Consumer Information and Financial Services
Below you will find various useful information and links related to consumer issues. We will try to do our best to keep the information up to date but since publication the information below may have changed and be o ut of date. We advise you check and make your investigations. Old Marston Parish Council does not officially endorse any of the organisations or links below and cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies contained or situations arising from using or attempting to access the services below.
Advertising Standards Authority - 0845-609 6677 - website
Advice Services Alliance - 01444-243691 - website
Advice on Lowering Energy Bills - download here
AMDEA, the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliance - 020 7405 0666 - website
Asbestos Removal - website
Association of British Credit Unions - 0161-832 3694 - website
Bank Regulation (Prudential Regulation Authority) - website
Broadband Comparism - website
British Bankers Association - 020-7216 8800 - website
Broadband: Independent consumer advisor - 0800 138 8410 - website
Broadband: Independent consumer advisor - 0808 301 8733 - website
Bus Users - 0300 111 0001 - website
Business Electricity Price Comparism - website 1/website 2
Business Electricity Price Comparism All About Savings - website
Business Gas Price Comparism - website
Check Your Car Oil - website
Choose Price Comparism for money, media and shopping - website
Citizens Advice Bureau - 0870 2200608 - website
Community Legal Service - 0845 345 4 345 - website
Consumer Direct - 08454-04 05 06 - website
Debt Advice Foundation - 0800 043 40 50 - website
Direct Marketing Association - 020 7291 3300 - website
Domestic Appliance Service Association - 0870 224 0343 - website
Double Glazing Sales Tactics - 0151 645 3830 - website
Econsumer.gov - A joint project of consumer protection agencies from 21 nations - website
Energy Savings - website
Energy Suppliers Comparison - website
European Mail Order Traders' Association - website
Farming Helpline - website
Financial Conduct Authority - 020-7066 1000 - website
Financial services, advice and helplines - click here
Food Standards Agency - website
Freedom of Information - website
Funeral Services - website
Green Energy Supliers - Good Energy Group PLC - website
Green Resources for Home - website
Healthwatch Oxfordshire - Annual report 2017-2018 - download here
Home Insurance Comparison - website
ICSTIS, the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of the Telephone Information Services -0800 500 212 - website
Information Commissioner's Office (Data Protection) - 08456 30 60 60 or 01625 54 57 45 - website
Insurance Comparison for Shops and Small Businesses - Construct a Quote - website
Life Insurance Comparison - website
Local Traders - independent aproval for local traders - website
Mortgate Advice - Independent advice from Which? Magazine - click here for more information
Money Supermarket.com - website
Office of Fair Trading - 08457 22 44 99 - website
Oxfordshire County Council Consumer Advice - 01865-510845
Pensions Calculator - website
Planning Regulations - website
Periodical Publishers Association Ltd - 020 7404 4166 - website
Pollution Monitoring Schools Kit - website
SHOPS, the Safe Home Ordering Protection Scheme - 01628 641930 - website
Smart Meters - 01704 325069 - website
Sustainable Energy - website
The Bereavement Register - removes from companies’ mailing list the the names and addresses of people who have died. - Tel: 0870-600 7222 - Website
The Law Centres Federation - provide free independent legal advice and representation to the most disadvantaged members of society - 020 7428 4400 - website
The Mail Order Traders' Association of Great Britain - 0207 735 3410 - website
The Newspaper Society - 020 7632 7400 - website
The Radio, Electrical and Television Retailers Association Ltd - 01234 269110 - website
Trading Standards - website
Universities - The Which? Guide to Universities - website
uSwitch.com - website
uSwitch Broadband - website
uSwitch - Gas and Electricity - website
uSwitch - Gas and Electricity for Business - website
Welcome to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform - 020 7215 5000 - Website
Which Consumer Magazine - website
Thames Water
Sewer and drain problems: 0845 9200 800
Leaks: 0800 714614
Electricity
Emergency and supply loss: 0800 328 1111
Gas Emergency: 0800 111999
Financial Services and Help
If you have financial difficulties or simply need some financial advice, the following organisations maybe able to help:
Money Advice Service
Free and impartial money advice, set up by government
Tel: 0800 138 7777 - website
Financial Conduct Authority
Regulates the finance industry and institutions such as banks, insurance companies, etc
Tel: 020-7066 1000 - website
Consumer Credit Counselling
A national helpline that provides free, confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems
Tel: 0800 138 1111 (8am to 8pm, M-F) - website
National Debtline
A national helpline that provides free, confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems
Tel: 0808 808 4000 (9am to 9pm, M-F, 9:30am-1pm, Saturday) - website
Further guidance can be found at Money Supermarket Debt Advice service - website
The Pension Service
You can talk to The Pension Service about your State Pension, Pension Credit and other entitlements, or you can find out what you can expect when you reach retirement age.
Tel: 0845 60 60 265 (8am to 8pm, M-F) - website
Textphone: 0845 60 60 285
State Pension Forecast
Contact The State Pension Forecasting Team to obtain a State Pension forecast. You can also download a pension forecast application form on their website.
Tel: 0845 3000 168 (8am to 8pm, M-F) - website
Tax Credits Helpline
Information on Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit
Tel: 0845 300 3900 (8am to 8pm, M-Su)
Textphone: 0845 300 3909 - website
Citizens Advice Bureau
Can provide free and independent advice on legal issues, money, benefits and other problems
Tel: 0870 2200608 - website
Employment Law
TIGER (Tailored Interactive Guidance on Employment Rights) - A website that provides an easy-to-use guide on different aspects of UK employment law - website
Advice UK
Tel: 020-7407 4070 - website
For support and advice on consumer related issues, please go to our consumer advice page
Benefits, Council Tax and Housing Benefit Advice
Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit - for advice call Phil Adlard, Benefits and Performance Manager 01865-252112
Compare Deposit Rates World Wide
A site that gives free international financial information. It provides international deposit rates comparison highlighting best return yields in Europe and around the world. Click here for site
Debt Advice Foundation Charity
Independent advice from Debt Advice Foundation - 0800 043 40 50 - website
Old Marston Parish Council is not responsible for the content of external sites
