How to Report a Company to Trading Standards in the UK (2026)?

Knowing how to report a company to Trading Standards can help consumers take action when a business appears to be trading illegally, selling unsafe products or ignoring important consumer protection rules.

The reporting process differs slightly depending on where someone lives in the UK. Consumers in England and Wales will normally start with Citizens Advice, while Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own consumer advice services.

Trading Standards generally focuses on enforcement rather than resolving an individual consumer’s dispute. A report can still be valuable because it may help authorities identify repeated complaints, investigate a trader and prevent other consumers from experiencing similar problems.

Last Updated: 23.09.2026

What Is Trading Standards And When Should You Report A Business?

Trading Standards services enforce a wide range of consumer protection laws and help ensure businesses trade fairly and legally. They are generally operated by local authorities, although the exact structure differs across the UK.

Consumers should consider making a report where there is evidence that a trader may have broken consumer law or created a wider risk to the public.

This may include situations where a business has:

• Sold Unsafe Or Dangerous Products
• Supplied Counterfeit Or Fake Goods
• Provided Misleading Product Descriptions
• Used Aggressive Or High-Pressure Sales Tactics
• Hidden Charges Or Failed To Display Prices Clearly
• Prevented Consumers From Exercising Their Legal Rights
• Carried Out Work In A Dangerous Or Seriously Substandard Way
• Sold Age-Restricted Products Without Appropriate Checks

A poor customer service experience alone will not necessarily result in Trading Standards action. The issue normally needs to raise concerns about consumer law, unfair trading, safety or a wider pattern of misconduct.

What Types Of Business Problems Can You Report?

Trading Standards can receive information about many different types of businesses, including retailers, builders, car dealers, online sellers, repair companies and other traders supplying goods or services.

Common examples include counterfeit products, misleading advertising, unsafe electrical goods, false claims about services, hidden fees and traders who refuse to recognise basic consumer rights.

Consumers can also report businesses that appear to be targeting vulnerable people through aggressive doorstep selling or misleading claims.

It is important to provide specific information about what happened rather than simply stating that a business was unprofessional or disappointing.

How Do You Report A Company To Trading Standards In The UK?

There is no single consumer reporting process covering every part of the UK. The correct route depends on where the consumer lives.

Reporting In England And Wales

Consumers in England and Wales should normally contact the Citizens Advice consumer service.

Citizens Advice can provide guidance about consumer rights and collect information about the complaint. Where appropriate, relevant details can then be passed to Trading Standards.

Consumers should be prepared to explain:

• What Happened
• When The Purchase Or Agreement Was Made
• How Much They Paid
• How They Paid
• Whether The Purchase Was Made Online Or In Person
• The Trader’s Name And Contact Details
• What They Have Already Done To Resolve The Problem

Trading Standards will then decide whether the information requires investigation or contributes to wider intelligence about the business.

Reporting In Scotland

Consumers in Scotland can obtain consumer advice through Advice Direct Scotland.

The service can provide guidance about consumer problems and help ensure relevant concerns reach the appropriate authorities.

Consumers should keep detailed records of the transaction, communication with the trader and any evidence showing why they believe the business may have breached consumer law.

Reporting In Northern Ireland

Consumers in Northern Ireland should normally contact Consumerline.

Consumerline provides consumer rights advice and receives complaints about traders. Where a matter may involve legislation enforced by the Northern Ireland Trading Standards Service, complaint information can be forwarded for consideration.

Trading Standards receives many complaints, so not every report will result in a formal investigation.

What Information And Evidence Do You Need Before Reporting?

Good evidence can make a report clearer and more useful to consumer advisers and enforcement officers.

Before making a report, consumers should gather as much relevant information as possible.

Useful evidence can include:

• Business Name And Trading Address
• Website Or Marketplace Seller Details
• Receipts And Invoices
• Order Confirmations
• Contracts Or Written Agreements
• Bank Or Card Payment Records
• Emails And Messages
• Screenshots Of Online Listings
• Photographs Or Videos
• Product Packaging And Serial Numbers
• Previous Complaint Correspondence
• Dates And Times Of Important Events

It can also help to prepare a short timeline explaining what happened from the original purchase through to the latest contact with the business.

Consumers should preserve online evidence quickly because advertisements, product listings and social media posts can be edited or removed.

Can You Report An Online Seller Or Marketplace Business?

Yes. The fact that a trader operates online does not automatically prevent the business from being reported.

Problems may involve sellers operating through online marketplaces, social media platforms, independent websites or other digital sales channels.

Consumers should save information that helps identify the trader, including:

• Seller Name
• Marketplace Username
• Product Listing
• Order Number
• Website Address
• Messages With The Seller
• Payment Evidence
• Screenshots Of Claims Or Prices
• Marketplace Complaint Reference

If the seller disappears after receiving payment or the transaction appears fraudulent, the matter may also need to be reported through the appropriate fraud reporting service.

Consumers should also use the marketplace’s own dispute procedure where one is available, particularly when they are trying to recover money.

What Should You Do If A Product Is Unsafe Or Dangerous?

Unsafe products should be treated more urgently than an ordinary customer service dispute.

Consumers should stop using a product if continuing to use it could cause injury or damage. They should then preserve the item and collect identifying information where it is safe to do so.

Useful details include:

• Product Name And Brand
• Model Number
• Batch Or Serial Number
• Place And Date Of Purchase
• Seller Details
• Description Of The Safety Risk
• Photos Of The Product
• Evidence Of Any Damage Or Injury

For unsafe consumer products, people in England and Wales can report concerns through the Citizens Advice consumer service. In Scotland, the route is Advice Direct Scotland. In Northern Ireland, unsafe product concerns may be handled through the relevant local district council.

Immediate dangers involving buildings, gas, fire or other serious hazards may require contact with emergency services or the relevant specialist authority rather than waiting for a Trading Standards response.

What Happens After You Report A Company?

Submitting a report does not automatically mean the company will be investigated.

The information may first be reviewed to determine the seriousness of the issue, the evidence available and whether similar complaints have been made about the same trader.

Trading Standards may use the information to:

• Build Intelligence About A Trader
• Identify Patterns Of Complaints
• Request Further Information
• Carry Out Inspections
• Issue Advice Or Warnings
• Investigate Suspected Offences
• Take Formal Enforcement Action Where Appropriate

Consumers may not always receive detailed updates about what happens after their report.

Even when no immediate investigation follows, the information can still become useful if other consumers later report similar conduct.

Can Trading Standards Help You Get A Refund Or Compensation?

Trading Standards should not normally be treated as a refund or compensation service.

Its main role is enforcing consumer protection law and dealing with trading practices that may harm the wider public.

A consumer who wants their money back may need to pursue the issue separately by contacting the trader and using the appropriate dispute process.

Possible options can include:

• Making A Formal Complaint To The Business
• Using Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Using An Industry Ombudsman Where Available
• Contacting A Card Provider Where Relevant
• Using A Marketplace Dispute Procedure
• Considering A Civil Court Claim

A consumer can therefore report a trader to Trading Standards while separately pursuing their own refund or compensation.

Will The Company Know You Reported Them?

Consumers should not automatically assume that every Trading Standards report is completely anonymous.

Consumer advice services and enforcement authorities have privacy rules governing how personal information is handled. However, investigators may sometimes need additional information to assess allegations properly.

Providing contact details can also allow advisers or enforcement officers to clarify facts or request further evidence.

Anyone concerned about confidentiality should ask the relevant consumer service how their details may be used or shared when making the report.

When Should You Contact Another Organisation Instead?

Trading Standards is not the correct organisation for every business-related problem.

The appropriate organisation depends on the type of complaint.

Since December 2025, Report Fraud has replaced Action Fraud as the national service for reporting fraud and cybercrime.

Using the correct organisation can prevent unnecessary delays and increase the chance of the information reaching the authority with the appropriate powers.

How Do You Find Your Local Trading Standards Service?

Trading Standards functions are generally connected to local authorities, which means the responsible service can depend on where the consumer or business is located.

Consumers in England can use the Trading Standards search facility provided through GOV.UK to identify the relevant council by postcode.

However, finding a local Trading Standards department does not necessarily mean consumers should contact it directly. For many consumer complaints in England and Wales, Citizens Advice remains the normal first route.

Local authority websites can also provide information about issues such as unsafe goods, illegal trading and local enforcement priorities.

What Mistakes Should You Avoid When Reporting A Company?

A clear, factual report is generally more useful than a long complaint containing unsupported accusations.

Common mistakes include:

• Providing Too Little Information – Give dates, payment details, trader information and supporting evidence where possible.
• Making Unsupported Allegations – Describe what happened rather than making claims that cannot be demonstrated.
• Deleting Messages Or Receipts – Keep copies of communication and transaction records.
• Failing To Save Online Evidence – Take screenshots before listings or advertisements disappear.
• Expecting Trading Standards To Recover Money – Enforcement and individual compensation are different processes.
• Reporting To The Wrong Organisation – Fraud, advertising, financial services and consumer disputes may require different authorities.
• Ignoring Previous Complaint Records – Include details of attempts already made to resolve the problem with the trader.

Organising the evidence before contacting a consumer advice service can make the reporting process much easier.

Conclusion

Understanding how to report a company to Trading Standards can help consumers respond appropriately when they encounter unsafe products, misleading trading practices, counterfeit goods or other possible breaches of consumer law.

The most important step is using the correct reporting route. Consumers in England and Wales normally start with Citizens Advice, Scotland uses Advice Direct Scotland and Northern Ireland uses Consumerline.

Strong evidence, accurate business details and a clear timeline can make a report more useful. Consumers should also remember that Trading Standards primarily focuses on enforcement, so recovering money may require a separate complaint, dispute resolution process or legal route.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Contact Trading Standards Directly?

Consumers in England and Wales normally report consumer problems through Citizens Advice, which can pass relevant information to Trading Standards.

Is It Worth Reporting A Company To Trading Standards?

Yes, particularly if the business may be breaking consumer law or its behaviour could affect other consumers. Individual reports can help authorities identify wider patterns.

Can You Report A Company Anonymously?

Confidentiality arrangements vary depending on the service and circumstances. Consumers concerned about revealing their identity should discuss this with the relevant consumer advice service.

How Long Does Trading Standards Take To Investigate?

There is no standard investigation period. The time required depends on the seriousness of the case, available evidence and the complexity of any investigation.

Can You Report A Sole Trader To Trading Standards?

Yes. Relevant consumer law can apply to sole traders as well as companies, so the business does not necessarily have to be a limited company.

Can Trading Standards Shut Down A Company?

Trading Standards can take enforcement action where legal requirements are met. The action available depends on the offence, evidence and applicable enforcement powers.

What Is The Difference Between Citizens Advice And Trading Standards?

Citizens Advice provides consumer guidance and can pass relevant complaint information to Trading Standards. Trading Standards focuses mainly on investigation and enforcement.