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Useful contacts - alternative sources of advice

Citizens Advice Bureau

The Citizens Advice Bureau can advise on a wide range of issues including employment and consumer affairs.

Portsmouth
Drummond House
Dugald Drummond Street
Portsmouth
PO1 2BB
Telephone: 0870 126 4036
email: admin@portsmouthcab.org.uk - administration only

Cosham
Northern Roundabout
Northern Road
Cosham
Portsmouth
PO6 3DN
Telephone: 08701 264046
email: cosham@portsmouthcab.org.uk - advice and help

You can also visit their website at http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/

Banks and insurance companies

The Financial Ombudman Service are the consumer watchdog for financial services. They can deal with complaints about banks, building societies, credit cards, insurance companies and many other things invloving financial services.

Financial Ombudsman Service
South Quay Plaza
183 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SR
Tel: 0845 080 1800

Energy Watch

Energy Watch can deal with complaints regarding the supply of gas and electricity.  They have specialist skills to help consumers who are experiencing problems with their gas or electircity supplier.

Energy Watch
4th Floor
Artillery House
Artlliery Row
London
SW1P 1RT
Tel: 08457 06 07 08

Watervoice

Watervoice run a similar service to Energy Watch but involving water companies.  Watervoice is local to Portsmouth and other areas in the south.

Watervoice Southern
4th Floor (South)
52-54 High Holborn House
London
WC1V 6RL
Tel: 08457 58 16 58

Mail Preference Service

If you are having problems with junk mail or scam letters, you can contact the Mail Preference Service who can put you on a register that prevents junk mail coming to your address.

Mail Preference Service
Freepost 22
London
W1E 4EZ
Tel: 020 7291 3310

Postwatch

Postwatch can deal with any problems relating to postal services.  The scope of what they can deal with is quite wide, ranging from goods damaged in transit to the closure of local post offices.

Postwatch South and West
Egdon Hall
Lynch Lane
Weymouth
Dorset
DT4 9DN
Tel: 08456 013 265
E-mail: southandwest@postwatch.co.uk

Advertising Standards Authority

The Advertising Standards Authority can look into misleading advertising and other advertising queries.  Complaints must be made in writing with the advertisement attched if possible.

ASA
2 Torrington Place
London
WC1E 7HW
Tel: 020 7580 5555

Websites

These websites have a wealth of up to date consumer information on a vast range of issues.

Consumer Direct is a telephone and online consumer advice service supported by local authorities and by the Department of Trade and Industry: http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/contact

Trading Standards has many detailed and dowloadable advice fact sheets for both traders and consumers: www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

The Office of Fair Trading and the Deparment of Trade and Industry both have information on current consumer issues as well as general information for businesses and consumers: www.oft.gov.uk and www.dti.gov.uk

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