The CTSI Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS) protects over £97billion of consumer spending

27 Oct 2021 04:12 PM

With almost 80,000 businesses now part of the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS) and more than £97billion of consumer spending protected, CCAS continues to grow from strength to strength. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) launched CCAS in 2013 as a means of promoting consumer interests by setting out the principles of effective customer service and protection and is designed to inspire business and consumer confidence which plays an intrinsic role in ‘building back better.’

As a form of ‘facilitated self-regulation’, it relies on members signing up to a code of practice established by a code sponsor; the code sponsors are typically organisations that represent market sectors and have a membership base, and are themselves carefully selected and vetted by CTSI for their expertise.

The purpose of the code sponsors is to support the aims of the scheme itself and help reduce consumer detriment and raise consumer standards within their sector.

Becoming a code sponsor means being part of a robust, independent code approval scheme that inspires confidence of members, potential members, policy-makers and, ultimately, consumers. There is opportunity to grow membership base and the potential to increase market share, through a commitment to reducing consumer detriment. This in turn raises industry standards.

Displaying the CTSI approved CCAS logo helps member businesses promote themselves as one that consumers can trust, giving them a commercial advantage over competitors

This is what our code sponsors say:

The Motor Ombudsman

All four of our comprehensive Codes of Practice are backed by the trusted Consumer Codes Approval Scheme. This gives today’s motorists the all-important peace of mind that when they see the widely-recognised Approved Code logo displayed by any of the vehicle manufacturers, warranty providers or thousands of garages and car retailers that are accredited to us, they know that these businesses have committed to providing customers with a high standard of service and workmanship’.

The Consumer Code for Home Builders

“The Consumer Code for Home Builders exists to make the marketing and buying of new build homes fairer and more transparent for consumers, by improving standards of customer service and providing independent redress if things go wrong. The Consumer Codes Approval Scheme gives reassurance to home buyers that our Code has been independently and rigorously assessed and enables developers covered by our Code to demonstrate third party endorsement of their commitment to customer service.”

More information can be found on the CCAS webpages at www.tradingstandards.uk/consumercodes

To read the CCAS annual report visit https://www.journaloftradingstandards.co.uk/business/ccas-annual-report-published/