Information Bulletin
11 June 2004
Trading Standards success against White Van Man
Trading Standards Officers this morning recovered over £1000 of consumers' money from an itinerant trader who had been selling power tools and generators door-to-door. The trader also agreed to voluntarily surrender three generators which did not comply with essential health and safety requirements.
David Marsh, Service Manager - Trading Standards, said: "We are very pleased with this outcome, which illustrates how serious we are about protecting the rights of consumers and legitimate businesses. We are grateful for the assistance of the Northern Constabulary and members of the public, without whose help this success would not have been possible. I would again urge people to think very carefully before buying goods or services from anyone who turns up uninvited at their door, and to report any such activities to Trading Standards or the police."
Anyone who feels threatened by a trader calling at their home and behaving in an aggressive or intimidating manner should contact their local police station.
A leaflet Dealing with Doorstep Sales is available, as is a large print booklet Think Twice (also available in Braille) and a Doorstep sellers are not welcome window sign to help deter that knock at the door. Copies of all these are available from the Trading Standards Service at Grantfield, or by telephoning Lerwick 744800.
ENDS
Note for editors
The Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts Concluded away from Business Premises) Regulations 1987 apply to most contracts for goods and services made during an unsolicited visit to a consumer's home or place of work. The regulations provide for a seven-day cooling-off period within which the consumer is entitled to cancel the contract, and require the trader to give written details of this right together with a cancellation form.
The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 require machinery supplied in the United Kingdom to comply with the relevant essential health and safety requirements.