Trading Standards Approved is a Central Bedfordshire Trading Standards Service initiative. The aim of the scheme is to improve business standards and increase customer confidence in member businesses. Approved businesses have agreed to abide by the terms and conditions of the scheme and have been checked by Trading Standards to ensure compliance.

Each year Central Bedfordshire Trading Standards Service receives in the region of nine thousand complaints about businesses in Central Bedfordshire. By far the highest proportion of these relates to car sales, car servicing and the businesses associated with home improvements. This scheme is a positive move to improve the way in which traders deal with consumers. There is no place in it for rogue traders who do not care for customer satisfaction or compliance with the law.

Application form Trading Standards Approved (PDF 272KB)

Consumers can check with Trading Standards to see which businesses are members of the scheme before purchasing goods or services. The scheme is voluntary. By joining the scheme businesses are demonstrating a commitment to customer care and fair-trading. Trading Standards will continue to work closely with scheme members, and will carry out monitoring exercises to help make sure high standards are maintained.

The requirements include:

• The business complies with the law.
• Contract terms are fair, in plain English and clearly legible.
• Pricing is clear, and information about payment methods is provided.
• No repair or servicing work is carried out without the customer's permission.
• Parts replaced during repair or servicing are made available for inspection.
• Itemised invoices are provided.
• The business operates an effective customer complaints procedure.

Approval of a business does not mean that the Trading Standards Service:

• Can guarantee its financial stability.
• Has individually checked the quality of any goods or services provided.
• Gives any guarantee or warranty as to the value for money of goods or services compared with a competitor, or that they will be satisfactory.