The consumer advice service is situated at 51 Corporation Rd Middlesbrough, opening times are as follows:

The service holds the community legal service specialist quality mark for consumer law. This is the highest level of the award for providing advice and legal help on complex matters in a specific area of law, including representation in court cases if required.

Our officers are highly trained and have many years experience assisting consumers who are in dispute with suppliers of goods and services.

Initial advice is provided in partnership with Consumer Direct. Please follow the weblink on the right hand side or telephone 0845 404 0506.

If your case is complex or complicated you will be referred to one of our specialist advisors who may negotiate with the trader on your behalf. If you are still unable to resolve your problem we can assist with court representation if necessary.

Although we can advise you on your rights and offer further help and assistance we do not have powers to close traders down or demand that a traders gives you a refund (only a Court can order this). If an advisor believes the trader has committed a criminal offence your case may also be referred to our enforcement team. Please follow this link to 'business regulation' for more information.

We have recognised that certain areas of trade have generated high levels of consumer dissatisfaction. As a result we have worked with suppliers to help make your decision easier when purchasing either a new car or double glazing by introducing two recommended trader schemes. We are currently working with neighbouring Authorities to extend and improve these arrangements still further and we will publish details of this on the website in due course. Until then you can still get details of both schemes from our consumer advice centre.

In response to a weights and measures survey that we carried out we have also introduced a "Fair Measure Pledge" to make sure that customers get a fair deal when ordering their pint. For further details of this scheme and a list of pubs that have already signed up please click on the "Fair Measure Pint" link on the right hand side.

If you require more information, including self-help advice leaflets that you can download, please follow the external link to Trading Standards on the right hand side of this page.