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How to get involved

Businesses 

Businesses that want to be part of the scheme should contact their relevant trade body.

If your trade body is not a code sponsor you could ask them to apply to become a codesponsor. You can see a list of existing code sponsors here.

 Trade Bodies

As a representative of a group of businesses it is your responsibility to submit a code of practice for OFT approval. Find out what’s involved in the application process below.  

Pre stage – prior to application

Trade bodies that wish to get involved with the OFT Approved code scheme must complete the registration form. It is also useful for trade bodies to undertake a gap analysis of their code against the OFT's core ciritera (pdf 283kb).

Stage one - Submit code of practice

You will need to complete an application form which the OFT will provide and submit with your code of practice confirming that it meets the OFT's core criteria.

These will be assessed by an OFT case manager. Consultation throughout the OFT and with external consumer bodies is also carried out.

To complete stage one, each of the core criteria must be met in principle and the code sponsor is expected to address the issues that were identified during the consultation exercise. There is no OFT approval at this time, but the successful completion of Stage One is publicised. 

Stage two – provide evidence

To complete stage two, the code sponsor must provide evidence that proves the code is working in practice. Among other things, this will include demonstrating the following:

  • members' compliance with the code is being effectively monitored and that their compliance level is high
  • customer satisfaction is being regularly assessed and the results show a high level of satisfaction
  • complaints are being handled in accordance with the procedures
  • consumer organisations are being consulted throughout the operation and monitoring of the code.

We can only give approval once we are satisfied our published standards are met.

Approval stage

Once the OFT is satisfied that a code is working, approval is granted and it is promoted to consumers.

The OFT requires code sponsors to review compliance with the code and assess customer satisfaction a regular basis. They are also required to update the code where necessary and provide the OFT with an annual report evidencing how the code is performing.

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