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What is the CSN?
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What
is the CSN?
About the Consumer Support Network
- What is a Consumer Support Network?
- What is "Consumer Advice"?
- Who contributes to the North Lanarkshire Consumer Support Network?
- How is the quality of the advice checked?
What is a Consumer Support Network?
Consumer Support Networks are an important part of the Governments overall strategy and policy for improving the provision of free information and advice to consumers.
Each Network brings together organisations with an interest in creating confident, informed consumers, a fair-trading environment and a prosperous local economy.
What is "Consumer Advice"?
Quite simply consumer advice is advice regarding the purchase and sale of goods and services. Our consumer advice reflects today's marketplace and takes account of developments such as Internet shopping and the often complicated ways that goods and services are sold.
The advice is practical and covers:
- What to look out for when buying goods and services.
- Consumers' rights and obligations when buying goods and services.
- How to obtain redress when things go wrong.
Who contributes to the North Lanarkshire Consumer Support Network?
North Lanarkshire Consumer Support Network is one of the many Consumer Support Networks that support local communities throughout the UK.
In North Lanarkshire Trading Standards, Citizens Advice Bureaux and independent advice agencies work together to provide joined-up, quality assured consumer advice. A full list of members can be seen on the right, and their contact details can be found on the 'Contact Details' page.
The Network links up with vulnerable groups within the community through agencies such as Age Concern, agencies supporting minority groups, and other advice services such as debt, housing and welfare rights.
Local businesses and business organisations such as Chambers of Commerce may also be involved, for example through promotion of fair trading schemes.
How is the quality of the advice checked?
Network members must be certified to their level of competence under a recognised quality scheme. This will be either the Community Legal Service (CLS) Quality Mark (England and Wales), or in Scotland the Quality Mark Scotland. Citizens Advice Bureaux must meet the Citizens Advice or Citizens Advice Scotland conditions of Membership.
