Across Scotland, thousands of people visit a Citizens Advice Bureau each week.
Their cases inform the work Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) does and build a body of evidence which allows us to campaign on a range of issues, from faulty used cars to benefit sanctions. CAS carries out national campaigns across Scotland, with a particular focus on local action through the CAB network.
Our current and upcoming campaigns
This year’s National Consumer Week launches on Monday 27th November (Cyber Monday)
The theme of this campaign will be issues with subscriptions and subscription traps. Tying into the Cyber Monday launch, there will be a particular focus on online subscription issues.
Your Bus, Your Say is a national campaign that has been developed to gather evidence to give a voice to bus users in local communities across Scotland.
Scotland is the most affected area of the UK in regards to nuisance calls. 3 of the top 5 affected cities across the UK are in Scotland: Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Because of the prevalence of nuisance calls in Scotland, the Scottish Government formed the Nuisance Calls Commission that included experts, regulators, businesses, consumer charities, and enforcement agencies. The conclusion of the commission was that more has to be done to help protect consumers, in particular vulnerable people.
We are working with Which? to inform consumers about the practical steps they can take to reduce nuisance calls.
Our past campaigns
Scams Awareness Month is an annual campaign bringing together organisations and consumers across the country to take a united stand against scams and fraud which affect millions of people each year.
The campaign will launch on the 4 July 2017 and run until 31 July. Last year 40 CAB offices took part by campaigning on social media, holding events in their community or distributing materials. Many bureau worked in partnership with local agencies, such as Trading Standards, making scams a priority and protecting those most at risk.
Scams aren’t a minor inconvenience: they cause distress and misery, and can ruin lives. If you decide to take part in this year's campaign, you're helping to give people the awareness that will help them protect themselves and those in their families and communities who are less able to spot scams. Scams Awareness Month 2017 aims to create a confident community of consumers; people who get timely advice from trusted sources, people who report scams and share their experiences so that others can benefit.
On October 1st 2015, the Consumer Rights Act became law. It aims to simplify shoppers' rights, and help businesses know exactly where they stand.
As part of National Consumer Week 2015 Citizens Advice Scotland launched a campaign, Tough Act to Follow? to notify consumers of their key rights, some of them new.
In the first months of 2015, Citizens Advice Scotland and Citizens Advice Bureaux highlighted unfair employment practices, and reminded workers of the rights they have.
These pages remain as a vital resource for employees who may not be getting a fair deal at work.
Every day, CABs across Scotland see clients who have encountered a problem at work. Among them, issues with unfair dismissal, pay, sickness entitlement, holidays, parental rights and bullying are common.
In 2014, Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) led a campaign against unfair charges for parking on private land. The It’s Not Fine campaign reminds consumers that such charges are not fines or penalty notices as on public property. It also seeks to help those hit by disproportionate or unfair charges fight back.
Big Energy Saving Week is an annual campaign run in partnership with Citizens Advice. Last year's campaign took place from 31 October - 6 November 2016. The campaign aims to support consumers to manage their fuel bills by spreading awareness of methods to save money and energy, signposting consumers to information and helping those experiencing problems to access support.