A number of disparate topics are discussed in the following pages. Each is an example of where the internet could be used to help in local consumer protection by giving a 'one stop shop' to view complaints about local traders. One idea would be to have a 'rip-off' site devoted to peoples comments about particular companies, and arranged by areas of the country. For example, if you lived in Exeter and needed a man (or a woman?) to fix your roof, you would be able to look up if there were any local 'horror stories' about roofing companies. You could then avoid a company that someone else had had problems with - maybe for shoddy work or for overcharging. Obviously, the comments posted would have to be 'defensible' in law. Some ideas and examples follow. This section is due for more development in 2008/2009.

Index for this section.

Introduction to consumer protection and Trading Standards

Dental charges - part of rip-off Britain

Coming if I ever get the time.. new pages on the following topics:

Roadside recovery services (Britannia Rescue, to name but one)

Leasehold property maintenance companies (Arkleygate, to name but one)

Radon - how the public were misled for years by governments departments and agencies- this topic now has its own section.

Solar heating - why proper analysis published during the 1980s is being ignored by the present government - and why rip-off companies are flourishing once again

Double glazing - simple calculations and facts from an expert to help you make sense of all the misleading advertising and government propaganda

Sunvic central heating motorised valves - now grown so much the topic has its own section.