• Are your in dispute with a consumer or another trader?
• Involving a contract for the sale of goods and/or the supply of a service?
• Are you unable to resolve the matter?

If you can answer YES to all three questions then you may need the help of an independent expert .

Issuing a summons via the County Court is always a last resort. To determine the true value of your loss, you may need an expert report to determine how serious the problem is. Any suitably qualified or experienced person should be able to do this. However it may be difficult to find someone willing to make a report and attend a Court hearing if asked to do so.

Before choosing an expert you should agree this with the other party involved and if the disputed amount is likely to be under £5000 seek County Court approval also. The Court may not give its approval if the experts’ fee is disproportionately high.

Cambridgeshire Trading Standards Service does not provide an expert witness service and we do not recommend or approve any experts, however, we hope the web links opposite will enable you to find your own expert.