Organisations that can help you
0845 numbers will be charged at the local rate based on current charges from BT landlines. Charges for calls from mobile phones and other networks may vary.
Advertising complaints
Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)
www.asa.org.uk
Ofcom (Office of Communications)
www.ofcom.org.uk
Banking
For a copy of the Banking Code
Banking Code Standards Board
www.bankingcode.org.uk
Tel – 0845 230 9694
For general leaflets
British Bankers' Association (BBA)
www.bba.org.uk
Tel – 020 7216 8800
Tips on how to stay safe online
Banksafe online
www.banksafeonline.org.uk
For general leaflets
Building Societies Association (BSA)
www.bsa.org.uk
Tel – 020 7437 0655 – ask for BSA Consumer Line
Buying a home
Find a mortgage broker
Brokerfinder
www.brokerfinder.co.uk
For details about Stamp Duty
HM Revenue & Customs
www.hmrc.gov.uk/so/faqs.htm
Helpline – 0845 603 0135
For details about Home Information Packs
www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk
For general leaflets
Council of Mortgage Lenders
www.cml.org.uk
Consumer information – 020 7438 8956
For housing advice and information
Shelter
www.shelter.org.uk
Tel – 0808 800 4444
Care homes
Information on paying for care homes
Help the Aged
www.helptheaged.org.uk
For help in choosing a care home
Commission for Social Care Inspection
www.csci.org.uk
Helpline – 0845 015 0120
Textphone – 0845 015 2255
Children
Information about the Child Trust Fund from HM Revenue & Customs
Child Trust Fund
www.childtrustfund.gov.uk
Information about high quality affordable daycare
Daycare Trust
www.daycaretrust.org.uk
Childcare Hotline – 020 7840 3350
Parenting information and help from the government
Directgov
www.direct.gov.uk
Gingerbread / One Parent Families
www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk
Helpline – 0800 018 5026 (open Mon-Fri 9.00-5.00 and Weds 9.00-8.00)
Child benefits and tax credits
HM Revenue & Customs
www.hmrc.gov.uk
Child benefit Helpline – 0845 302 1444
Tax credits Helpline – 0845 300 3900
Compensation
For FSA-regulated firms
Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
www.fscs.org.uk
Tel – 020 7892 7300
Complaints resolution
Financial Ombudsman Service
www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk
Tel – 0845 080 1800
The Pensions Advisory Service
www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk
Pensions Helpline – 0845 601 2923
Pensions complaints resolution
The Pensions Ombudsman
www.pensions-ombudsman.org.uk
Tel – 020 7834 9144
Consumer rights
Information on your rights when shopping
Office of Fair Trading (OFT)
www.oft.gov.uk
Telephone and online consumer advice service supported by
the OFT
Consumer Direct
www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
Tel – 0845 404 0506
One-stop shop for consumer protection information
Trading Standards
www.tradingstandards.gov.uk
Expert, unbiased information to help you make the right choice, whatever you’re buying
Which?
www.which.co.uk
Credit cards
Information about choosing and using a credit card from APACS – the UK payments association
Choosing and using
www.choosingandusing.com
Credit rating agencies
For your credit rating report
Experian
www.experian.co.uk
Tel – 0870 241 6212
Equifax
www.equifax.co.uk
Callcredit
www.callcredit.co.uk
Tel – 0870 060 1414
Debt help
National Debtline
www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
Tel – 0808 808 4000 (Mon-Friday 9am to 9pm; Sat 9.30am to 1pm +
24-hour voicemail – to request an information pack or factsheet.)
Online CAB service
CAB Adviceguide
www.adviceguide.org.uk
Find your local CAB online
Citizens' Advice Bureaux
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Consumer Credit Counselling Service
www.cccs.co.uk
Tel – 0800 138 1111 (Mon-Fri 8.00-8.00)
Mortgage arrears helpline – 0800 975 9558
Money Advice Scotland
www.moneyadvicescotland.org.uk
Tel - 0141 572 0237
For housing debt advice
Shelter
www.shelter.org.uk
Tel - 0808 800 4444
(7 days a week 8.00-midnight)
Financial advice
For help in choosing financial products and services
For details of up to 8 independent financial advisers in your local area
IFA Promotion
www.unbiased.co.uk
Find an adviser for investments, mortgages or insurance in your local area
MyLocalAdviser
www.mylocaladviser.co.uk
Find up to 6 PFS members to advise you on particular financial aspects
The Personal Finance Society
www.findanadviser.org
Find a mortgage broker
Brokerfinder
www.brokerfinder.co.uk
Find an insurance broker
British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA)
www.biba.org.uk
The Institute of Insurance Brokers (IIB)
www.iib-uk.com
Information about product providers and other sources who provide ethical investments
Ethical Investment Research Service (EIRIS)
www.eiris.org
Tel – 020 7840 5741
Financial planning
For help in organising your finances to meet your life goals
Resources for young people giving useful information on budgeting and how to look after money
Young Scot Infoline
www.youngscot.org
Guide to managing finances for students and graduates
Milkround Lifestyle Zone
www.milkround.com/s4/jobseekers/zones/lifestyle
For financial planning
Institute of Financial Planning
www.financialplanning.org.uk
Personal Finance Society
www.findanadviser.org
Funeral planning
For a list of registered providers
Funeral Planning Authority (FPA)
www.funeralplanningauthority.com
Tel – 0845 601 9619
General advice and information
Working with and for older people
Age Concern
www.ageconcern.org.uk
Information Line – 0800 00 99 66 (open 7 days – 8.00-7.00)
Online CAB service
CAB Adviceguide
www.adviceguide.org.uk
Find your local CAB online
Citizens' Advice Bureaux
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Advice and counselling for couples
Relate
www.relate.org.uk
Tel – 0845 130 4016
Housing
Advice and support on finding a place to live
Shelter
www.shelter.org.uk
Tel – 0808 800 4444
Social housing and care homes
Directgov
www.direct.gov.uk
Insurance
For factsheets and information on insurance
ABI Information zone
www.abi.org.uk
For insurance guides and Find a Broker service
British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA)
www.biba.org.uk
Consumer Helpline – 0901 814 0015
For an insurance broker who is an IIB member
The Institute of Insurance Brokers (IIB)
www.iib-uk.com
Use the house rebuilding cost calculator to find out whether you have enough buildings insurance
Building Cost Information Service (BCIS)
www.bcis.co.uk
Apply for a European Health Insurance Card
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
www.ehic.org.uk
Tel – 0845 606 2030 or pick up a form at the Post Office
Information about product providers and other sources who provide ethical investments
Ethical Investment Research Service (EIRIS)
www.eiris.org
Tel – 020 7840 5741
Investments
For investor guides and details of how to find a fund manager
Investment Management Association (IMA)
www.investmentuk.org
Tel – 020 7831 0898
For investor information and how to find an investment manager or stockbroker
Association of Private Client Investment Managers and Stockbrokers
www.apcims.co.uk
Tel – 020 7247 7080
For details of savings and investments backed by the government
National Savings & Investments (NS&I)
www.nsandi.com
Tel – 0845 964 5000
To buy and sell with-profits endowment policies
Association of Policy Market Makers
www.apmm.org
Tel – 0845 833 0088
To trace forgotten investments
The Unclaimed Assets Register
www.uar.co.uk
Tel – 0870 241 1713
Check US brokers and advisers
US Securities and Exchange Commission
www.sec.gov
Check US securities dealers
US National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) Broker Check
www.finra.org
Information about product providers and other sources who provide ethical investments
Ethical Investment Research Service (EIRIS)
www.eiris.org
Tel – 020 7840 5741
Legal help
Free high-quality legal information in England and Wales
Community Legal Service
www.clsdirect.org.uk
Helpline - 0845 345 4345
To find a solicitor
The Law Society (England & Wales)
www.lawsociety.org.uk
Tel – 0870 606 2555
The Law Society of Northern Ireland
www.lawsoc-ni.org
Tel – 028 9023 1614
The Law Society of Scotland
www.lawscot.org.uk
Tel – 0131 226 7411
Loans and credit
The Consumer Credit Act 1974 requires most businesses that offer goods or services on credit or lend money to consumers to be licensed by the OFT.
Office of Fair Trading (OFT)
www.oft.gov.uk
Consumer Direct
www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
Tel – 0845 404 0506
Money laundering and fraud prevention
Information about countering money laundering
Joint Money Laundering Steering Group (JMLSG)
www.jmlsg.org.uk
Working to combat fraud and prevent you becoming a victim
Metropolitan Police Fraud Alert
www.met.police.uk/fraudalert
Tips on how to stay safe online
Banksafe online
www.banksafeonline.org.uk
Protect yourself from identity theft
Home Office Identity Fraud Steering Committee
www.identitytheft.org.uk
Stamp out scams
Consumer Direct
www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
Tel – 0845 404 0506
Protect yourself online, sponsored by government and leading businesses
Get Safe Online
www.getsafeonline.org
The UK's fraud prevention service
CIFAS
www.cifas.org.uk
Mortgages
For general information on buying and selling, buy-to-let and equity release
Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML)
www.cml.org.uk
Consumer Credit Counselling Service
www.cccs.co.uk
Mortgage arrears helpline – 0800 975 9558
Information about product providers and other sources who provide ethical investments
Ethical Investment Research Service (EIRIS)
www.eiris.org
Tel – 020 7840 5741
Pensions
For general information on all pensions
The Pensions Advisory Service
www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk
Tel – 0845 601 2923
For details and booklets on State pensions
The Pension Service
www.thepensionservice.gov.uk
Orderline – 08457 31 32 33
Minicom/textphone 0845 604 0210 (open Mon-Fri 8.00-8.00 and Sat/Sun 9.00-5.00)
For a Pension Credit booklet
The Pension Service
www.thepensionservice.gov.uk
Tel – 0800 99 1234
Minicom/textphone – 0800 169 0133
To trace a lost pension
Pension Tracing Service
www.thepensionservice.gov.uk
Tel – 0845 600 2537
Minicom/textphone – 0845 300 0169 (open Mon-Fri 9.00-5.00)
To get a State Pension forecast
The State Pension Forecasting Team
www.thepensionservice.gov.uk
Tel – 0845 300 0168
Minicom/textphone – 0845 300 0169 (open Mon-Fri 8.00-8.00 and Sat 9.00-1.00)
For information about contracting out of the additional State pension
HM Revenue & Customs
www.hmrc.gov.uk/faqs/nicqcoeg.htm
Contracted out Helpline – 0845 915 0150
Information for scheme members, trustees and employers
The Pensions Regulator
www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk
Tel – 0870 606 3636
Compensation fund for members of occupational salary-related pensions schemes
Pension Protection Fund
www.pensionprotectionfund.org.uk
Tel – 0845 600 2541
Pensions complaints resolution
The Pensions Ombudsman
www.pensions-ombudsman.org.uk
Tel – 020 7834 9144
Information about product providers and other sources who provide ethical investments
Ethical Investment Research Service (EIRIS)
www.eiris.org
Tel – 020 7840 5741
Savings
Find a credit union
ACE Credit Union Services
www.acecus.org
Tel – 0191 244 4061
Association of British Credit Unions Ltd (ABCUL)
www.abcul.coop
Tel – 0161 832 3694
Scottish League of Credit Unions
www.scottishcu.org
Tel – 0141 774 5020
UKCreditUnions Ltd
www.ukcu.co.uk
Tel – 01706 215 082
For a copy of the Banking Code
Banking Code Standards Board
www.bankingcode.org.uk
Tel – 0845 230 9694
For tips to stay safe online
Banksafe online
www.banksafeoneline.org.uk
For general leaflets on opening and managing a bank account
British Bankers' Association (BBA)
www.bba.org.uk
Tel – 020 7216 8800
For general information about building societies
Building Societies Association (BSA)
www.bsa.org.uk
Consumer information – 020 7437 0655 – ask for BSA Consumer Line
For information or questions about the tax rules for ISAs
HM Revenue & Customs
www.hmrc.gov.uk/isa/welcome.htm
ISA Helpline – 0845 604 1701
For details of savings and investments backed by the government
National Savings & Investments (NS&I)
www.nsandi.com
Tel – 0845 964 5000
Information about product providers and other sources who provide ethical investments
Ethical Investment Research Service (EIRIS)
www.eiris.org
Tel – 020 7840 5741
Switching suppliers
Compare gas and electricity costs
Energywatch
www.energywatch.org.uk
Helpline – 08459 06 07 08
General comparison service for a variety of services
uSwitch.com
www.uswitch.com
Customer services – 0800 404 7908
Tax and benefits
General information:
Directgov
www.direct.gov.uk
Online CAB service:
CAB Adviceguide
www.adviceguide.org.uk
Help for people on low incomes to understand the bits of the tax system that apply to them:
Taxaid
www.taxaid.org.uk