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Newham Council's trading standards officers are warning
scam artists, cowboy builders and doorstep criminals that they can
no longer exploit loopholes in the law.
The Consumer Protection Regulations will replace many consumer
protection laws and will apply to businesses that trade directly
with consumers, such as hoteliers, builders, retailers and second
hand car dealers.
For the first time, it will establish a duty for businesses not
to trade unfairly.
The regulations will ban 31 types of unfair sales practices,
including:
* bogus 'closing down' sales
* prize draw scams
* offering bogus free gifts
* displaying false accreditation, such as wrongly claiming to be a
CORGI-registered plumber.
Executive member for public protection, Councillor Andrew
Baikie, said: "I welcome these new powers which will enhance
consumer protection. Our trading standards officers will now have
more power to tackle rogue traders, cowboy builders and doorstep
sellers and will be better equipped to crack down on unfair and
illegal tactics.
"All consumers have the right to be treated fairly, whether
shopping on the High Street, at home, through a catalogue or
online. People should feel safer and more secure when making a
purchase. It will also make it much more difficult for any traders
who operate dishonestly."
Practices that mislead the consumer will be against the law,
such as false claims about a product's effectiveness or failing to
reveal to a customer that a contract has to run for a minimum
period.
The new legislation will also make it against the law for
aggressive practices to be used. These include hard sell tactics
adopted by some doorstep traders, who force customers to pay cash
immediately for home repairs or traders who insist on giving
customers a lift to the bank to withdraw money.
Businesses who do not comply with the new laws could face
criminal prosecution, with penalties including fines and prison
sentences.
Anyone who has information of rogue traders or would like more
information can contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or visit
their website www.consumerdirect.gov.uk |