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Oldham Council
Welcome
Welcome to the Oldham Council Trading Standards Home Page
Buy With Confidence Scheme
09/09/2011
Since late 2006 Oldham Trading Standards Service has operated an approved trader scheme, TradeSafe, for the benefit of Oldham residents. The Trading Standards Service maintains a directory of Scheme members and a telephone hotline number which consumers can call to receive trader recommendations.
Whilst TradeSafe has been extremely popular and successful since its introduction, it has had its limitations due to it operating as a stand-alone scheme and consumer access to the directory being restricted to telephone Therefore, in order to provide an improved service for Oldham residents, we have decided to phase out TradeSafe and adopt the Buy with Confidence scheme in its place. Buy with Confidence is the largest scheme of its kind nationally with 43 local authorities currently participating.
The scheme is based around an online directory which enables consumers to undertake their own searches for approved traders based on geographical location and trade type. However, we will still maintain the current hotline telephone number to enable residents who do not have internet access to obtain details of recommended traders.
Consumers can access the online directory and search facility at www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk or obtain trader recommendations by telephoning the hotline number on 0161 770 3470.
Traders interested in joining the scheme can apply by completing the online application form on the website or by telephoning the hotline number above.
Doorstep Crime Schools Competition
28/07/2011
The Oldham Doorstep Crime Action Group recently took the ‘Knock Knock …..Who’s There?’ campaign to local schools where Year 6 pupils participated in a lesson to raise awareness of doorstep crime and promote doorstep safety.
Following the sessions, the students were invited to enter a poster competition to design a picture illustrating a doorstep safety message. The pictures were all of a high standard and showed clear messages making difficult for the judges to come to a decision on a winner. The judging panel consisted of representatives from Age UK, Greater Manchester Police, Community Safety Services and Trading Standards who are proud to announce that the winning design was created by Alice Griffiths from Delph Primary School, Saddleworth.
Her excellent picture has now been printed onto tea towels that are being distributed to the children’s relatives and elderly residents of Oldham to act as a reminder to be safe when answering the door to an unknown caller.
The students were also given an activity pack, pen and ruler to remind them of their session and were given information and advice leaflets on doorstep crime to pass onto their parents and grandparents.
The Greater Manchester 'Knock Knock Project' has coordinated many partnership initiatives to raise awareness of doorstep crime, and to promote doorstep safety, however previously the vast majority of these activities have been targeted towards older people, as they continue to be the main group affected by this type of criminality.
This campaign was developed after the success of pilot projects in other Greater Manchester areas to involving primary school children in a classroom lesson, learning about doorstep safety, and in helping to cascade the messages to their older relatives and neighbours.
Key Doorstep Safety Messages
Doorstep crime is preventable by following a few simple steps whenever you are in your home. This advice is not intended to make people feel worried about every caller who may come to your door – it is just a few practical steps that everyone can take to ensure that only the people you are certain you want in your home are allowed in.
Locked - Keep your front and back doors locked at all times
Some doorstep criminals will sneak in through unlocked doors while you are distracted or busy at home. Your doors should always be locked, even if you are expecting someone genuine to call. If carers or family members need to come into your home, agree with them how you would like them to gain access without leaving your doors insecure.
Look - When you have a caller at the door, look through a window or door viewer to see who it is. You will probably know and trust most of the callers who come to your door.
Be Certain; If you do not recognise the caller, even if they look official, do not open the door to them. If you have a door chain or door bar, you should put it on while you check the callers’ identification. The best way to do this is to keep your own list of numbers by the telephone so that you can ring and make sure the caller is genuinely from the company they claim to be from. You can print of a telephone contact sheet here and add your own numbers.
If in Doubt Keep Them Oot; remember, doorstep criminals can be very plausible and persuasive. They might claim to need help in some way, or to have an urgent reason to enter your home.
It isn’t rude to keep unknown callers out – genuine companies will never pressure you into letting them into your home.
Report all suspicious callers to the police on 999
Consumer Direct
11th May 2011
"Consumer Direct is the government-funded telephone and online service which offers information and advice on consumer issues".
To get information or advice, call on either 08454 04 05 06
or the alternative number 0203 103 5165 (which can be used if you have inclusive minutes on your phone plan)
or you can fill in an online form.
Consumer Direct can:
- Provide pre-shopping advice before you buy goods or services.
- Explain your consumer rights.
- Advise you if you have a problem or disagreement with a trader.
- Help you make a complaint about a trader that you believe has done something wrong (although they will not complain on your behalf).
- Provide general advice on how to avoid unscrupulous traders or "cowboys".
- Explain consumer-related issues such as warranties, buying on credit, internet shopping, refunds and replacements etc.
- Provide advice on avoiding trading scams and rip-offs.
- Refer your case to our Service or another agency where appropriate.
Illegal Tobacco
April 2011
The supply of cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco that have been smuggled into the Country or are counterfeit is illegal. If you are aware of any shops, pubs or individuals that are selling illegal tobacco in Oldham then please contact Trading Standards on 0845 4040506 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Please click on the picture below for more information on the effects of illegal tobacco on our Community, (Opens a new window)
