Consumer Advice

Our Trading Standards team works to help promote a fair and safe trading environment across Gwynedd. We do this by supporting customers as well as businesses in an impartial way.  Our role is to safeguard the interests of consumers and the county’s business community.

Contact us:

Online enquiry: Trading standards
Report a concern: Trading standards

Contact us if you would like advice or have witnessed any criminal or dishonest trading practices including;

  • rogue trading
  • sale of dangerous goods
  • car clocking
  • fake goods
  • sale of alcohol and tobacco to under 18’s
  • livestock welfare issues
  • miss-described goods
  • out of date food
  • loan-sharks
  • scams and fraud
  • advertising and description of goods or services
  • safety of consumer goods
  • estate agents
  • credit and loans
  • weights and measures equipment
  • hallmarking and counterfeit goods
  • animal health
  • underage sales
  • pricing
  • licensing of fireworks storage and petrol stations.

 

Contact Details

Online enquiry: Trading standards
Report a concern: Trading standards

Phone: 01766 771 000
Address: Gwynedd Council's Headquarters, Castle Street, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 1SF

All information we receive is recorded on our systems for analysis and where required an investigation will be carried out. For further free impartial advice, contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service:

  • Phone: 03454 04 05 06 

In turn the Citizens Advice Consumer Service will inform the Trading Standards Unit of any complaint which requires further action from our service.

We support consumers within Gwynedd through:

  • Face to face advice available for elderly or vulnerable people (by appointment only). 
  • home visits for the vulnerable (which can include help with writing letters and checking paper work
  • educational materials, events, roadshows and outreach working

Contact us:

Online enquiry: Trading standards
Report a concern: Trading standards


Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral disease. Guidance and information about services can be found on the Welsh Government website. More information

If you have any concerns about your birds please contact your vet for advice.

There are several things to consider before buying a pup, but be careful that you aren't being scammed by illegal puppy farms!

  • Buying from Illegal puppy farmers and importers (often on the internet) means you are more likely to buy a sick puppy.
  • Have you seen the puppy at home with its mother? This gives you the chance to see how the puppy behaves.
  • If you suspect the conditions are not right, then do not buy the puppy.
  • Are you buying from a Kennel Club Assured Breeder? These breeders must follow rules assuring the health of the puppies they sell.
  • Imported puppies must be at least 15 weeks old. Younger and they are illegal and could be taken from you if reported.
  • Be prepared to be put on a waiting list - a healthy puppy is well-worth waiting for. Be suspicious of a breeder selling several different breeds, unless you are sure of their credentials.
  • Ask to see the relevant health test certificates for the puppy’s parents.
  • Always go to a reliable and reputable breeder.
  • Have you considered rehoming an older dog.
  • Check out the Dogs Trust or your local animal rescue centre.
  • Never buy a puppy from a pet shop, carpark or service station

How can you find a reputable trader?

Looking for a trader you can trust?

Buy With Confidence is one of the largest local authority assured trader schemes in Wales and England. Gwynedd Trading Standards have introduced Buy With Confidence to provide consumers with a choice of approved traders that will protect you as a consumer.

Further Information

Be careful not to be fooled by the loan shark! For more advice, read the booklet below:

For advice, go to:

What are Counterfeit Goods?

Counterfeit goods are fake goods that are deliberately created to look like registered goods. The sale of counterfeit goods has become a national problem as more and more fake goods have become available.  Counterfeit goods are also known as 'pirates', 'replicas' or 'copies'.  Amongst the different types of counterfeit goods that are widely available are clothing, jewellery, electrical goods, perfume, car batteries and children's toys. 

You might think you're getting a bargain, but you need to be cautious. Large companies don't give substantial discounts on items and you could be cheated into paying a large sum of money for a dangerous or inferior item.  

Why should I avoid buying counterfeit goods? :

Breaking the law
If a company has registered the design / logo (Trade mark) of a product it is illegal to buy counterfeit goods that use that design/ logo without their permission. Buying counterfeit goods will afford the seller the funding to continue with their criminality. 

Your safety

In the majority of cases fake goods are of poor quality and / or potentially dangerous e.g. - 

  • Children's clothing - fake children's clothing will not have been tested in accordance with safety legislation – if at all.
  • Sun glasses – may not protect your eyes from harmful rays
  • Electrical Goods – May not have been tested in accordance with electrical safety legislation - if at all.

If buying counterfeit goods over the internet, you are at risk of releasing information about yourself or your bank details to offenders.

Complaints procedure 

Counterfeit items are often sold at much lower prices than the genuine item and will inevitably be inferior quality to the genuine item.  Sellers of counterfeit goods very rarely have a complaints procedure and are unlikely to offer any form of financial redress in the event of the goods being faulty or inferior.

Effect on the local economy

The buying and selling of counterfeit goods can affect legitimate businesses.  There may be a knock on effect on the local economy e.g. shop / factory closures, redundancies.

Counterfeit and the law

People who reproduce goods using registered Trade Marks when not authorised to do so are likely to be committing a criminal offence under the Trade Marks Acts 1994 or The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.


How can I protect myself?

  • Check the URL when buying on-line, often there will be spelling mistakes in the URL and on the website
  • Check where the trader is based. Be cautious if there isn't an address, only an e-mail address or a PO Box Number.
  • If making an on-line payment check that the URL starts with 'https'
  • If you’re using a website for the first time - do your research.  People are always sharing their experiences and warning others in on-line forums
  • Don't open links in e-mails
  • Ensure that your security software is up to date
  • Do NOT assume that a ‘.co.uk’ website is based in the UK.  Criminals have developed a way of disguising the true location from where they operate.

Useful websites:

Don’t short change yourself, buy genuine and report counterfeit goods to us!

Contact us:

Online enquiry: Trading standards
Report a concern: Trading standards