Sources We Use
The hierarchy of official, technical, professional and consumer-specific sources used when preparing Quaerens guidance.
Quick Answer
Quaerens gives most weight to official, current and verifiable sources. Consumer documents are important for individual complaints, but they are not treated as general authority for every similar case. AI-generated text is never treated as an authoritative source.
Key Takeaways
- Official sources are preferred for legal and regulatory points.
- Technical claims should be supported by technical or professional material.
- Consumer documents help explain an individual issue.
- Older material is checked for continued relevance.
- Anonymous or unverifiable claims are not treated as authoritative.
What Sources Does Quaerens Use?
Sources can include legislation, GOV.UK guidance, regulator pages, ombudsman material, technical bodies, professional reports, manufacturer documents and consumer-specific evidence such as contracts, invoices, emails, photographs and payment records.
Which Sources Are Given Most Weight?
Primary official sources are given the greatest weight for legal and regulatory statements. These include UK legislation, GOV.UK, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Financial Ombudsman Service, the Information Commissioner, the Competition and Markets Authority and official local-authority or Trading Standards material where relevant.
How Do We Check Whether Information Is Current?
Pages should be checked against the latest available official source where the topic is legal, regulatory or time-sensitive. Older sources may still be useful background, but they should not be relied upon if official guidance has changed.
How Are Conflicting Sources Handled?
When sources disagree, the page should avoid overstating certainty. It should explain the issue in cautious terms, prefer official material where appropriate and make clear that individual evidence may affect the route available.
How Are Consumer Documents Used?
Consumer documents are used to understand what happened in a specific situation. They can show dates, representations, payments, complaints and responses, but they do not prove that every similar consumer has the same complaint or outcome.
Common Questions
Is this page legal advice?
No. It is general educational information and does not replace legal advice where that is required.
Why does this process matter?
A clear method helps visitors understand what evidence may matter and what the guidance does not decide.
Where should I go next?
Use the Consumer Rights Knowledge Centre, the Evidence Centre or a related topic hub to continue researching the issue.