We’re responsible for making sure that Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole residents are protected against illegal trading. We advise local businesses about the laws that relate to them and monitor their trading using information from the Citizens Advice Consumer Service.
What is the role of the Trading Standards department?
Trading Standards use the information you give them to investigate unfair trading and illegal business activity, like rogue traders and scams. Trading Standards can take businesses to court or stop them operating, but they won’t help you fix your problem – for example, they can’t help you get a refund.
Trading standards services have no direct powers to order you to stop trading. However, they can apply to the courts for orders, which may restrict your activities.
What legislation does Trading Standards enforce?
Trading Standards enforce a wide range of legislation covering a range of topics including: Weights and Measures – Trading Standards ensure that weighing and measuring equipment “in use for trade” is tested and verified before use commercially.
Is Trading Standards a government department?
Trading Standards are a government service that make sure that consumers are protected from unfair trading and allow them to successfully support businesses that are legitimate.
What are the 8 basic rights of the consumers?
- Consumer’s rights to enforce terms about goods.
- Right to reject.
- Partial rejection of goods.
- Time limit for short-term right to reject.
- Right to repair or replacement.
- Right to price reduction or final right to reject.
What areas do Trading Standards cover?
National Trading Standards gathers intelligence from around the country to protect businesses and consumers from criminal activity and tackle a number of priorities. These currently cover e-crime, mass marketing scams, doorstep crime, and other enforcement issues that go beyond local authority boundaries.
How long do it take for Trading Standards investigations?
The length of a Trading Standards investigation may vary depending on the nature of the supposed breach. However, the Local Government Ombudsman recommends that councils should take no longer than 12 weeks.
Who do Trading Standards officers work for?
Local authorities are one of the main employers of TSOs. This includes local, regional and county councils (or the Trading Standards Service in Northern Ireland).
Can I contact Trading Standards directly?
England & Wales – Call the Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 (Welsh speakers can call 0808 223 1144) or visit www.adviceguide.org.uk. Scotland – Call the helpline: 0808 800 9060 or visit http://www.consumeradvice.scot/.
When should you contact trading standards?
Trading Standards only investigate traders who may have broken the law. Citizens Advice handle calls on our behalf and will help with any complaint. If it sounds like a crime has been committed, they’ll pass your complaint to us.
Do Trading Standards work with the police?
They do not have powers of arrest, but where they suspect a trading standards offences or a criminal offence has been committed they can request the assistance of the police in order to arrest a suspect.
How many unfair trading Regulations are there?
The Regulations prohibit 31 specific practices that are always considered to be unfair, and create further offences for aggressive practices.
Who do I complain to about a company?
An ombudsman is a person who has been appointed to look into complaints about companies and organisations. Ombudsmen are independent, free and impartial – so they don’t take sides. You should try and resolve your complaint with the organisation before you complain to an ombudsman.
116 authorities
Respondents were asked how many ‘qualified’ trading standards staff; ie those holding DCATS, DTS, CTSP or equivalent qualification, they had within their service. The survey identified a total of 1029.9 qualified trading standards staff across 116 authorities in England, Scotland and Wales.
How long does a company have to repair faulty goods?
Six months or more. If a fault develops after the first six months, the burden is on you to prove that the product was faulty at the time of delivery. In practice, this may require some form of expert report, opinion or evidence of similar problems across the product range.
What are four 4 laws to protect consumers rights?
In the United States a variety of laws at both the federal and state levels regulate consumer affairs. Among them are the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Truth in Lending Act, Fair Credit Billing Act, and the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act.
How long do Trading Standards have to prosecute?
How long do Trading Standards have to prosecute? The length of a Trading Standards investigation may vary depending on the nature of the supposed breach. However, the Local Government Ombudsman recommends that councils should take no longer than 12 weeks.
Which of the following is not a right of consumer?
The basic rights of any individual as a consumer are right to safety, right to information, right to choose, right to be heard, right to seek redressal, right to consumer education, but not the right to credit purchase.
Who is responsible for Trading standards UK?
National Trading Standards Board
National Trading Standards delivers national and regional consumer protection enforcement. Its Board is made up of senior and experienced heads of local government trading standards from around England and Wales with an independent Chair.
Can Trading standards help vulnerable adults?
Safeguarding is working with adults with care and support needs to keep them safe from abuse or neglect. If a Local Authority suspects an adult is at risk, they must make, or cause to be made, whatever enquiries necessary to enable them to decide whether any action should be taken and, if so, what and by whom.