Release Date: 30/05/2008
New laws to provide much greater protection for consumers have been hailed as excellent news by Richmond Council which has vowed to use them to the full to root out the rogues.
The Council has described the new law (the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008), which came into force on 26 May, as the most significant change in consumer law for the past 40 years.
The regulations ban any trader from using unfair commercial practices towards a consumer.
They outlaw 31 specific practices outright, including pyramid selling, claiming a trader is about to cease trading when that is not the case, falsely giving the impression someone has won a prize, refusing to leave a consumer’s home and not to return when asked to go and pestering someone with unwanted phone calls, faxes or emails.
All trades and businesses will be covered by the regulations, which cover all goods and services including digital products such as music downloads.
Richmond’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Martin Elengorn, said:
“Traders who deal with the public in an open, honest and fair way have nothing to worry about. But the rogues should be aware that Trading Standards now have the tools to deal with them.
“And I pledge that our officers will use the new laws to the full in order to defeat the cowboys.”
Trading Standards are empowered to go before the courts and require traders to provide evidence to back up any wild claims that they make.
Cases can be put before the courts within a matter of weeks and an injunction quickly obtained to stop rogues in their tracks.
Breaching an injunction can lead to an unlimited fine or imprisonment.
If you suspect a scam or want to report a rogue trader you should call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit their website: www.consumerdirect.gov.uk.
Guidance on the regulations is available to businesses online at www.businesslink.gov.uk/unfairtrading.
Richmond borough traders can obtain further advice from Trading Standards on 0208 487 5487.