News from North Somerset Council's Trading Standards Service.
From this page you can find the latest information on a range of Trading Standards issues including latest news releases
and safety warnings. It is also possible to search the categories below for a relevant word or words.
On the 26th May 2006 the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 will bring into to force new rules for ‘business to consumer’ sales.
These Regulations bring about the biggest change in Consumer laws for generation!
Thinking of travelling abroad? Considering returning with meat or other food products?
We all know there are allowances on bringing alcohol, tobacco and perfume into the UK. But what about foodstuffs and in particular meat, or products containing meat?
Well there are strict controls on imports of these items because they can introduce diseases into the country which may have devastating effects, not only on human heath but also on the health of our farm animals - remember Foot & Mouth Disease in 2001!
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have stepped up their checks on these products, especially where travellers are returning from outside the EU.
To make sure you don't fall foul of the law and for a free guide to the import rules please download a copy of the Defra / HMRC Personal Imports of foodstuffs leaflet.
|
Details of offence/s |
Penalty |
Date |
New Venture T/A Congresbury Motor Company Ltd
Weston Road, Congresbury
Trade Descriptions Act 1968
Consumer Protection Act 1987
Consumer Credit Act 1974
- Misleading Price Indications
- Falsely claiming approval by the Automobile Association (AA)
- Breaches of credit advertising regulations
|
Fine £8,200
Costs £4,650
Compensation awarded £594
Total £13,444
|
August 2008
|
|
Clevedon shop assistant
Licensing Act 2003
- Selling alcohol to a child
|
£80 Fixed Penalty Notice
|
February 2008
|
Atmosclear Ltd
Keith Leslie Baker (Director)
Trade Descriptions Act 1968
- Falsely claiming to be a CORGI registered company
|
Co and Director Fined 2 X £500 each
Costs £824.58 each
Total £3,649.16
|
August 2007
|
|
Abbots Leigh farmer
Animal Health Act 1981
- Failing to produce livestock movement records for inspection
|
Fined £100
Costs £75
Total £175
|
January 2007
|
|
Michael Kyaw Soe Aung
(Formerly) Licensee of Lidl Gmbh, Worle, Weston super Mare
Licensing Act 1964
- Selling alcohol to a 15 year old
|
Fined £500
Costs £2,124.55
Total £2,624.55
3 month licence suspension
|
October 2006
|
Stuart Malcolm Millard
trading as:-
Knightcott Motors of Banwell
Trade Descriptions Act 1968
- Supplied a motor caravan described as having a 2500 cc engine when, in fact, it had a 1900cc engine.
|
Fined 6 x £500
(Reduced to 3 x £500 on appeal)
Costs £4,750
(Increased to £6,900 on appeal)
Compensation Order £1,600
Total £10,000
|
October 2006
Appeal heard at Bristol Crown Court - October 2007
|
|
Three Weston super Mare shop assistants
Licensing Act 2003
- Selling alcohol to a child
|
£80 fixed penalty each
|
September 2006
|
Michael John O'Brian of Quedgley, Gloucestershire
trading as:-
A1 Contractors, & A1 West Paving
Business Names Act 1985
- Failure to give details of business ownership
Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts Concluded Away from Business Premises) Regulations 1987
- Failure to provide consumer with the statutory cancellation notice
Fined £3,500
Costs £830.16
Total £4,330.16
|
September 2006
|
|
Richards & Appleby
Queen Anne St, London
General Product Safety Regulations 2004
- Incorrect instructions on 'Smooth Appeal' hot wax hair remover caused a North Somerset resident to receive 2nd degree burns.
|
Fined 2 x £1,000
Costs £2,794.29
Total £4,794.29
|
July 2006
|
Mr Guljinder Singh Hayer,
Weston super Mare
Manufacture & Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005
- Storing greater weight of fireworks than permitted.
- Failure to store fireworks in the proper manner
|
Fined £4,650
Costs £2,040
Forfeiture of fireworks with a retail value of £2,880
Total £9,570
|
June 2006
|
|
Three Portishead shop assistants
Licensing Act 2003
- Selling alcohol to a child
|
£80 fixed penalty each
|
April 2006
|
Astor (Bristol) Limited
t/a Motortrust
Consumer Protection Act 1987
- Misleading price on the sale of a car
|
Fine £1,700
Compensation Order £1,102
Costs £500
Total £3,302
|
April 2006
|
|
Two Nailsea shop assistants
Licensing Act 2003
- Selling alcohol to a child
|
£80 fixed penalty each
|
February 2006
|
Howard Garages (Weston) Ltd
Weston super Mare
Trade Descriptions Act 1968
- Applied a false trade description re the purchase of a used car.
|
Fine £2,700
Costs £2,613
Total £5,313 |
January 2006
|
Charity Collections Scam
Think carefully before donating clothing to "charity collectors".
We have recently been contacted by a number of residents, Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators and councillors concerned that some "charitable" organisations have been delivering leaflets suggesting that they are charities when, in fact, they are commercial, profit-making businesses.
Enquiries have shown that in the majority of cases where these particular leaflets have been distributed, the donated clothing never reaches the third world countries and very little, if any, money is passed on to charity.
In some cases, the donated clothing has been taken to a central warehouse where the better quality goods are removed and then sold at UK markets. The remaining clothes are not even recycled, just burnt or destroyed.
There are, of course, a number of genuine charities, both local and national, who collect used clothing etc and either sell it to raise funds for the charity or send the goods directly to those in need. Our message is - be certain that your donation will directly help a genuine charity. If in doubt take your clothing etc to a charity shop of your choice or seek out a local contact and deal with them directly. If people can avoid being duped by these bogus collectors, genuine charities can only benefit.
Remember that if you have unwanted items of clothing that aren't suitable to donate to charity they can be recycled using your green recycling box.
For further information see our press release. or contact us.
North Somerset Council Trading Standards