How it helps consumers

You will see this sign more and more when you're buying goods or services. It means that the firm you're buying from is a member of a trade body with a code of practice approved by the Office of Fair Trading.

You can be sure that the code has been rigorously checked before they can use our logo and you will be treated fairly if problems arise when you buy from them.

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How do I find businesses in my area that have signed up to an Approved code of practice?

You can search for businesses in your area on the codes search section of this website.

You'll also find details of what each code of practice promises, contacts for the trade bodies and a form for feedback.

You can also call 020 7211 8987 for more information.

The scheme is growing and more business areas will be added all the time.

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What does it mean to me?

It's a way for you to find trustworthy businesses to deal with before you buy. If a firm displays the OFT Approved code logo you can have confidence that they:

• are committed to treat you fairly if problems arise
• will guarantee good customer service
• give you clear-cut information about the goods or services they're selling
• have user-friendly, straightforward and quick procedures for dealing with customer complaints
• will use clear and fair contracts
• will offer free or low cost dispute resolution, such as arbitration or an ombudsman, if you can't agree about how to sort out a problem
• will offer you more rights than the law gives you.

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How does the scheme work?

The trade body (such as a trade association) works with the OFT to devise a code of practice that is:

• fair to customers
• goes beyond what the law asks for
• easy to understand.
• But before the businesses that are in the trade body can use our logo they have to prove to us that their code of practice is working. We insist on real evidence that their members are using the code properly and that their customers are benefiting.

Only when we're completely sure that the code is effective – by looking at things like mystery shopping and analysing complaints information – do we give our approval to their code.

Their members can then display our logo – and you can be sure that you can trust them to deal with you fairly if problems arise.

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How do I know the standards will be kept up?

If individual businesses do not deliver on their code to consumers the trade bodies will be prepared to take away their membership. And the OFT can remove the approval (and use of the logo) if a trade body consistently fails to keep up the standards.

We will be actively monitoring that complaints are resolved properly and that trade bodies are making sure that their members are keeping to their code of practice.

Back to: Approved codes