A new service now is available to consumers in the York and East Riding of Yorkshire region as part of the work of the local Consumer Support Network.
Consumer Support Networks (CSNs) are a nationwide initiative sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry to facilitate easy access to good quality, responsive consumer advice wherever people live.
For some months City of York Council Trading Standards and East Riding of Yorkshire Council Trading Standards have been working together with other partners to develop a Consumer Support Network in the local area.
The York and East Riding of Yorkshire CSN achieved registration in May 2003, and has a core membership of existing organisations who provide consumer information and advice - these include Citizens Advice Bureaux, solicitors, independent advice centres and local businesses.
The development of York and East Riding CSN ensures that whenever people seek help, whether they need simple information or advice, mediation or even support in the courts, they are able to approach any of the agencies within it and receive the right help.
Participating members are quality accredited and have agreed to work together to improve access to information and advice about consumer rights.
One of the ways in which the York and East Riding of Yorkshire CSN decided to promote access to consumer advice was to establish a website for the network to facilitate cooperation and the exchange of information which is crucial to the work of a successful CSN.
The website has just gone live and contains full details of all the members, the terms of reference, project plans and latest newsletter as well as an online complaint form.
This is the first stage of the website development and other links and information is planned.
Consumers in York and East Yorkshire seeking more information about how the CSN works, or how to make a consumer complaint can log onto the website at www.yercsn.org.uk
Other agencies or businesses who want to join the CSN are encouraged to contact the co-ordinators for the project - Liz Levett at City of York Trading Standards and Angela Currie at East Riding of Yorkshire Trading Standards Consumer Advice and Information.
Telephone contact numbers are York 01904 551562 and East Yorkshire 01482 396251.
Updated: 09:02 Thursday, March 04, 2004
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