Information on Loughborough

Shoppers warned about one-day sales

Posted on 20/01/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Community Services

19 January 2009

Shoppers warned about one-day sales

Trading Standards officers want to help people who have been tricked into signing up to expensive loans and buying goods at one-day sales events.

Leicestershire Trading Standards has received reports of a company travelling the country tricking people into signing credit agreements. The sales are usually held in hotels and similar places.

At a recent porcelain sales event held in Loughborough, a number of elderly couples were offered a dining set for £1.00  but ended up signing a credit agreement for £3,000.

Now Trading Standards would like to hear from people who have signed agreements at the Loughborough sale or at any other similar event.

Officers can help people who may be having difficulties continuing with the agreemnt they have signed and it may also help officers to stop this from happening again.

David Bull, Head of Leicestershire County Council Trading Standards Service said: “People need to be very careful as some sales events operate on a ‘here today and gone tomorrow’ basis. It can involve high pressure sales tactics to hype up the audience and make it easier for buyers to be tricked. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is, so do not part with your money or sign documents on the spur of the moment.”

If you have been misled into buying goods and would like some help from  Trading Standards contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

To report to Trading Standards a business with dubious selling practices visit www.ripofftipoff.net

Contacts:

Gary Connors Unfair Trading Practices Team Leader 0116 305 6536

Keith Regan Unit Head 0116 305 6533

Notes for Editors:

  • The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 came into force on 26th May 2008.
  • Various pieces of consumer protection legislation have been repealed as a result of the new Regulations, including the majority of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968.
  • The new Regulations provide 31 Trading practices which are banned.
  • There are offences relating to practices involving misleading acts, misleading omissions and aggressive sales.
  • There is also a duty not to trade unfairly.
  • There is a maximum fine of £5000 for summary convictions.
  • A conviction on indictment will lead to a fine or a prison sentence not exceeding two years.
  • The link for the “rip off tip off” website is www.rip off tip off.net.
  • The Consumer Credit Act 1974 requires lenders and brokers to be appropriately licenced or agreements may not be enforceable. Agreements must also be executed and presented using the forms and in the manner prescribed by the Act.