Trading standards warning on unfair practices

Date Added - 27/01/09

Moray Council’s trading standards section has warned unwitting householders to be on their guard against so-called therapists calling at their homes.

It follows a recent incident in which a 75-year-old signed up to an agreement to buy a vibrating mattress before being made aware of the £1,450 price tag.

The visit came as a result of an unsolicited phone call during which the caller claimed the company could provide therapy for the person’s medical conditions and could arrange for a ‘therapist’ to call.

The company involved did provide details of the individual’s right to cancel within seven days and a friend who was alerted to the situation duly arranged for cancellation to be made.

However, payment for the mattress had already been taken out of the pensioner’s bank account and a refund is still awaited.

Unfair trading practice regulations which came into force last year introduced a general duty not to trade unfairly and seek to ensure that traders act honestly and fairly towards their customers.

The regulations include a general prohibition on unfair commercial practices, specific prohibitions on misleading and aggressive practices and a blacklist of 31 practices deemed unfair in all circumstances.

Trading standards manager Peter Adamson said: “It is wrong for anyone selling goods to gain entry to the customer’s home by misleading them about the reason for the visit.

“The new consumer protection regulations are very flexible and allow trading standards to tackle bad practice which previously fell through legal loopholes.

“I would encourage anyone who feels they have been misled to let us know.”

Anyone who has had a similar experience should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 050607 for advice in the first instance. Should assistance from trading standards be necessary Consumer Direct will provide details to the trading standards office in the consumer’s local authority area.