Buy with Confidence - Trading Standards Institute

Dear Deidre,
I am a business in Brighton & Hove and have
just received a proof for a flyer that I am
going to distribute to advertise my business.
The flyer has a number of different wooden
tables shown on the picture and a statement
saying all this for £500. There is an asterix
by this statement. The asterix relates to a
statement in small writing at the bottom of
the page saying that the offer only applies to
pine tables, the other tables shown in the
picture are more expensive. There are no
pine tables shown on the picture.
Under the Consumer Protection from
Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 it is a
criminal offence to make a misleading
statement that would effect a consumer’s
decision to buy goods or services. It could
be argued that making a statement like
‘all this for £500’ when none of tables
shown in the picture are £500 would be
construed as misleading despite there
being a disclaimer at the bottom. Legally
disclaimers should be as bold, precise and
compelling as the description they are
aiming to nullify.
Dear Deidre,
I have just received an e-mail from HM
Revenue & Customs (HMRC) regarding a tax
rebate and to complete an online form to
receive a rebate of tax. This sounds too
good to be true.
customers of tax rebates by way of
e-mails or invite them to complete online
forms to receive tax rebates. Do not visit
the website contained in the e-mail or
disclose any personal information. If
you receive an email from HMRC which
you think may be a hoax forward it to
phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.
Dear Deidre,
I have ordered building materials from a
f irm which has now gone into
administration, leaving me out of pocket
what can I do?
Due to the credit crunch a number of
businesses are closing down, leaving
customers high and dry when things go
wrong. To begin with you should take the
following steps:
• Has an administrator been appointed?
look on the company’s website, or in
the press
• If so, write to them and log your claim
attaching any copies of paperwork.
• If your claim relates to individual
items which were purchased for over
£100 (but not more than £30,000),
and a portion or all of the amount
was paid for using a credit card, then
you may have an “equal liability” claim
against the credit card firm. Write to
the credit card company with copies
of paperwork stating that they are
“equally liable” under section 75 of the
Consumer Credit Act 1974. NB. This
only applies to consumer not business
transactions
• If you purchased goods using a Visa
debit card or a Mastercard debit card,
contact your bank to see if you are
able to be refunded under a Charge
Back Scheme. You need to contact
your bank within 120 days of realising
.that there is a problem. However,
it is merely a scheme, and unlike
purchases made using a credit card
there is no legal obligation for the
bank to act.
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Buy with Confidence Contact Details:
fran.evans@brighton-hove.gov.uk
donna.lynsdale@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Fran Evans: 01273 293340
Donna Lynsdale: 01273 292494
www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/brighton-hove www.buywithconfidence.info