|
In this issue:
You can now call our partners the Citizens Advice consumer service on a cheaper or for some phone users it may be free depending on the package you have with your telephone provider.
The new number is: 03454 04 05 06.
The Citizens Advice consumer service provides free advice, help and guidance on all consumer issues and is also the route to report problems and issues to Trading Standards in Coventry across the country.
Back to top
New rules for consumer contracts made at their home, in shops and by distance selling came into force on Friday 13 June and they apply to all traders selling goods, services or digital content.
The new Regulations replace existing distance selling and doorstep selling Regulations and specify what information must be given to consumers and when this needs to be done.
They rationalise, and extend from 7 to 14 days, the cooling off period which consumers have when they buy off premises or at a distance like over the internet or by phone.
They also put obligations on consumers to return items to the trader within 14 days of cancelling. The trader is not obliged to provide a refund until the item, or proof of its posting, is received. A refund must then be given within 14 days.
In addition, all ancillary contracts will be cancelled when the main contract is cancelled e.g. a warranty or credit agreement.
The Regulations also require that consumers are made aware of all charges before the contract is made and give active consent to all the charges. Specific ‘hidden cost’ practices will be prohibited such as excessive surcharges for payment methods, pre-ticked boxes if payments are to be made, and a ‘basic rate’ phone number should be provided for customers complaining or exercising their rights.
New provisions have also been introduced relating to the purchase of digital content such as software or music downloads and streaming of films. Information on functionality or compatibility with hardware or software will now have to be made known.
Shops will also have to give certain information for non-day-to-day goods such as televisions, however most of what will be required will be evident from the goods themselves, so there may be little change here.
Back to top
Coventry Trading Standards first alerted residents to the potential problems of signing up to ‘free samples’ in November 2012. However, we continue to receive fresh reports of residents taking up these free trials advertised in the newspapers or the internet for such items as face creams, cosmetics or health supplements. To receive the ‘free’ sample, credit/debit card details are required which is to cover postage, usually under £3.00. However, what people report is that further amounts are taken from their accounts raging from between £80 and £90.
Our advice: Always check the small print of any free sample very carefully. The advert may say "free trial" but if you do not read or follow instructions exactly you may end up paying the full cost of the product and be tied into a contract paying for monthly supplies until the contract is terminated.
In some cases a UK address may be used, giving the impression that this is where an advertiser is based. However, this will often be no more than a mailing centre, with the actual company being based outside the UK making following up complaints difficult.
Back to top
A resident was approached in the Allesley Old Road area of the city by a man driving a large unmarked white van who offered them a memory foam mattress for the knock down price of £200 instead of the usual £800 price tag!
Our main concerns with this is the initial method of approach, the way mattresses have been described and the safety of the mattresses – they may display a Fire Safety Label but there would be no way of checking if this was genuine or not.
Our advice: Do not purchase goods or services from people who approach you in the street or from callers who cold call on your doorstep.
Back to top
Residents in Coundon and Tile Hill have reported receiving emails claiming to be from banks and other organisations stating a problem has been identified with your account. You are directed to click a link to ‘confirm’ account details and other confidential information but this goes to a bogus website.
These are typical phishing scam emails which purport to come from a genuine source. Clicking on any link will just take you to a copycat website designed to catch the unwary where personal and sensitive information can be used by criminals for their own ill-gotten gains.
It is also likely that by visiting the website contained in the link an attempt may be made to infect your computer with a malware virus.
For more information please see: Phishing - e-mails that look like they are from your bank
Typical telltale signs:
- The email is not addressed personally;
-
Hover your mouse over the link contained in the email [DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK OR VISIT THE WEBSITE] and the actual website address should be revealed showing that it really isn’t from the organisation it claims to be from.
-
No bank or other organisation would ask you to confirm personal details via an unprotected email exchange – unprotected emails can be intercepted!
Back to top
Coventry Trading Standards are aware that some motorists are still being tricked into paying "service fees" when renewing their car tax disc through copycat websites. There is no charge when using the Government's own renewal website – www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk – apart from the cost of the tax disc itself.
Although, it is not illegal to charge for a ‘checking service’, it must be made clear that any such website or business is not affiliated to the official organisation or body who issue the licences. However, some websites model their design along similar lines to the official one, making it difficult for the unwary who may believe they are using the genuine Government portal. Consumers should be aware that some websites will also have disclaimers, upon which the companies will rely to justify their actions and fees.
Trading Standards advises consumers to use the main Government online portal – www.gov.uk for all UK Official Services such as applications for driving licences, Car Tax, European Health Insurance Cards or Tax Returns.
Back to top
Nisa Retail Limited is recalling one date code of Heritage Montgomery Spring Still Natural Mineral Water, on a precautionary basis, as some bottles have been found to have small black particles floating in them.
Anyone who has bought a 2 litre bottle of Heritage Montgomery Spring Still Natural Mineral Water with a ‘Best before’ end: May 2016 L14135 should not drink it. Instead, return it to the store from which you purchased it for a full refund.
Back to top
For
more information on scams, visit: www.coventry.gov.uk/scams
Citizens Advice consumer service: 03454 04 05 06 or www.adviceguide.org
Action Fraud (UK’s National Fraud Office): 0300 123 2040 or www.actionfraud.org.uk
| 
