Trusted Trader is a local business partnership which aims to: - increase consumer confidence - promote good practice within local businesses - help protect residents from doorstep crime. It was started by Dundee City Council Trading Standards Service in 2005. Since then the scheme has expanded across other Scottish Councils from East Lothian to Renfrewshire. Each Council is responsible for their own scheme, but Trusted Trader follows a standard Code of Practice tailored to the local needs of each local authority. Each Council backs and oversee the scheme, with the vetting process carried out by Trading Standards Officers. Trading Standards also ensure Traders adhere to the Code of Practice and will intervene in disputes when required. Where applicable, Ombudsman Services can be used to allow impartial adjudication when a dispute arises between consumer and business and can be settled outside of court. Trusted Directory Services (TDS) is responsible for the Scotland Trusted Trader website and providing scheme management support, customer service and assistance to Trading Standards for the schemes that are hosted on trustedtrader.scot. Other Trusted Trader schemes are hosted locally on Council websites or by other third parties.