What is SQUARE DEAL | Information for Consumers | Information for Traders

What is Square Deal?

The Trading Standards Service itself is responsible for maintaining a fair trading environment.  

It is responsible for helping business to comply with the law, while maintaining a balance with consumers' needs, protecting them from unsafe goods, fraud and the like.   In addition, consumers who are aware of their legal rights and have a knowledge of their information requirements prior to making a purchase are more likely to enter into satisfactory transactions.  It is clearly better to give consumers the means to make informed purchasing decisions rather than to sort things out after they have gone wrong.

It can be difficult for customers to know whether they are dealing with traders who are operating fairly and honestly so Portsmouth City Council Trading Standards Service have a 'fair trade scheme' - SQUARE DEAL!

Why have Square Deal?

The scheme was introduced to

• promote fair trading within the City of Portsmouth
• to signpost consumers to fair and honest businesses
• to improve consumer confidence
• to help members fulfill their legal obligations
• to ensure compliance with trading standards legislation

By working in partnership with local business, we are working towards a fair and honest trading environment for the people of Portsmouth. 

If you are a Consumer seeking further advice about SQUARE DEAL click the "Information for Consumers" link at the top of this page.

If you are a Trader seeking further advice about SQUARE DEAL click the "Information for Traders" link at the top of this page.

Search our list of registered firms by following the "Choose a Business" link on the left hand side of this page, or follow the other links to find out more about SQUARE DEAL.  

Associated Documents:

 Frequently Asked Questions (0.02 MB)