News & Scam Alerts from Coventry Trading Standards - 10 January 2017

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News and Scam Alerts from Coventry Trading Standards - 10 January 2017

In this issue:

Bogus Citizens Advice Bureau telephone calls.. again!!

Keep Calm

Since last July, Trading Standards have issued several warnings in regards to bogus calls claiming to come from the local Citizens Advice Bureau and 'offering' debt advice.

We are now revisiting this following a further report from the Coventry Bureau of local residents still being targeted. Calls are being made from a mobile number which immediately raises suspicions and personal information is being requested with a view to offering debt advice.

The Citizens Advice Bureau confirms they would not make this kind of approach to any resident and certainly would not ask for personal information to be divulged.

We would advise that if any resident receives a similar call, do NOT give out any personal information, and hang up on the call. We are anxious for people not to be caught out, so please be on your guard for this or any other bogus caller.

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Thousands of holidays cancelled as All Leisure Holidays collapses

Holiday

Customers of Voyages of Discovery and Swan Hellenic, both part of the All Leisure Holidays group, are affected.

The firm, based in Market Harborough in Leicestershire, has approximately 7,000 bookings for future holidays which have now been cancelled.

Trading Standards are advising customers that there a number of ways that they are protected:

The company in question is an ATOL registered company, so people travelling will be covered by the ATOL protection scheme. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will repatriate those currently abroad whilst refunds will be given to those that have booked holidays. In addition to the ATOL protection. if consumers have paid on their credit card towards the cost of the holiday, then they have the potential redress against their credit card company.

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4G mast switch on – Whitley area

Trading Standards have been advised that a new 4G mast has been switched on in the Whitley area which can cause interference to Freeview Television Services.

Local residents living near to the mast were advised of this via a leaflet drop. Information was offered as to who to contact in the event of  interference to the television signal reception resulting from the switch on.

However, it does appear that there have been problems reported in a wider area.

The advice in the first instance is to contact AT800 on 0808 13 13 800. Calls to this number are free from UK landlines and mobiles.

AT800 will either arrange for an engineer call out or provide the householder with a filter to attach to the aerial cable at no cost as long as it is confirmed the disruption is due to 4G and you are responsible for your own aerial.

Alternatively, you can go to their website https://at800.tv/contact-us/

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Recall: Doritos Lightly Salted Corn Chips

Doritos

PepsiCo is recalling some batches of Doritos Lightly Salted Corn Chips because they contain soya and wheat (gluten) ingredients which are not mentioned on the label.

Product: Doritos Lightly Salted Corn Chips

Pack size: 200g

Best Before date: 08/04/2017

Batch codes: GBC 209 353D (time code affected between 02:08 – 02:38)

Risk: Soya and Wheat (gluten)

Advice:  If you have bought the above product and have an allergy or intolerance to wheat or gluten, and/or an allergy to soya, do not eat it. Instead please call Pepsico’s consumer care line on 0800 274777 for a full refund.

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For more information on scams, visit: www.coventry.gov.uk/scams

How to report scams