Advice Direct Scotland delivers advice and information to Scottish consumers through their not for profit helpline and online advice hub, www.consumeradvice.scot.

They offer free and impartial advice on all consumer subjects to all citizens of Scotland, regardless of their personal circumstances, and aim to help consumers understand their rights and how to exercise them.

If you have a complaint or concern about goods or services you have purchased contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000. The helpline is open from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. You can also browse their online Knowledge Centre, chat to an advisor online or contact them via social media.

They will give you practical advice on how to resolve your problem, information about any consumer laws which apply to you and, where appropriate, will pass relevant information on to Trading Standards.

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) is Scotland’s largest independent advice network and provides support services for Scottish Citizens Advice Bureaux across the country. They statistics and information about consumer problems gathered by the Bureaux to identify issues which cause people hardship and to campaign for change.

There is a Citizens Advice Bureau in almost every community in Scotland, across almost 300 locations, and they are managed by people within those communities. This allows them to deliver free and confidential support, advice, information and services that meet the needs of local people.

Some of the most common areas that Bureaux deal with include:

• Debt and money advice
• Benefits
• Housing
• Employment rights
• Relationships
• General consumer issues 

CAS also help deliver the Citizens Advice Consumer Service, which offers free, confidential and impartial advice over the phone or email, and the self-help website www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland.

Use the Find Local Advice search tool to find your local Citizens Advice Scotland Bureau.

The Money Advice Service

The Money Advice Service helps people manage their money. They do this directly through a free and impartial advice service. The Money Advice Service also work in partnership with other organisations to help people make the most of their money. It is an independent service, set up by government.

Free and impartial money advice is available online, over the phone (0300 500 5000 Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm) and by web-chat, in printed guides, and face to face through a UK-wide network of Money Advisers.

The Money Advice Service is the UK statutory body for improving people’s understanding and knowledge of financial matters and their ability to manage their own financial affairs. In this capacity they work with, support and provide expertise to other organisations in the financial services industry, the third-sector, across government and elsewhere.

The Money Advice Service currently lead on the development of a UK strategy for financial capability which will inform and coordinate the activities of the many organisations who share an interest in improving people’s financial well-being.

Instilling good money management habits at an early age is particularly important. Work with young people is focused on how best to support parents of young children, and on meeting the needs of young adults as they begin to make financial decisions for themselves.