Advice line to stamp out rogue traders

Cowboy builders could be caught out when a government consumer advice line launches next year.

Consumer Direct, a £30m initiative being set up by the Office of Fair Trading, will provide information and advice to consumers on a range of matters, from buying goods and services, to problems with loan and credit agreements and scams.

The advice line will also provide, for the first time, a national intelligence gathering capability to identify early emerging consumer problems. Over time, the government hope it will become a powerful weapon in the battle against rogue traders who often move from one part of the country to another.

Unveiling the project consumer minister Melanie Johnson, said: "Consumer Direct will also act as an early warning system to help track the activities of rogue traders and developing scams, providing consumers with new and improved protection from companies and individuals who give poor service, to those who are trying to con the public outright."

A spokesman for the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) was keen to point out that Consumer Direct was not in competition with Quality Mark, the government initiative to stamp out cowboy builders.

"Consumer Direct is not solely for the construction industry so it will not take anything away from Quality Mark," he said.

Helplines were piloted regionally in West Yorkshire, London and Cornwall between Autumn 2000 and March 2002, with more than 150,000 calls logged. National roll-out of Consumer Direct will start in 2004.