One day and occasional sales: a guide for venues
(for all nations)
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You may have received a call from a company asking if they can use your premises to host a one-off sale for bankrupted, liquidated or ex-catalogue goods. Although many companies will be genuine, there are rogue traders who are looking to use your premises in order to hold a one day sale - commonly referred to as a ‘mock auction’. This can create problems for consumers and could damage your reputation.
You should ensure you have a system when you deal with bookings for sales at your premises, including such actions as keeping written details of all bookings. If the booking is made by telephone take the number and call them back to ensure that they really exist. Ask questions about the nature of their booking to see what response you get, and politely refuse if you are suspicious (warning other potential venues).
It is also a good idea to tell traders you know about consumer law and reserve the right to attend yourself and notify trading standards, so that they can see that the trader doesn't break any rules.
