By the end of this year, electrical retailers’ association Retra will have received 1,100 calls to its helpline – and, for the second year running, redundancy and dismissals were the topics on which callers most wanted advice.

Retra’s helpline was introduced nearly 10 years ago and since then, said Retra deputy chief executive Mike Floodgate (pictured), the range of questions members ask has grown in diversity as well as numbers.

“Employment law is by far the largest subject; advice on contracts of employment, sickness benefits, maternity leave and payments and holiday entitlements are also dealt with.

“Of course not all negotiations with employees go smoothly so the helpline has also dealt with an increasing number of requests for information on employment tribunals.”

Enquiries about consumer law came a very close second on the helpline’s most-requested list.

Said Mr Floodgate: “When one considers the vast number of sales completed each year, there are some that are bound to go a little awkward at times.

“However, most queries can be settled easily and consumers informed of their actual rights rather than the rights they think they have or the rights they have been misinformed by the media and others.”

Other topics on which the helpline has given advice this year include WEEE, television licenses for shops, Performing Rights Society (PRS) and the Phonographic Performance Licence (PPL), the Motion Picture Licensing Coorporation (MPLC), PCI Data Security Standard (credit card fraud protection), rates and leases.

Mr Floodgate continued: “The helpline has been pleased to be asked to give an opinion on various issues concerning consumer legislation by several major manufacturers, Trading Standards, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), and the Office of Fair Trading.

“So if you have a query or just want to check something, try the Retra helpline. We might not know all the answers, but we will find out for you, and it’s free.”

The helpline can be accessed by calling the Retra switchboard on 01234 269110.