Hampshire County Council Trading Standards Service

20/05/2026

Get involved with the My Home Made Better scheme!

My Home Made Better is a project led by the The Environment Centre (tEC), helping local residents improve energy efficiency, stay warm, access grants, and save money.
Learn more: www.myhomemadebetter.org

Calling all Buy With Confidence (BWC) members in Hampshire, Southampton or Portsmouth:
If you deliver retrofit work, you can join the My Home Made Better directory. The team is particularly keen to hear from members who support low-carbon and energy-efficiency improvements—whether you install measures or carry out preparatory work (e.g. damp treatment or ventilation ahead of insulation).
BWC members can register here:
www.myhomemadebetter.org/about-us/supplier-registration/

For questions, contact: [email protected]

About the scheme:
The My Home Made Better service is funded by the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme, managed by the Environment Centre (tEC), with significant support from Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council, Portsmouth City Council, and local charities.

15/05/2026

Cracking down on illegal to***co and v**es, see more below

Cracking down on illegal to***co and v**es 🚫

Our Trading Standards team continues to take action against the sale of illegal to***co and v**e products – helping to keep potentially dangerous, unregulated items off the streets and out of our communities.

This week, officers joined Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary for an operation at two retail premises in New Milton. The visit led to the seizure of illegal v**es, ci******es and hand-rolling to***co. The total value of the seized items, if sold illegally, would have been £8,989.

The team were also joined by George – pictured here – who played a key role in sniffing out the haul 🐾

If you suspect illegal to***co or v**e sales in Hampshire, please report it in confidence via the link in the comments below.

12/05/2026

We thoroughly check out all Buy With Confidence members to ensure they offer high standards of service and customer care.
Find a local trusted trader at https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/

08/05/2026

Buy With Confidence, Trading Standards Approved - have you bookmarked the website? https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/

New season, fresh start!

Spring is the perfect time to tackle those home jobs you've been putting off, but, before you book anyone, make sure you're choosing a trader you can actually trust.

Buy With Confidence is a free Trading Standards approved scheme that connects you with vetted, council-checked businesses in your area.

No regrets. No rip-offs. Just results.

🔎 Search Buy With Confidence before your next job: www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk

21/04/2026

Find builders, roofers, plumbers, electricians and plenty more local businesses on https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/ vetted and approved by Trading Standards.
If you run a local business and would like to become a Buy With Confidence member get in touch at [email protected]

15/04/2026

Action from the CMA based on the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA).
Drip pricing - where the headline price is one price, and then other additional mandatory fees are added, such as booking fees, postage etc.
It`s a topic we will be covering in the May Buy With Confidence Member`s newsletter. Buy With Confidence members receive consumer legislation updates and personalised advice as part of their membership package.

https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/

🚗 Learning to drive or know someone that is?

After looking into the AA Driving School and BSM Driving Schools’ online pricing practices, we’ve ordered them to refund thousands of learner drivers and pay a fine of £4.2m over drip pricing.

More than 80,000 customers will be refunded after they weren’t shown the total price upfront when booking lessons online. Instead, a mandatory £3 booking fee was included later, which is against the law.

This action follows our investigations into both driving schools - owned by Automobile Association Developments Limited (the AA).

This is the first time we’ve used our new consumer powers to secure money back for consumers. Where the rules are ignored, we’ll step in to put things right.

Find out more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-orders-the-aa-and-bsm-driving-schools-to-refund-learner-drivers-over-drip-pricing

14/04/2026

Spring is a great time to plan repairs and improvements to your home, but if worrying about finding a trustworthy trader is stalling your plans, head to https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/ to find businesses in your local area that have been vetted and approved by Trading Standards.

09/04/2026

As part of the Buy With Confidence application process, we invite aspiring new members to join us for an audit meeting. It’s a valuable opportunity for us to get to know you and your business better, and for you to ask any questions you may have about the scheme.
Has your business got what it takes to be Buy With Confidence Trading Standards Approved?

https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/apply

02/04/2026

Well done Darren, and we couldn`t agree more with the advice below - find local traders on the Buy With Confidence website who have been vetted and approved by a local Trading Standards team https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/
If you have come across a rogue trader, please report them to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service, online or at 0808 223 1133

30/03/2026

Competition and Markets Authority have been investigating how businesses collect and display reviews and feedback, starting with these 5 businesses

30/03/2026

Buy With Confidence is a trusted-trader scheme, supporting and promoting businesses who are committed to trading fairly. With all members checked by Trading Standards, you can have confidence in the business you choose. Find trusted tradespeople & businesses near you at: https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk.