South Ayrshire Council News

South Ayrshire Council’s Trading Standards service has welcomed the introduction of the new Consumer Protection Regulations that come into force this week. This represents one of the biggest changes to consumer law in decades, aiming to stamp out unfair selling by any business that sells to consumers – from hotels to builders to high street shops.

As a result of a shake up in trading practices across Europe, the Regulations will come into force from 26th May 2008. Under the new regulations, 31 unfair or misleading sales practices are to be banned, putting South Ayrshire Trading Standards Officers in a stronger position to crackdown on any rogue trading such as scams and sharp practice bogus closing down sales, prize draw scams, the offer of bogus free gifts and the display of false accreditations - such as wrongly claiming to be a member of an approved trade body.

The new legislation will also out law the use of aggressive practices. These include the ‘hard sell’ - pressurised selling techniques adopted by some unscrupulous doorstep traders who force customers to pay cash immediately for work carried out or insist in giving customers a lift to the bank to withdraw cash.

A spokesperson for Trading Standards said, "We expect the regulations to strengthen our arm in cases where unscrupulous businesses exploit people, particularly the vulnerable. They will tackle misleading and aggressive practices that caused problems in the past, such as coercion, harassment and undue influence.”

Councillor Peter Convery, who is responsible for Trading Standards issues within South Ayrshire said, "The new regulations will introduce, for the first time into UK law, a general duty on all businesses NOT to trade unfairly with consumers. Until now Trading Standards Services have had to ensure that there exists a specific piece of legislation that covered a trading practice that was unfair to the customer. We all know examples where, by the time a new law has been passed to outlaw or regulate a practice (such as in the early days of timeshare), the rogues have moved on with a new scam that sidesteps the legal requirements. For many years we have been one step behind in the battle against the rogues and we hope that, in effect, this new legislation gives us the flexibility and scope to be one step ahead."

Councillor Convery continued, “All consumers have the right to be treated fairly regardless of where they shop, whether on the high street, at home through a catalogue or online. These new laws will help the consumer feel more secure when making a purchase, by making it tougher for the small minority of rogue traders operating dishonestly.”

The spokesperson added, “South Ayrshire Trading Standards Service works closely with local businesses to encourage a fair trading environment and offer free advice and assistance on a whole range of trading laws. Businesses will also receive greater protection from misleading advertising directed at their companies as new regulations protecting them are to be brought in. If any local business or consumer is concerned about the impact of any of these Regulations they should contact us at 5-7 River Terrace, Ayr (01292) 616060 or visit our website at www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/tradingstandrds which has a wealth of information including the new guidance leaflet produced by the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.