Consumer Protection
Back in the 1970s some councils put resources and great efforts into helping consumers deal with those who would try to fleece them. I believe that that was the right thing to do. If you believe in the positive value of competition – information is key to its effectiveness. Bad traders and scammers get pushed out and honest, reputable businesses that respect their consumers can thrive. {though ‘Gresham’s law’ does note the tendency for the bad to drive out the good – free markets on their own – in practice, don’t deliver the access to information needed for markets to function properly}.
Sadly most Trading Standards Departments are a shadow of their former selves – and well resourced, convenient, consumer information centres are now a thing of the past. Sadly the interests of those who would deny information and protection to consumers have triumphed.
Some services are provided by overstretched bodies such as the Citizens Advice Bureaux, and Trading Standards Departments (Milton Keynes Trading Standards) do still exist. Complaints can be made about wrongful behaviour – and I’d urge people not to suffer in silence – but give Trading Standards Departments the information and evidence they need to put bad traders out of business. The Office of Fair Trading can investigate bad practice. You can read how the OFT and Trading Standards departments worked together to deal with bad practice by
United Carpets Group and Hope & Nixon (‘Floorstogo’ website)
Hamsard (who were breaching competition law in relation to the supply of prescription medicines to care homes throughout England.)
There’s an excellent set of resources available at http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/professionals/education/education_resources.htm
If I didn’t ask you to call…
then I won’t buy your product or service!
I work from home much of the time – and so am used to receiving unsolicited telephone calls; junk mail and callers at the door. At best it is a waste of my time – at worst there are people trying to get money out of me. I therefore take the approach above.
There are steps that you can take to reduce these intrusions. You can sign up for the Telephone Preference Service. Legitimate businesses will respect that you have registered that you do not want to be contacted on a central, official registry.
It is a legal requirement that marketing organisations do not make such calls to numbers registered on the TPS unless they have your consent to do so.
Therefore anyone who phones you after you have registered is, not only ignoring your wishes, but is in breach of the law. If they are – then do you want to be dealing with such people? (and if you go get an unsolicited call try and get as much information about the “company” who is calling – and send as much detail on a complaint to TPS. These can be submitted easily at https://complaints.tpsonline.org.uk/Consumer/. Help cut down on the number of companies who are wrongly calling. A Trading Standards complaint or a report to the police may also be appropriate)
To register for TPS visit http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/number_type.html
A similar service was set up by the Direct Mail industry for adverts sent by post. Again – if you are getting junk mail that you haven’t agreed to – then don’t buy anything from the senders.
To register for MPS visit http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/
You can reduce the amount of junk pushed through your door or unwanted callers by putting up a notice. Milton Keynes Council did produce some – and a few may still be available at local libraries – do ask when you visit your local library.
The reason why people do swamp you with junk mail, unsolicited telephone calls and cold call is that they profit from it. If it doesn’t work, they stop. If we all took the approach outlined above, we’d get less! Let’s drive these problems from this area.
Scams and Inland Revenue
Did you get your tax return in by the end of last month? This year (as I resolve every year!) I intend to get it in sooner – and avoid the rush in the last few days of January.
Whenever there is money involved – someone will attempt a scam to divert your hard earned cash into their pockets.
I noticed that when I googled “Inland Revenue Tax Return Form”, it wasn’t the real Inland Revenue’s website which was the first to appear, but a website for submitting your tax return – at a price. Self Assessment forms can be submitted to Inland Revenue at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ FOR FREE.
Today I received an email purporting to come from “HM Revenue & Customs” which began
“Dear Applicant,
Following an upgrade of our computer systems and review of our records we have investigated your payments and latest tax returns over the last seven years our calculations show you have made over payments of GBP 281.95 Due to the high volume of refunds due you must complete the online application, the telephone help line is unable to assist with this application. ….”
Yeah!!!!
These fraudsters (and some ‘legitimate’ tax advice and assistance companies) sometimes go to great lengths to give the impression that they are HM Revenue & Customs (or other Official Bodies or Companies).
Care is needed!
As with most councils, advice on dealing with those who seek to part you from your cash is provided by Milton Keynes Council.
West of Watling Street 