My consumer book is 7 years old!

My consumer book is 7 years old!

I released the first edition in September 2016 and updated it in March 2019 for GDPR. The third edition was released in June 2023 and is the best yet. It condenses eight years of consumer and motoring knowledge in 35 chapters with clear advice to help you get the outcome you want and deserve.

It has been an incredible journey and a roller-coaster which nobody could have really prepared me for. I have had some amazing experiences and come across some of the most genuine people who have helped me in so many ways.

What began as a project and a blog has evolved into a passion in raising awareness of consumer rights.

My consumer book – where it all began

I was sat in a dead-end boring job in October 2015 reflecting on a lifetime of bad and unique experiences that I could actually make a consumer book out of.

Cancelling speeding tickets, winning a £1300 refund on a holiday of a lifetime ruined by a dormant volcano, getting a £200 refund on a late delivery of a sofa-bed, taking on Evans Halshaw who sold me a dud that only lasted 11 weeks – you name It, I have successfully resolved it.

I became a moderator of a Facebook group in March 2015 for disgruntled consumers who were seeking redress. I quickly became known as the go-to expert on consumer rights and how to resolve various disputes. I was learning along the way and motorists were claiming back thousands of pounds week in, week out.

I recall in one week alone I won over £70,000 back for group members by giving them advice on how to seek redress.

I began writing the first edition of my consumer book and half-way through it I created my blog to support it.

It took one year to bring my book from an idea to fruition.

7 facts

1. Three people have won over £91,000 in refunds from buying my book! One person won £23,000 on a claim, another won two claims totalling £51,000 and someone else won £32,000.
   
   These are incredible results. I have saved consumers over £200,000 over the past 7 years that I am aware of. There are many people who have saved considerable sums that I don’t know of.
   
   I have made a significant difference to many people’s lives, which is something I am proud of.
   
   
2. The first edition of my book accrued 16 5* reviews with an average score of 4.6 on Amazon.
   
   The second and third edition (released June 2023) have accrued 48 5* reviews with the same average score on Amazon.
   
   The latest edition encapsulates 8 years of consumer and motoring knowledge. It is packed with useful advice to arm you with the tools you need to crack the most difficult of disputes.
   
   
3. 88% of all visitors to my website live in the UK. 5% live in USA. The remaining 7% are worldwide. Australia, Canada and Ireland account for 1% each.
   
   
4. My website has been viewed in 147 countries out of 195 around the world. Kosovo, Nepal, Vanuatu, Iran and Bangladesh rank in the list.
   
   
5. My favourite inspirational quote is “Perseverance breaks resistance”.
   
   I picked this up from one of my Twitter followers who works for the Northern Ireland Consumer Council, who also follow me. They do a fantastic job for consumers in Northern Ireland and beyond. Have a look and see for yourself.
   
   
6. The best advice I have received is from the first journalist who featured me as 1 of 5 of the best consumer champions in the UK in the Daily Mail. “Power in numbers”.
   
   
7. The person who I have learnt the most from on consumer rights is Dean Dunham.
   
   Dean hosts The Consumer Hour on LBC and is an encyclopaedia of knowledge with laser precision on consumer laws.
   
   I have learnt to do the same when it comes to questions I get asked.

What I have learnt

I wrote about five things I have learnt in May 2021 on my blog’s fifth anniversary.

That remains unchanged. If I knew then what I know now, I would have done things differently and hired professionals to do a better job in proofreading, editing and publishing my first book.

My first book simply could and should have been better. The content was sound and the Amazon reviews verify that. I was simply let down by those I entrusted to proofread, edit and publish it.

I have since taught myself to self-publish books to the highest standard.

My website www.awriterinedinburgh.com showcases my book publishing services with testimonials from clients who have put their faith and trust in me to publish their books on Amazon.

I have learnt so much about consumer rights and still have more to learn. The spectrum is so wide and fast moving.

Nothing stays still and nothing stays the same, although the issues with complaints remain consistent.

Car dealerships attract the most complaints. What I see blows my mind week in, week out!

Buying a car is the second biggest purchase you are ever likely to make in your life, yet the customer service and aftercare is generally abysmal.

There are exceptions and you cannot tar all dealerships with the same brush. I can only speak from what I see in my inbox.

Where I am now

I am now freelancing with a consumer column in the pipeline, resolving consumer complaints, working with the media, publishing books for aspiring authors and creating new content to raise awareness of consumer rights.

I couldn’t have come this far without the support and kindness shown by so many people. Too many people to thank, but they know who they are.

I intend to keep working on consumer rights and focus on being the best I can be at what I do.