ISBN 978-0-85265-146-9

Published by Guardian Books

How to be your own consumer champion

I am a great believer in complaining. And the woman I want next to me when I do so is Anna Tims.

Ms Tims has been writing a consumer rights column in the Guardian for more years than her publisher cares to specify. And the woman knows everything.

Insurance, internet, travel, utilities - she's fought 'em all and reveals in 248 pages how you can fight and win against them too. Not to mention taking on retailers, service providers, banks and even the Post Office.

Illustrated with amusing, tragic and downright unbelievable anecdotes from her multitudinous experiences, this is one volume that will stay on my bookshelf and to which I shall frequently refer.

But this is not simply a collection of stories; Ms Tims also dispenses wise words on how to complain successfully and provides no fewer than 60 useful contact names and addresses, ranging from advice bodies through consumer protection services and watchdogs, ombudsmen and regulators to trade associations. if none of those can sort out your problem, you will also find details of the courts service including pursuing a claim online. And to round things off there are four pages detailing laws every consumer needs to know about.