About Us

Our Aim:

The Trading Standards Service is one of four services, (the others are Environmental Health, Waste Management & Environmental Protection, and Sustainability) that operate from within the Public Protection & Sustainability Unit of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead's Community Services Directorate.

The Trading Standards Service Mission Statement is:

"to be committed to achieving a fair and safe trading environment to benefit local residents, businesses and visitors to the area".

What we do:

In practice this means that the service advises on and enforces a wide range of laws which mainly relate to the quality, quantity, price, description and safety of goods and services supplied by businesses. By advising on and enforcing these laws we can help protect the interests of both consumers and respectable businesses.

The key areas we cover are:

• Animal Advice
• Civil Advice
• Consumer Credit
• E-commerce
• Explosives
• Fair Trading
• Food Standards
• Petroleum Licensing
• Poisons
• Product Safety
• Road Traffic
• Weights and Measures 

How we do it?

There are a variety of ways that we carry out our work and encourage fair and safe trading practices within the Royal Borough. These include:

• Informing consumers - of their rights when buying goods and services, and giving advice if problems arise.
• Advising and giving guidance - to local businesses on how to comply with trading laws and meet their legal responsibilities.
• Inspecting trade premises - including pubs, supermarkets, wholesalers, importers, petrol stations, car dealers and markets to make sure they are complying with trading standards law.
• Carrying out projects and surveys - into areas of consumer concern.
• Taking samples - as part of routine visits or unannounced test purchases and testing goods for safety, composition or description.
• Checking the accuracy of trade equipment - such as scales, petrol pumps, pub optics, beer meters, weighbridges, packing machines and other measuring equipment.
• Monitoring advertisements - for misleading claims.
• Raising awareness - of consumer law and problems through the media, local groups, promotions, presentations and advice leaflets.
• Highlighting deficiencies - in the law through representations and comments to key national bodies.
  Investigation of complaints - is a major way of identifying unfair, unsafe and illegal trading practices.

Knowing our limits:

We have experienced, committed, professional staff with expert knowledge of consumer law but we do not have magic wands!

Sometimes the law is inadequate to control unfair trading practices or problem businesses (for instance, those that disappear without trace) but we do promise to try our best to sort out your problems.

Finally, we are unable to disclose confidential information about individual businesses and we cannot recommend or approve any particular business or trader.

Our commitment to service quality:

The Trading Standards Service, like all of the services within the Public Protection Unit, is fully committed to 10 guiding principles in seeking continuous improvement in service delivery. We will:

• Set clear standards of the service that users can expect.
• Be open and provide full information about our service.
• Consult with both present and potential users of our service.
• Encourage access and the promotion of choice.
• Treat all people fairly.
• Put things right quickly if they go wrong.
• Use resources effectively to provide best value for our residents and users.
• Innovate and improve the services and facilities we offer.
• Work, often in partnership, with other providers.
• Ensure that users are satisfied with the quality of service being delivered.

Helping us:

We aim to provide an excellent service but our users can often help us to improve. If you can please contact us.