How to Join Buy with Confidence
Written by James Walker · Last reviewed 16 August 2026
James Walker has 2 degrees in construction (BSc (Hons) Building Surveying · MSc Environmental Design of Buildings) and an extensive background in issue resolution, resolving over £4 billion of consumer issues.
The short answer
- Run through Trading Standards, which is why it carries weight consumers recognise.
- Vetting covers trading history, complaints record, references and your terms of business.
- It is a local authority scheme, so the process runs through your local Trading Standards service.
- Membership is annual and involves ongoing monitoring.
- Members skip the vetting on Trusted Payments.
On this page
Why the Trading Standards association matters
Most accreditation schemes are run by trade bodies or private certification companies. Buy with Confidence is operated by local authority Trading Standards services.
For a consumer, that is a materially different signal, Trading Standards is the body they would complain to. Being approved by them is closer to a clean record than a paid membership.
What the vetting covers
Trading history and financial standing. Complaints record, including anything held by Trading Standards. Customer references, contacted directly. Terms and conditions, checked for fairness and consumer law compliance. Insurance, and any required registrations for your trade.
The terms and conditions check is the one applicants trip on. Unfair or non-compliant terms are a common reason for rejection, and worth reviewing before applying.
How to apply
Through your local Trading Standards service, the scheme operates locally rather than nationally, so the route and fee vary by authority.
What it involves afterwards
Ongoing monitoring. Complaints against members are taken seriously and can lead to removal, which is precisely why the badge means something.