Alternative Dispute Resolution - about the scheme

How the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Scheme operates

This scheme is owned and run by the four South Yorkshire Trading Standards Services and is totally independent. For administrative purposes it is housed within Doncaster Council's Trading Standards service.

The scheme is fully accredited by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute under The Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015.

Alternative Dispute Resolution is also part of a wider European scheme to deal with out-of-court complaints.

Our scheme is led and managed by a Trading Standards Manager.

Officials employed by the scheme will assess the evidence presented to them and form a judgement with regard to the most effective means of resolving the dispute. Our officials are all Trading Standards professionals with appropriate qualifications and experience in relation to consumer law, assessment of evidence and decision making. Where Officials are remunerated from the scheme's resources this is on a fixed fee basis and they are not incentivised in any way beyond this.

You can use a third party, a friend or solicitor to help you, but usually there is no need for this. If you do, you may not be awarded the cost of their help, if any.

When considering your case our adjudicators will take into account the following principles: the law, any known industry standards, fairness and equity.

Consumers may withdraw from the process at any time. Business may withdraw at any time unless there is a legal duty on them to participate or it is a condition of their membership of a trade association or similar body in which they participate.

The outcome is not binding on the consumer. The outcome is binding on the business.

ADR Rules and Procedures

You can view the ADR Rules and Procedures that show the policies and process of the scheme.

Our officials

Our officials are all Trading Standards professionals with appropriate qualifications and experience in relation to consumer law, assessment of evidence and decision making. Their appointment is reviewed every 2 years.

Dave McMurdo - ADR Manager
Trading Standards Manager
Doncaster Council

Kaye Fox - Deputy ADR Manager
Trading Standards Manager
Sheffield City Council

Phillip Hill - Case Officer
Trading Standards Officer
Barnsley Council

Paul Whittington - Case Officer
Trading Standards Officer
Barnsley Council

Jane Connor - Case Officer
Senior Fair Trading Officer
Doncaster Council

Jason Dickinson - Case Officer
Trading Standards Officer
Doncaster Council

Russell Fielding - Case Officer
Senior Trading Standards Officer
Doncaster Council

Owen Kennedy - Case Officer
Senior Trading Standards Officer
Doncaster Council

Tracey Lane - Case Officer
Partnership Development Officer
Doncaster Council

Dianne Terry - Case Officer
Senior Trading Standards Officer
Doncaster Council

Gary McGann - Case Officer
Business Regulation Officer
Rotherham Council

David Reid - Case Officer
Trading Standards Officer
Sheffield City Council

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