Trading Standards Print

Trading standards
Trading standards Service carries out a wide range of activities to protect and advise consumers and businesses and to maintain and improve standards of trading. The service is responsible for administering trading standards legislation that governs the quality, quantity, safety, price and description of goods and services. The trading standards service also gives money advice, with the aim of providing sensible solutions to the pressure of debt problems
The service's responsibilities can be split into five sections: Trading Practices; Quality and Quantity; Consumer Safety; Consumer Advice; and Money Advice.

Helpful Advice from ERC Trading Standards

Advice on Doorstep Crime and Bogus Callers. Click here to download.

Advice on Internet Scams. Click here to download.

Advice on the Top Ten Scams. Click here to download.

Advice on Junk Mail. Click here to download.

 

Trading Practices

Investigate unfair trading practices
Take action against car clocking fraud
Take action against undisclosed traders
Take action against false trade descriptions
Monitor advertisements
Take action against misleading price displays
Undertake price/value surveys
Provide advice to businesses
Inform consumers and traders of scam activity
Maintain links with neighbouring authorities to safeguard interests of traders and consumers
Give talks to traders and consumer groups

Quantity and Quality

Ensure the accuracy of all trade weights and measures
Investigate complaints of short weight or measure
Ensure control in factories of quantity in packaged goods
Carry out test purchase programmes
Provide calibration services for trade and industry
Carry out projects to monitor quantity of goods sold, such as petrol, coal etc
Monitor animal foodstuffs and fertilisers for compliance with legislation
Monitor animal welfare, such as animal movement licensing

Consumer Safety

Take action to prevent the sale of unsafe goods
Ensure safe storage and supply of petroleum products
Enforce safe storage and sale of fireworks
Enforce legislation purporting to underage sales
Ensure appropriate safety warnings are carried on chemical products
Sample and test consumer products such as toys, electrical goods, pushchairs, fireworks etc.

Consumer Advice

Advise consumers of their rights
Investigate consumer complaints
Advise businesses of their obligations in consumer contracts
Conciliate and arbitrate in disputes between consumers and traders
If complaints are not within remit of Trading Standards, endeavour to find the appropriate body
Maintain links with neighbouring authorities to enable cross boundary complaint resolution

Money Advice

Provide debt counselling, a free, confidential, comprehensive service
Arrange debt adjustment/rescheduling
Provide court representation
Negotiate with creditors, including mortgage lenders
Assist with all aspects of insolvency