Many local Trading Standards departments run some form of trader “approval” schemes. It might be “Trusted Trader”, “Buy With Confidence” or some variant of an “approval” by Trading Standards to local businesses or traders.
One of our car dealer clients received two complaints from consumers. We felt that our client had acted reasonably in both instances and wrote to the complainants accordingly. In both cases, a Trading Standards officer responded to each of our letters to say that “I have raised our concerns about the content of the correspondence sent by Lawgistics Ltd to your customers which is potentially incorrect and misleading regarding a consumers rights”.
Not surprisingly, we sent a detailed response explaining why it was the Trading Standards Officer who was not interpreting the law correctly, rather than us. By reply, we received a somewhat obnoxious response stating that he did not want to enter into any further correspondence with us. Which was fine as the sentiment was mutual.
Without any prompt from Lawgistics, our client resigned from the Buy With Confidence scheme due to their belief that Trading Standards “had been advising the consumer for some time and at no point advised us and raised the issues with us” and that Trading Standards “has not tried to help us but is working against us”. They resigned from the scheme due to having “no faith” in the system due to the officer’s “lack of knowledge”.
Are you having issues with Trading Standards? Lawgistics Members can get assistance if you feel that they are not treating you fairly, if they have called you in for an interview or notify you of their intent to visit your business.
One of the largest independent specialist motor trade brokers in the UK. Our extensive history of supplying insurance to the motor trade means we understand your business needs. By partnering with a specialist insurance broker like us, you get exactly what you need to protect your business.
