Can Trading Standards get my money back if a trader cheats me?

Trading Standards is a regulatory enforcement body that acts in the public interest. It cannot recover money or act as a mediator for individual consumers. If you need compensation, you should use a Letter Before Action or make a claim in the county court. Your complaint to Trading Standards helps with enforcement action but does not provide personal financial redress.

What types of trader behaviour should I report to Trading Standards?

Trading Standards investigates and enforces consumer protection laws, including unfair commercial practices, misleading advertising, and unsafe goods. However, if your issue involves a financial product, you should report it to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). If it involves food safety, you should contact your local Environmental Health department instead.

What evidence do I need to provide when complaining to Trading Standards?

You should include a clear description of the unfair practice, the trader's details, purchase information, and specific evidence. Enclose copies of receipts, invoices, photographs of goods, screenshots of advertisements, and any correspondence with the trader. Keeping copies of all evidence is essential to support your complaint effectively.

Which laws does Trading Standards enforce regarding unfair trading?

The primary legal basis for these complaints is the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. This legislation covers misleading actions, aggressive commercial practices, and breaches of professional diligence. Trading Standards is the primary enforcement authority for these regulations, along with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Trade Descriptions Act 1968.

Should I also contact Citizens Advice when making a complaint?

Yes, you should also report the matter to Citizens Advice Consumer Service. This is the national consumer helpline that feeds intelligence to Trading Standards. Providing your complaint to both bodies helps ensure the issue is recorded and may assist in broader enforcement actions against the trader.

← All Templates

Regulatory

Regulatory Law

Updated 2026-04-17

Complaint to Trading Standards

Formal complaint to Trading Standards about a trader engaging in unfair commercial practices, misleading conduct, or breaches of consumer protection law.

This template was not drafted by a solicitor.

It is an editorial reference based on the official sources we cite. You are responsible for any document you send. For high-stakes matters (court proceedings, large sums, deportation, criminal allegations, child welfare), have a regulated solicitor review or draft your document.

When to use this template

Use this letter when a trader has engaged in unfair commercial practices, misleading advertising, aggressive selling, or has supplied goods or services that are unsafe, counterfeit, or misdescribed, and you wish to report the matter to your local Trading Standards service. Trading Standards can investigate, prosecute, and issue enforcement orders. This letter is a regulatory complaint, not a claim for compensation.

When NOT to use this template

Trading Standards acts in the public interest and cannot recover your money for you — use a Letter Before Action or a county court claim for that. If the matter involves a financial product, report to the FCA. If it involves food safety, report to the Environmental Health department. Trading Standards focuses on enforcement rather than individual redress, though your complaint contributes to enforcement action.

Legal Basis

Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1277), implementing the EU Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (retained and amended post-Brexit); Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008; Consumer Rights Act 2015 (product safety and trader obligations); Trade Descriptions Act 1968. Trading Standards is the primary enforcement authority for these Regulations.

Before you send

Expecting Trading Standards to act as a mediator or recover your money — they are a regulatory enforcement body
Not providing a clear description of the unfair practice complained of
Not keeping copies of all evidence — receipts, contracts, advertisements, and correspondence

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗Expecting Trading Standards to act as a mediator or recover your money — they are a regulatory enforcement body
✗Not providing a clear description of the unfair practice complained of
✗Not keeping copies of all evidence — receipts, contracts, advertisements, and correspondence
✗Not also reporting to Citizens Advice Consumer Service (the national consumer helpline that feeds intelligence to Trading Standards)

Build Your Letter

Fill in your details

Complete the fields below. Required fields are marked with *.

Your full name*

Your address*

Date of letter*

Your local council / Trading Standards service*

Trader's name or company name*

Trader's address*

Date of your purchase or transaction*

Description of the unfair practice or problem*

Letter preview

[YOUR FULL NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]

[DATE OF LETTER]

Trading Standards
[YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL / TRADING STANDARDS SERVICE]

---

Dear Sir or Madam,

**FORMAL COMPLAINT — UNFAIR TRADING PRACTICES**
**Trader: [TRADER'S NAME OR COMPANY NAME], [TRADER'S ADDRESS]**

I write to make a formal complaint against the trader named above, whom I believe has engaged in unfair commercial practices in breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and/or related consumer protection legislation.

**My details**

Name: [YOUR FULL NAME]
Address: [YOUR ADDRESS]

**Details of the trader**

Business name: [TRADER'S NAME OR COMPANY NAME]
Business address: [TRADER'S ADDRESS]
Website (if applicable): [insert if known]

**Purchase details**

Date of purchase / transaction: [DATE OF YOUR PURCHASE OR TRANSACTION]
Goods / services purchased: [describe briefly]
Amount paid: £[amount]

**Nature of my complaint**

[DESCRIPTION OF THE UNFAIR PRACTICE OR PROBLEM]

**Legal basis**

I believe the conduct described above may constitute:

1. A misleading action under Regulation 5 of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (false information or presentation likely to cause the average consumer to take a transactional decision they would not otherwise have taken); and/or
2. An aggressive commercial practice under Regulation 7 (harassment, coercion, or undue influence); and/or
3. A breach of the trader's professional diligence obligations under Regulation 3.

**Evidence**

I enclose the following in support of this complaint:

1. Receipt / invoice / order confirmation.
2. Photographs of the goods / screenshots of the advertisement.
3. Correspondence with the trader.

**Request for action**

I ask that Trading Standards investigate this complaint and consider taking appropriate enforcement action. I understand that you act in the public interest rather than on behalf of individual consumers, but I hope this complaint will assist any ongoing monitoring of this trader.

I have also reported this matter to Citizens Advice Consumer Service (ref: [if applicable]).

Yours faithfully,

[YOUR FULL NAME]

Unfilled fields appear as [FIELD NAME]. Review the letter carefully before sending. This template is a starting point — adapt it to your specific circumstances.

Related Guides

Consumer Complaint

Related Rights

Consumer

Official Resources

Citizens Advice — Consumer Helpline →Gov.uk — Trading Standards →

Frequently asked questions

Can Trading Standards get my money back if a trader cheats me?: Trading Standards is a regulatory enforcement body that acts in the public interest. It cannot recover money or act as a mediator for individual consumers. If you need compensation, you should use a Letter Before Action or make a claim in the county court. Your complaint to Trading Standards helps with enforcement action but does not provide personal financial redress.
What types of trader behaviour should I report to Trading Standards?: Trading Standards investigates and enforces consumer protection laws, including unfair commercial practices, misleading advertising, and unsafe goods. However, if your issue involves a financial product, you should report it to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). If it involves food safety, you should contact your local Environmental Health department instead.
What evidence do I need to provide when complaining to Trading Standards?: You should include a clear description of the unfair practice, the trader's details, purchase information, and specific evidence. Enclose copies of receipts, invoices, photographs of goods, screenshots of advertisements, and any correspondence with the trader. Keeping copies of all evidence is essential to support your complaint effectively.
Which laws does Trading Standards enforce regarding unfair trading?: The primary legal basis for these complaints is the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. This legislation covers misleading actions, aggressive commercial practices, and breaches of professional diligence. Trading Standards is the primary enforcement authority for these regulations, along with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Trade Descriptions Act 1968.
Should I also contact Citizens Advice when making a complaint?: Yes, you should also report the matter to Citizens Advice Consumer Service. This is the national consumer helpline that feeds intelligence to Trading Standards. Providing your complaint to both bodies helps ensure the issue is recorded and may assist in broader enforcement actions against the trader.