A blog about the work of Trading Standards in the UK
So you feel like a business has ripped you off or has done something wrong – what are you going to do about it? I see a lot of people whinging about things on the internet. Do not assume that Continue reading Don’t complain if you don’t complain
People will complain to us if they think they are getting ripped off at the petrol pump – even if it is over 1p. In this post I will cover some frequent questions/complaints we receive. Do fuel pumps have to Continue reading Petrol pumps – frequent questions and complaints
We receive a lot of complaints from members of the public demanding that we do something about people cold calling at their doorstep. Dealing with these types of complaints is frustrating and a bit of a waste of time. Part Continue reading Doorstep cold calling – the law
We regularly receive complaints from members of the public that a shop is illegally splitting a multipack and selling the items separately. It is not illegal to split multipacks per se but the product must be labelled and priced correctly. Continue reading Splitting multipacks and selling items separately
This post was originally posted in August 2013. The requirement to give two days notice is now in force. As I expected it means a lot of extra paperwork and a reduction in inspections. ———– Some coverage in the media Continue reading Trading Standards inspections – giving two days notice
What happened? Birmingham Trading Standards prosecuted Tesco for using misleading price practices. Tesco were fined £300,000. Strawberries had been on sale for 1 week for £3.99 then another 1 week for £2.99 and then 14 weeks for £1.99 and labelled Continue reading Birmingham City Council v Tesco (2013)
This was originally posted in August 2013 What happened? In this case Surrey Trading Standards prosecuted Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) for misleading consumers into signing up to their services by using misleading sales scripts. SSE were found guilty in Continue reading Surrey County Council v Scottish and Southern Energy Plc
This post was originally posted in August 2013. Some of the links are now dead and so have been removed. Earlier this year, the union Unison published a report that looked at what effect the budget cuts of the last Continue reading Cuts to Trading Standards – Unison Report
Trading Standards are often judged by the public on the enforcement action we take – specifically criminal prosecutions. This is probably because it is one of the few things that Trading Standards do that regularly makes it into the news. Continue reading The enforcement of the law
In my previous post I mentioned that in order to make a complaint (or request advice) you will probably have to contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service. The details of your complaint will then be passed to your local Trading Continue reading Making a complaint – properly