Consumer rights
Citizens Advice will tell you your rights as a consumer, they can also advise you what you can do and say to a business if you’re unhappy with a service or product.
If you think a business or person is trading unfairly or breaking the law you must report it to Citizens Advice. Citizens Advice may contact the Council if they’re not trading within the law or are causing harm to customers.
Citizen’s Advice consumer service – 0808 223 1133
Do you know the age limits?
Age of person 12+ and 15+
- Christmas crackers (12+)
- videos
- DVDs
- computer games
Age of person 16+
- lottery tickets and scratch cards
- spray paints
- party poppers
- petrol/diesel
Age of person 18+
- sunbeds
- tobacco (including cigarettes, cigarette papers and rolling tools)
- fireworks
- classified 18 films or computer games
- alcohol
- lighters (including butane or solvents refills)
- knives or weapons (knife blades, razor blades or axes)
In North East Lincolnshire we carry out the Challenge 25 scheme, if you’re buying something which has an age restriction and look under the age of 25, you might be asked for ID to verify your age.
Advice is available to businesses about age restricted products and preventing underage sales on the Business Companion website. If you’re caught to be trading illegally, you can be fined up to £5000 and sentenced to up to 6 months in prison.
You can report a trader if they sell age restricted products to customers below the legal age.
Report a loan shark
Loan sharks are illegal moneylenders, you can check if the company is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
If you spot a loan shark or have borrowed money from one, you can report them anonymously to the Illegal Money Lending team.
Contact details
North East Lincolnshire Council does not provide consumer advice.
Trading Standards, Municipal Offices, Town Hall Square, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN31 1HU
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01472 326299 option 3