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In this issue:
On 1 October 2014, changes to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, gave consumers greater rights to financial redress if they are the victims of misleading actions or aggressive sales tactics.
The new rights apply to most goods and services such as doorstep sales, utility contracts and holiday lets. However they don't apply to financial services such as payday loans.
The 2008 Regulations make it clear that traders are not allowed to use misleading, underhand or aggressive practices to get you to part with your cash.
However, consumers were unable to get any redress directly under the Regulations if they had been a victim of dubious practices.
However, as a result of the changes, consumers have greater protection and more powers to claim compensation if a trader breaches the Regulations.
Consumers now have:
- the right to unwind (undo) the contract within 90 days and receive a full refund
- the right to get a discount on the price.
These new remedies are available if it can be shown that a contract was entered into or a payment was made to a trader and that the misleading or aggressive practice was a significant factor in the decision to do so. No actual loss has to be shown nor does it have to be proved that the trader acted dishonestly or negligently.
These changes fill the gaps left by the Consumer Protection from Unfair Commercial Practices Regulations 2008, which made it a criminal offence for traders to mislead or intimidate customers but failed to give customers a right of redress.
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Residents are advised to watch out for calls from people offering wall and loft insulation and to think very carefully before agreeing to any work instigated by way of a cold-call or a leaflet and instead use a legitimate firm to insulate your home.
For advice and information on what is available to householders considering insulating their properties, contact the National Energy Saving Trust on 0300 123 1234.
In addition, as part of Big Energy Week experts will be on hand at the BBC Coventry & Warwickshire, Priory Place on October 22nd between 11am and 1pm to provide advice and guidance on all energy-related consumer matters.
There will also be the opportunity, with no commitment required, to see if you could save money by switching supplier.
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Coventry Trading Standards is highlighting the warning issued by The National Mobile Phone Crime Unit (NMPCU) which has launched an investigation into a suspected mobile phone fraud targeting students at UK universities and are warning students to stay vigilant to avoid running up large telephone debts.
This warning follows reports from some students who have been offered cash incentives to register for personal high value smart phones on a lengthy network contract which are then sent on to another party who has promised them some cash together with a modest monthly income. However, the students involved are now running up significant debts.
It is also believed that some students may have divulged sensitive personal information about their bank accounts, credit or debit cards, making them vulnerable to identity fraud.
The NMPCU are working with the major UK mobile phone networks to help support any affected students who are being urged to come forward to assist the investigation and prevent this happening to anyone else.
More information can be found on the following websites:
http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/news/police-arrest-fraudster-over-complex-mobile-phone-scam-targeting-students-aug14
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Coventry Trading Standards have received recent reports of a scam email claiming to be from Student Finance which asks for account information.
Student Finance England will never email you asking you to confirm your login, user or bank account details. This kind of fraudulent email is known as 'phishing', and will take you to a fake website. Phishing scams are common at the three main instalment payment dates in September, January and April.
Students are urged to remain vigilant and not to disclose any personal or bank details in response to email requests which claim to be from either Student Finance England or its parent company, the Student Loans Company.
If you get such an email you should forward it to security@slc.co.uk then delete it.
Anyone who has already given their details should change their account password as soon as possible and contact the Student Finance England security team. By forwarding the email, you can help Student Finance England protect you and others.
For advice on using online services safely visit www.getsafeonline.org
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 A new banking fraud campaign: Know Fraud, No Fraud has kicked off with the 8 things banks will NEVER ask you to do which should help you avoid banking fraud:
- Ask for your PIN number or any online banking password over the phone or via email
- Send someone to your home to collect cash, bank cards or anything else
- Ask you to email or text personal or banking information
- Send an email with a link to a page which asks you to enter your online banking log-in details
- Ask you to authorise the transfer of funds to a new account or hand over cash
- Call to advise you to buy diamonds or land or other commodities
- Ask you to carry out a test transaction online
- Provide banking services through any mobile apps other than the bank’s official apps
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Cow & Gate has recalled their 200g jars of its ‘Sweet Squash & Chicken from 7 months+’ baby food. The label incorrectly shows ‘no added egg’ and ‘gluten free’ in a tick box, although both egg and wheat are correctly shown in the ingredient list. This means the product is a health risk to anyone with an allergy or intolerance to wheat (gluten), and or an allergy or intolerance to egg.
The product being recalled is:
- Cow & Gate Sweet Squash & Chicken from 7 months+
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Pack size: 200g
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‘Best Before' dates: 01/07/16; 22/07/16; 21/08/16; 10/09/16
If you have bought the above product and your baby has an allergy or intolerance to wheat or egg, do not feed it to your baby. Instead, return it to store for a full refund. Further information is available by contacting Cow & Gate’s care line: 0800 977 4000 or by visiting: www.cowandgate.co.uk.
No other Cow & Gate products are known to be affected.
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For
more information on scams, visit: www.coventry.gov.uk/scams
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