Christmas is the time for Mince Pies and Holly, but it’s also a busy time for Citizens Advice. This isn’t just the season to be jolly it’s also a time to be wary of rogue traders, counterfeit goods and scams.

Citizens Advice Calderdale is taking these and other issues into the community with the opening of a new Pop Up Shop in Halifax Market just in time for Christmas.

Citizens Advice staff will be on hand to provide guidance on how to access information on a range of matters using the Citizens Advice website (www.citizensadvice.org.uk) and by highlighting services that Citizens Advice Calderdale provide.

They will explain how to access advice by telephone, e-mail, face to face and our specialist appointments for debt, challenging sickness and disability benefits decisions and NHS Complaints Advocacy.

Citizens Advice Calderdale work closely with Trading Standards and will distribute information packs to help the more vulnerable members of society protect themselves against scams.

We will also be publicising the campaign launched by Trading Standards and Citizens Advice           ‘Be a Clever Christmas Consumer’ which highlights the relevant changes to the new Consumer Rights Act.

The Pop Up Shop, which will be located opposite the left hand entrance at the bottom of the Halifax Borough Market opposite TESCO, officially opens on Wednesday 9 December at 10.00am and will be open over the Christmas period, every day (apart from Sundays) from 10-3pm, including Saturdays and Christmas Eve.

If this innovative approach to helping the public proves successful then it may be introduced as part of our core service in 2016.

For information or advice please contact us on 01422 842848, Twitter, Facebook or www.calderdalecab.org.uk