Get the rules right on the doorstep

Plymouth City Council’s Trading Standards service has been delivering short training sessions to city businesses to make sure they follow new consumer laws.

New legislation has now come in that particularly affect traders such as builders, gas engineers, plumbers, door to door salesmen, anyone operating a business from a website, in fact, anyone who sells goods or services away from their usual place of business or via the internet, phone or mail order.

The Consumer Contracts Regulations replace the ‘Doorstep’ Regulations and the Distance Selling Regulations, and involves major changes to consumer rights – especially when buying goods and/or services in the home.

In certain circumstances, consumers can now take advantage of an extended 14-day cooling off period in which they can cancel their contract with a business.

The regulations also introduce changes to the rules around buying online that include a number of measures helpful to businesses.

For instance, businesses now have the right to withhold refunds for cancelled purchases until the consumer has either returned the goods or can show evidence that the goods have been returned. Reasonable deductions from refunds can now be made for unwanted items if the customer has used the item before returning.

All businesses, whether they run from a shop premises or involve working in a customer’s home, must now provide consumers with specific information about any guarantees offered as well as their complaints procedure.

Members of the Trading Standards Buy with Confidence approved trader scheme were invited to the first few sessions and now have up to date information about the regulations.

Sara Barron from Barron Surveying Services Ltd said: “We were one of the first businesses to sign up to the BWC scheme back in 2010.

"We find all the advice and training offered through the scheme very helpful, especially around changes in the law; it keeps us all up to date."

Councillor Brian Vincent, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “We want to see all good businesses in Plymouth grow and prosper.

"It’s good to see Trading Standards are pro-active in their support of this goal and are helping businesses get to grips with the latest legislation, which is good both for them and consumers – particularly the more vulnerable.

“The Buy with Confidence scheme aims to create a level playing field for local businesses as well as ensuring that consumer rights are delivered.”

All Buy with Confidence traders are fully audited, CRB checked and monitored throughout their membership.

If you are a business interested in the scheme or want a list of current members, email trading.standards@plymouth.gov.uk, phone 01752 304141 or visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk