Private legal, employment and consumer disputes
Examples: Unpaid wages, Unfair dismissal, Faulty goods or rogue trader, Bank or energy dispute.
What do you need?
Pick one — each answer below says where to start and where to go next.
I want to report a problem or apply for something
Start here
Citizens Advice consumer service
Report a consumer problem (it passes reports to Trading Standards) → · 0808 223 1133
Why them: Consumers cannot report directly to Trading Standards in most cases; the consumer service passes information on.
- Advise on consumer rights
- Pass complaint information to Trading Standards
- Take legal action against the trader for you
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
Also useful
Portsmouth City Council — Trading Standards
Report a scam, rogue trader or illegal sales incident →
Why them: Trading Standards enforces fair and safe trading law in the city.
- Investigate illegal trading, scams, doorstep crime and illegal tobacco or vapes
- Recover your money in a private dispute
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
I want to challenge a decision that has been made about me
Start here
Acas — early conciliation
Notify Acas before making an employment tribunal claim → · 0300 123 1100
Why them: You must notify Acas before you can claim at an employment tribunal.
- Try to reach a legal agreement with your employer
- Decide your claim
- Employment tribunal — Usually within 3 months of the employment ending or the problem happening
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
Also useful
County Court (money claims)
Make a court claim for money you are owed →
Why them: Private disputes about money are for the courts, not councils or MPs.
- Decide claims for money
- Guarantee the other side pays
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
I need someone to help me with my case
Start here
Citizens Advice Portsmouth
Get free advice and help preparing your case → · 023 9400 6600
Why them: Independent, free advice across benefits, debt, housing, employment and consumer problems, with a drop-in office in the city centre (Ark Royal House, PO1 2GF).
- Explain your rights and options
- Help you write letters, complaints and appeals
- Make decisions on your case — the deciding body remains the council, DWP, employer or trader
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
Also useful
Civil Legal Advice (legal aid)
Check if you can get free legal advice through legal aid → · 0345 345 4345
Why them: Legal aid advice is available for some debt, housing, discrimination and other problems if you are eligible.
- Give free legal advice to eligible people
- Help people who are not eligible
- Find a solicitor (Law Society) — If you are not eligible for legal aid
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
I want to change how things are done, not just fix my case
Start here
Your MP (Portsmouth North or Portsmouth South)
Ask your MP to raise national law or funding with ministers →
Why them: Employment and consumer law are made by Parliament.
- Write to or question ministers
- Raise the issue in Parliament
- Make representations on your behalf to UK government departments
- Direct council officers or decide council spending
- Overturn a court, tribunal or council decision
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
I have complained and it has not been put right
Start here
Financial Ombudsman Service
Take an unresolved complaint about a bank, lender, insurer or pension provider to the Ombudsman →
Why them: It is the free statutory ombudsman for financial businesses.
- Investigate and decide complaints about financial businesses
- Take a case before the business has had its chance (up to 8 weeks for most complaints)
- Accept complaints more than 6 months after the final response
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
Also useful
Energy Ombudsman
Take an unresolved energy supplier dispute to the Energy Ombudsman →
Why them: It resolves disputes between consumers and energy suppliers and networks.
- Decide disputes; suppliers have 28 days to implement an accepted remedy
- Take a dispute before the supplier has had 8 weeks (unless you have a deadlock letter)
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
Your councillors and MP
Useful if the route above has failed, or it's about local policy. Optional: we look up your postcode once and never store it.
This tells you where to start and what comes next. It is not legal advice. Time limits shown are the ones each body publishes; always check your own decision letter, which may give a different deadline.