it doesn’t matter how long your husband’s had his illness.
There’s a quick application process for people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and aren’t expected to live more than six months.
Once you apply you’ll get a decision back within about two weeks.
You can apply for Attendance Allowance for someone else, for example if they:
■ don’t know their illness is terminal ■ are too ill to apply ■ are struggling to come to terms with their diagnosis
You can sign the form for them if they can’t sign it themselves – you don’t need to have the authority to act for them.
It’s best to tell them you’re applying for Attendance Allowance for them, but you don’t need to say it’s because they’re terminally ill.
The money will be paid to them rather than you, even if you’ve signed the form for them.
Phone the Attendance Allowance helpline and ask them to send you a form.
You should tell them you’re terminally ill and applying under the DWP’s special rules – then they’ll know your application needs to be fasttracked.
You’ll need to give your name, address, phone number and date of birth.
Call the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122.
Your payments will be backdated to when you phoned if you send the form back within six weeks.
If you send it after six weeks, your payments will only be backdated to when the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) gets the form.
If you can’t phone the helpline, you can download the form on GOV.UK.
The DWP will only pay you from the date they receive the form, so it’s best to phone.
Ask your doctor, specialist or consultant for a medical condition report.
This is a form describing your conditions and treatments – you’ll need to send it with your Attendance Allowance application.
You won’t have to pay for this report.
You won’t have to fill in the full application form if you have a terminal illness – you don’t have to answer the questions about personal tasks.
You should send the Attendance Allowance form back as soon as possible – if you can, send it back within six weeks.
If you don’t have a DS1500 report from your doctor and the six-week time limit is approaching, you should send the form anyway.
Include a letter explaining you’ve send the DS1500 report at a later date – this way you’ll still get paid from the date you phoned for the form.
It’s a good idea to make a copy of your filled-in application form and any other documents you send. This will be useful if you need to refer to them later.
Send the form and the DS1500 to Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance.
Q: I want to complain against a police officer as I feel he treated me unfairly and acted outwith his post.
A: You can make a complaint against a police officer, a police staff member, cadet or special constable. You won’t get financial compensation.
Examples of grounds for complaint are that a police officer, on or off duty, has been disorderly, rude, made false statements, used unnecessary force and several other criteria.
For example, you could complain if you were stopped and searched, but you don’t think the police officer followed the search procedure.
You can complain if you were directly affected, indirectly affected or a witness.
Children and young people under 18, and vulnerable adults, can complain on their own behalf.
You can complain about the police if there are criminal proceedings against you. You could also send copies of your complaint to the Procurator Fiscal or local MSP/MP.
If you don’t feel able to complain yourself, someone else could complain on your behalf, with your consent.
For example, a solicitor, an MSP, friend, responsible adult or parent could complain for you.
Before you make a complaint, try to get:
■ evidence to support your complaint – like a record of the search
■ statements from witnesses who will confirm what happened – you should ask witnesses to write down what they witnessed, and sign and date this, so you can include it with your complaint.
If possible take the names and addresses of the witnesses.
Police complaints are seen as a very serious matter.
You can be charged with wasting police time if a complaint is investigated and found to be deliberately false and malicious.
If this happens, there is also a possibility that the police officer complained about will start a civil action for defamation of character.
You should complain directly to Police Scotland, Scotland’s national police service.
You can write, phone, email or use the online complaints form.
You can also complain in person at any police station or to any police officer. It may be best to complain in writing so that you have a record of the complaint.
An adviser at your local Citizens Advice Bureau can help you to write a full account of your complaint.
There is information on what to include in a complaint and a link to the online complaints form on the Police Scotland website .
Q: I need some assistance as I’m 78, and am staying home as my disabilities make me a high risk of contracting coronavirus. My son was helping me while he was furloughed, but now has to return to work. What assistance can I get?
A: If you cannot leave your home because you are at high risk from coronavirus or you are self-isolating, you can call the national assistance helpline on 0800 111 4000, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
The helpline will connect you with your local council for support getting food and medicine, social work services, emotional support and support from local volunteer groups.