Is there anything worse than having a domestic crisis with your heating, computer or car?

Perhaps it's finding the person you trusted didn't do the job as well as expected or just didn't turn up when they promised.

There can be few of us who haven't endured this kind of frustration and the associated costs can be enormous.

For years Trading Standards services across the country have been unable to tell the public who to avoid and who they should go to when buying goods or services.

For this reason, Buy with Confidence became the scheme of choice, as it is one of the few in the county to cover all types of businesses.

Buy with Confidence Thankfully, Trading Standards have come up with an idea which will further safeguard your peace of mind.

The Buy with Confidence scheme is not only designed to help consumers find local businesses they can trust to work efficiently and competently but should their work involve entering your home, you have the added assurance that all staff have clearance from the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau).

The scheme is new in Brighton and Hove but it's hoped it will be as popular here as it is in East and West Sussex. The aim is to build up a useful list of a variety of businesses who want to show how seriously they take customer satisfaction.

Trading Standards are sure that the service will be appreciated but need consumers to recommend good workmanship, advice or services to the Buy with Confidence team, even if the company isn't a member of the scheme yet.

Just turn to page six of this supplement for details.

Benefits to business The scheme will work best for honest, reliable and customer-orientated businesses, because the Buy with Confidence teams at Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex Trading Standards are vetting applications to make sure they only recommend businesses who are operating within the letter and the spirit of the law.

Businesses will benefit from increased customer confidence, the right to use the Buy with Confidence logo and a listing on the local government website.

In cases of dispute the Buy with Confidence team can mediate with customers to help reduce complaints.

How are members monitored?

Once a business is approved, they are issued with customer feedback forms. It is a condition of membership that businesses make these available to their customers and trading standards monitor the regularity and quality of the feedback received.

Limitations to the scheme It's important you continue to exercise your own judgement, for instance the scheme cannot guarantee work will be satisfactory.

There are, however, a wide range of background checks including: business registration, bankruptcy, relevant insurance and licenses, and behaviour (criminal or otherwise) which has affected consumers.

Local and approved Throughout Sussex there are now 335 businesses registered with the scheme and it's growing all the time.

Help us to make life more difficult for rogue traders and do yourself a favour, visit the websites below for a list of approved traders in your area, or call your local Buy with Confidence team for advice.

Brighton & Hove 01273 293340 www.brighton-hove.gov.uk East Sussex, call 01323 418215, www.eastsussex.gov.uk/buywithconfidence West Sussex, call 01243 777100, www.westsussex.gov.uk

Download Application Form

Download list of approved traders

3:56pm Monday 4th February 2008

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