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In this issue:
Mark Andrew Prentice trading as P&P Roofing of Coleshill Warwickshire was convicted at Nuneaton Magistrates Court after he pleaded guilty to six offences, three under the Cancellation of Contracts Made in a Consumers Home or Place of Work etc. Regulations 2008 and three under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
These offences related to incidents in February and April 2014 when Mr Prentice ‘cold-called’ at homes in the Tile Hill and Tollbar End areas of Coventry offering to clean gutters or carry our minor roofing repairs. Despite repeated advice and warnings from Trading Standards Mr Prentice failed to give any of his customers written notice of their right to a 7 day ‘cooling off’ period before commencing any work at their homes.
Traders who make uninvited visits to residential properties must give written details of the right to cancel contracts agreed on the doorstep. [The Regulations have recently been replaced with new rules extending the cancellation period for consumers from 7 to 14 days].
Nuneaton Magistrates fined Mark Prentice £600, ordered him to pay £400 towards prosecution costs and £60 victim surcharge.
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Now that tickets for the Rugby World Cup 2015 are available to apply for, Trading Standards are warning consumers to beware of counterfeit tickets and bogus websites.
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Trading Standards is warning residents who may be tempted to take advantage of trial offers for cosmetic or hygiene products via social media and the internet to be on their guard and to read all the terms and conditions associated with the offer before ordering.
This follows a number of reports relating to teeth whitening products which have lured some residents by their claims of cheap, fast and effective results, and because many people are able to order directly from their mobile device they may fail to fully read the associated terms forming part of free trial offer.
Enquiries into one company revealed that although a UK telephone number is advertised on the website, office and returns address are actually based in a couple of Eastern European Countries.
Although customers will only initially pay £1 for a trial, if they do not read and follow the terms available on the website they could end up entering into an on-going contract for a monthly supply of the teeth whitening product at a cost of £99.99 plus £19.99 shipping costs.
There are facilities on the website to cancel any order in accordance with European Consumer Protection legislation but our advice to anyone who may be tempted by such offers is to read carefully all the terms of the deal before placing an order and giving your bank account details.
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 Coventry Trading Standards is highlighting the following safety recall notice issued by Halfords.
The recall applies to the Boardman Road Sport Limited Bike and affects all products sold before 16 July 2014.
The items included in this recall are all sizes of this model:
- 662910 Boardman Road Sport LTD 2014 – 51.5mm (S)
- 662423 Boardman Road Sport LTD 2014 – 53mm (M)
- 662621 Boardman Road Sport LTD 2014 – 55.5mm (L)
- 662928 Boardman Road Sport LTD 2014 – 57.5mm (XL)
The reason for the recall is that Halfords have been alerted to a possible component issue, specific to the Boardman Road Sport Limited bike. Halfords are taking every precaution to ensure your cycling safety and enjoyment and therefore request that you do not ride your bike and return it to your nearest Halfords store for a 15 minute safety check, as soon as possible.
For any further details please call Halfords Customer Services on 0345 504 5353.
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From 1 October 2014, the paper tax disc will no longer need to be displayed on a vehicle windscreen. However, to drive a vehicle on the road you will still need to get vehicle tax and DVLA will still send you a renewal reminder when your vehicle tax is due to expire. This applies to all types of vehicles including those that are exempt from payment of vehicle tax.
From 1 October, when you buy a vehicle, the vehicle tax will no longer be transferred with the vehicle. You will need to get new vehicle tax before you can use the vehicle. You can tax the vehicle online or by using the DVLA 24 hour automated phone service. Alternatively, you can apply at the Post Office.
If you sell a vehicle after 1 October and you have notified DVLA, you will automatically get a refund for any full calendar months left on the vehicle tax. If you fail to notify a change in the owner of a vehicle you could face a fine of up to £1000 and will still be liable for any speeding/parking fines and tax for the car.
The DVLA has a digital record of payments and automatic number plate recognition cameras will spot you if you haven't paid your tax.
To check if a vehicle is taxed, visit: https://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/ and enter the registration number and make of the vehicle.
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People living in flats should ensure communal letterboxes are secure following an increase in stolen mail. Mail theft fraud has increased by 10% to £5million in the first half of 2014 and residents of flats are particular targets.
Criminals who gain access to a block of flats can steal mail from communal letter boxes or take it from a pile often left near the entrance door. Criminals can then use personal and financial information found in the letters to commit different types of fraud.
Letters of particular value to the criminals are those containing debit and credit cards, cheque books but any documents containing financial information can be exploited.
Current hotspots for this type of fraud include Manchester, Twickenham, Harrow and Bromley.
Avoid falling for mail theft by:
- Ensure your letterbox, or the place where your mail is left for you, is secure and cannot be accessed by anyone else.
- Don’t leave mail uncollected for long periods of time – pick it up regularly.
- If you change address tell your bank, card issuer and other important organisations you deal with immediately. Also consider using a mail redirection service.
- If you can’t pick up your mail ask someone you trust to collect it on your behalf.
- Know the dates when bills and bank statements are due and where possible receive these documents electronically.
- Consider picking up new bank cards or cheque books from your bank in person.
- If you suspect your mail has been stolen, contact the sender & Royal Mail immediately.
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For
more information on scams, visit: www.coventry.gov.uk/scams
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