The Edinburgh Trusted Trader scheme

Trusted Trader was launched by Dundee City Council Trading Standards in 2005. Its simple aim was to encourage local businesses to sign up to a code of practice that will give consumers confidence in the standard of service they expect to receive. The success of the scheme in Dundee has seen it become adopted across many different local authorities, all of which conform to the same standard Code of Practice.

The Edinburgh Trusted Trader scheme was launched in June 2015 and is a local business partnership which aims to:

• increase consumer confidence
• promote good practice within local businesses
• help prevent doorstep crime.

It is the only trader scheme in Edinburgh that is Council backed, fully vetted by Trading Standards and supported by Police Scotland. Edinburgh Trusted Trader is actively promoted to the 225,000 Edinburgh households.

The elements of the Edinburgh Trusted Trader scheme

The Edinburgh Trusted Trader scheme is made up of The City of Edinburgh Council, The City of Edinburgh Trading Standards Service and Trusted Directory Services (TDS).

The Council back and oversee the scheme, with the vetting process carried out by Trading Standards Officers. Trading Standards also ensure Traders adhere to the Code of Practice and will intervene in disputes when required, providing dispute resolution advice.