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
The Food on the Table campaign ran throughout September and October 2018. The aim of the campaign was to give the Scottish public a voice on the affordability, choice and access to food through a public survey.
Although the survey has now closed, the results have been published and we will continue to look for opportunities to ensure that the lived experiences of those in food insecurity are heard.
The next Big Energy Saving Week starts on Monday 21 January 2019. It is a national campaign to help people cut their energy bills and get all the financial support they are entitled to.
The week focuses on raising public awareness of how to save money on energy costs by switching energy supplier or tariff, accessing discounts or grants, and making homes more energy efficient.
The best way to pay less for your fuel is simply to save energy around your home. This doesn’t mean going without - you can waste less by being energy efficient. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that the average home in the UK could save up to £130 per year by taking a few simple energy saving steps. There are some easy steps you can take to save money and energy by changing the way you use appliances or making your home more energy efficient.
Many people stay on the same tariff or with the same energy supplier for years, without realising they could be getting a better deal elsewhere. By switching tariffs or suppliers, or joining an oil club, you could save hundreds on your fuel bill. Take control of your energy costs - why pay more than you have to?
Energy bills are a significant concern for households but you could save money on your fuel bill by simply checking you’re not paying more than you need to for your energy. Follow our three simple steps below and you could reduce your fuel bill without having to cut down on the energy you use.
Big Energy Saving Week starts on Monday 21 January 2019. The national campaign aims to raise public awareness of how to save money on energy costs by switching energy supplier or tariff, accessing discounts or grants, and making homes more energy efficient. The campaign also aims to raise awareness of the help and support available to the public on these issues.
Use the Citizens Advice energy price comparison tool to see if you can save money by switching energy tariff or supplier. Get advice on energy, debt and benefits.
Our annual Scams Awareness Month campaign is back! Throughout June we will be working alongside the bureaux network and partners such as Police Scotland, Trading Standards Scotland and Age Scotland to educate consumers on the importance of recognising, reporting and discussing scams.
This years' campaign launches on Friday 1st June and begins on Monday 4th June - Friday 29th June.
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.
Campaign news
Citizens Advice Scotland is taking action to help an estimated 80,000 low income households in Scotland that could be paying too much Council Tax.
Ofgem has announced there is to be a £150 cap on the amount energy companies can charge for installing pre-payment meters in customers’ homes.
Citizens Advice Scotland has launched a national survey to find out peoples’ views on the quality and reliability of Scotland’s bus services.
Citizens Advice Scotland has joined forces with consumer group Which? to launch a campaign to urge Scots to protect themselves from nuisance phone calls.
Today we are calling for a halt to the 'accelerated rollout' of Universal Credit, the major new UK benefit. In Scotland, we know Universal Credit has already caused problems for thousands of people – and we believe the issues with it must be addressed before it affects hundreds of thousands more.
Our past campaigns
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.
In September 2017 we worked with Which? to inform consumers about the practical steps they can take to reduce nuisance calls.
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 2017 campaign launched on the 4 July 2017 and ran until 31 July. 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. Everyone who took part were 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.