Confidence - Trading Standards Institute

Happy Christmasfrom Brighton & HoveTrading standardsConfidenceedition two.Buy With Confidence-Rules forSubcontractors and CRBs havechanged!As you may be aware, Buy With Confidenceis co-ordinated regionally and a focus groupof authorities running (or due to launch) BuyWith Confidence in their area meets quarterlyto ensure consistency for members acrossthe South East.The rule relating to CRBs and subcontractorswas recently revisited and has changed. Therule now is that if your subcontractors are notsupervised by a BWC member on or aroundpeoples’ homes, a CRB is required. The test isno longer one of regularity.If you wish to clarify how this may effect yourbusiness, please contact Kirsty MacDougallon 01273 293340.to speed things along. All our referencescame back quickly and positively, whichmeant we could be approved within a fewweeks.What is nature of your business?We service and repair motor vehicles.Hangleton GarageWhy did you decide to join the scheme?The scheme had been recommended tous, so we found out a bit more about it. Itappealed to us because we feel we give agood service to our customers and wanted itto be recognised by the public.How did you find the application process?We found the process really easy. Because wedon’t go into peoples homes we didn’t haveto get CRB checks, and that probably helpedTypically, garages tend to have a badreputation, what are you comments onthis?I think that’s true, and I think it is a reasonableperception for consumers to have. Service isoften poor, especially in larger garages wherethe requirement of admin staff can meanthat miscommunication can occur.Do you feel that being a member ofBWC has increased the credibility of yourbusiness, and if so, how?Definitely. Even though we don’t make apoint to tell people that we are on the BWCscheme, we do have signage that makesthem aware. People that do know about thescheme feel more protected and confident.continued overleaf >Inside this Issue:• Page 1 - Hangleton Garage• Page 2 - Buy With Confidence• Page 3 - Preferred contractor list / Home Information Packs• Page 4 - A Day in the life of Nigel Haines• Page 5 - Points of interest• Page 6 - Free mediation service• Page 7 - Trading Standards questionairre

Hove City Council by phone (Tel: 291438) orby e-mail (sam.scott@brighton-hove.gov.uk)She will explain the process and send outapplication forms.Members should be aware that the list is onlyopen to those that have been trading for atleast two years and have audited accounts toprove this.Want to be on the Council’sPreferred Contractors’ list ?Who better to be on the Council’s preferredcontractors’ list than those firms who havebeen through the rigorous vetting processof Trading Standards Buy With ConfidenceScheme. The process that you would need togo through to become a preferred contractoris briefly explained below;The first stage is to contact Sam Scott(Selective Tendering Officer) at Brighton &It is also a requirement that you arecompliant members of the CHAS (ContractorHealth & Safety) scheme, how to become amember is clearly explained on the web sitewww.chas.gov.ukEvery quarter Sam Scott produces a smallworks list - This displays all contractors on theapproved list by category of work that willbe undertaken with contracts between £0- £7,500 in value.Good luck to those who decide to apply.Home Information PacksWith some controversy, Home InformationPacks (HIPs) are now with us. SinceSeptember 2007 most properties marketedfor the first time with more than 3 bedroomsshould have had a HIP commissioned priorto going on the market. From the 14thDecember 2007 all properties will requireone. From January 2008, the HIP must beready and available prior to marketing theproperty.HIPs must contain certain information such asEnergy Performance Certificates, localproperty searches and evidence the sellerhas good continued title to sell overleaf the property. > Othervoluntary information can also be included.Although there are some exemptions, sellersor estate agents are under a duty to providea HIP to a potential buyer if they request it.Trading Standards are responsiblefor ensuring compliance with theserequirements and are able to issue £200penalty charge notices if agents or sellersfail to comply. Another requirement of thenew legislation is that agents marketingproperties requiring HIPs must belong to arecognised redress scheme. Currently thereare two operated by the Ombudsman forEstate Agents and the Royal Institute ofChartered Surveyors. Trading Standards willbe carrying out some work with agents inthe next few months to ensure that agentsunderstand their obligations and HIPs arebeing provided where required.For further information on the requirementsplease ring us for advice or look at www.communities.gov.uk/housing3

Points of Interesta consumer and a business. For furtherinformation contact the EnvironmentalAgency on 08708 506 506 or visit one ofthe following websites, www.berr.gov.uk/innovation/sustainability/weee orwww.enviromental-agency.gov.uk/weee • Score on the Doors - is a pilot scheme thatBrighton & Hove Environmental HealthDepartment are running to show howwell food businesses are complying withthe laws. Cafes, restaurants, clubs, shopsand other food premises in Brighton &Hove will be given a certificate and asticker to display in their door or windowthat shows their food hygiene ratings asstars. The scheme is not a measure of thegastronomic delight, nutritional value orthe quality of ingredients used. All starratings will be available on the council’swebsite www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/scoresonthedoors• Supermarket Promotion-We have ordered1000 trolley token key rings with the Buywith Confidence Logo on one side andour advice line number on the reverse.The key rings are aimed at replacingpound coins for consumers when usingtrolleys in supermarkets. We feel this willbe an effective way of promoting thescheme to the public. Our intention isto do a promotional week of stands insupermarkets, giving out the key rings andinforming the public about the scheme.continued overleaf >Any traders who are interested in joiningus for this promotion please let me know.• Waste Electrical and Electronic EquipmentRegulations have been introduced thisyear to tackle the growing amount ofwaste electrical and electronic equipment.These may be relevant to you both as• Please could you complete thequestionnaire at the back of thenewsletter. This will give us someindication of how satisfied you are withthe service enabling us to improve thescheme for our members and the public.We have included herewith a stampedaddressed envelope so that you can returnyour completed questionnaire. Thankyoufor your time.5

please detach and return to address on reverseBuy With Confidence Trader SurveyHow satisfied are you with our overall service?Fairly satisfiedFairly dissatisfiedVery dissatisfiedDon’t knowDid we give you information/advice that was easy to understand?Very easyFairly easyFairly difficultVery diffficultDon’t knowHow informative did you find our staff?Very goodFairly goodFairly poorVery poorDon’t knowDid we treat you fairly at all times?YesNoDon’t knowWere our officers polite and courteous at all times?YesNoDon’t knowHow easy was it to make initial contact with us?Very easyFairly easyFairly difficultVery difficult