Welcome for new law to crack down on rogue traders
Perth & Kinross Trading Standards have welcomed plans for a new law which would protect consumers by cracking down on rogue traders.
The UK Government's proposed Consumer Protection Regulations (CPRs) will, if approved by Parliament, ban 31 types of unfair sales practices outright including prize draw scams, bogus closing down sales, aggressive doorstep selling and displaying false accreditations such as wrongly claiming to be a CORGI-registered plumber. They will also close loopholes previously exploited by rogue traders by establishing for the first time a catch-all duty for all businesses not to trade unfairly.
A survey of Scottish consumers by the Department for Business found that 96% of people wanted a crackdown on misleading, aggressive and unfair sales practices. Eight out of ten people surveyed had had pushy salespeople at the door or on the phone who refused to take no for an answer and more than seven out of ten had received repeated sales pitches from the same firm despite telling them they did not want to hear from them again.
The CPRs will come into effect from 26 May 2008 if given the go ahead by MPs, and will be enforced by Trading Standards and the Office of Fair Trading. A wide range of sanctions will be available to tackle businesses which break the rules.
Community Safety Convener, Councillor Willie Robertson said: "These new regulations are to be welcomed - they will make life much harder for rogue traders who treat consumers unfairly and dishonestly. Unfair selling causes frustration, anger and even distress to those affected and I am sure consumers in Perth and Kinross will be pleased to know that steps are being taken to stamp out this unscrupulous practice."
More information about the Consumer Protection Regulations can be obtained by contacting Consumer Direct on 0845 040506 or by going to its website at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
