Local Trading Standards Authority

[streetlighter]

Re: Local Trading Standards Authority

Hi all
rang bedfordshire trading standards 3 weeks ago.
was told not in till after weekend they would call me on monday
nothing
Tryed ringing them 5 times since, always on the phone but told I would get a call soon as poss.
Just spoke to them today 😀
Told you dont call me just need me just send the form in.
( was told to call her first )
They seem keen when you talk to them, £120.00 + vat here though.

The thing is, there is a list of musts, the top of the list is “you must call back customer one same day of contact”.
And you must call within 3 days.

All I can asume is that trading stndards are not on their own list. 8)

paul

[Martin]

Re: Local Trading Standards Authority

streetlighter wrote:All I can asume is that trading stndards are not on their own list. 8)

How strange that they should be like that? Especially insisting on the phoning and the 3 day call thing, that is odd but nonetheless what we do in the trade anyway.

The good news from me at least is that I have had confirmation from Hampshire Trading Standards. That I am now officially added as one of their approved tradesmen and able to display their logo on my advertising and website (the latter already sorted)

Hampshire T S are much easier to contact and get replies to. It costs £100 a year to be listed to cover their admin costs. They insist each member hand out their “Customer Leaflet” at random which contains a pre-paid feedback ‘praise/complaint’ form my customers can fill in and return. (Not sure yet how many they expect me to hand out though?)

Martin

[streetlighter]

Re: Local Trading Standards Authority

hi martin
sounds ok to me we can choose who we give them to ❓
let me know if you get any work from this set up. Does you van look prity yet with the new logo ❓
hope I wont have to wait to long for my check up.

paul

[Martin]

Re: Local Trading Standards Authority

streetlighter wrote:Does you van look prity yet with the new logo ❓

That’s a good point, I’m sure the guy said they did shop window and van stickers, I had better give ’em a bell on that 💡

streetlighter wrote:hope I wont have to wait to long for my check up.

The ‘CRB Check’ which I think is to what you refer, takes a good 6 weeks, possibly 8? Its done by Disclosure Scotland and those guys north of Hadrians Wall work at a much slower pace 😉 I think it’s ‘cos they drink too much ‘Irn Bru’ or something 😉 but any road up it’s worth the wait. Good Luck !!

Martin

[Martin]

Re: Local Trading Standards Authority

I just realised that when the site went down recently one more of my postings was lost 😕 So here is a summary of the latest happenings with my application:-

In fact I was approved as part of their scheme on April 30th which means I can freely advertise their logo in my advertising and on my web site (which I have already done).

I also have been invited to a ‘Formal Presentation’ of my ‘Certificate’ to be presented by the Head of Fair Trading for Hampshire County Council on Friday June 11th. Several new recruits from various trades will be attending as well. Quote… “the local Press on hand for photographs, and light refreshments will be provided”.

So it all sounds pretty civilised but to be fair to fair trading for a moment, I do take a terrible photograph as a few of you have already discovered 😥

Martin

[Martin]

Re: Local Trading Standards Authority

Copy of posting lost last week: –

At last the Hampshire Trading standards have me listed on their web pages as an approved trader : –

http://www.hants.gov.uk/regulatory/bsp/electric.html

We shall see what extra business this brings in 😯 and it is a comfort to know that my business listing is only 1 out of only 5 in the entire county 😆

Martin

Enterprise Domestic Appliance Services
“Trading Standards Approved Company”

[streetlighter]

Re: Local Trading Standards Authority

hi all
Had my visit from trading standards today
A lovely 19yr old with long black hair and not a lot of clothes. 😯
Being a typical 41yr old male I lost control of all my senses. 😳
A touch of ” ERR YES ERR OK please dont bend over any more I cant stand it” Am I man or mouse ? at this time I think a mouse.
All went well though I was the first out of 13 sparkes / repair guys to be doing it all right.
I may be the only one on the beds list (for a while anyway)
just the wait for the checks now.
Hope she calls again still dreaming about it 😆 but dont tell the wife 😉 😉

paul

[Dave_Conway]

Re: Local Trading Standards Authority

Yeah I forgot to mention I had my visit a week ago.

All seems fine as I was told that we fully comply with the OFT.

I’m just waiting for any follow up correspondence now 😀

Dave.

[Martin]

Re: Local Trading Standards Authority

streetlighter wrote:A lovely 19yr old with long black hair and not a lot of clothes. 😯

Ya see ! I told you it’s good practice to register with Trading Standards didn’t I 😉 😉

……………..now take a cold shower Paul 🙁

Martin

[Martin]

Re: Local Trading Standards Authority

Just got back from Hampshire Trading Standards ‘Certificate Presentation Ceremony’. Where invited new members to their ‘Buy with Confidence Scheme’ are formally welcomed, presented with their ‘Official Framed Membership Certificate’ and photographs taken. A short talk was given about the aims and standards required etc. etc. All followed by an informal chat over tea and biscuits, very nice. 🙂

The scheme is apparently taking off very well not only in Hampshire but Bedfordshire and Devon. Other countys are looking on with great interest and all under the watchful eye of the National Trading Standards Authority. It is almost certainly going to be a scheme adopted by the whole of the UK eventually under one unified scheme, possibly within the next year or two.

Meanwhile if your county hasn’t a scheme running at the moment, you would be well advised to ‘keep your ear to the ground’ so to speak. Contact them and say you would like them to join in the scheme and you would like to register your interest. 😉

Martin

[Dave_Conway]

Re: Local Trading Standards Authority

I got my certificate and a couple of van/window stickers today for CES 😀

No formal presentation as Martin did, but very nice all the same.

Hopefully they’ll update the website soon and add us to the list of “Customer First Scheme” accepted companies there as well.

Dave.

[Martin]

Re: Local Trading Standards Authority

Just to resurrect this thread a little by adding this link that you may find interesting :con: it’s The Trading Standards “Whistleblower” site 😕

http://www.ripofftipoff.net/

Martin

[Martin]

Re: Local Trading Standards Authority

streetlighter wrote:Had my visit from trading standards todayl

Paul,

Please tell us how the story ended, or have you now entered into a long and lasting ‘relationship’ with Trading Standards? 😀

Martin

http://www.buywithconfidence.info/

[streetlighter]

Re: Local Trading Standards Authority

Hi all
Martin all gone through. Now trading standards approved. 8)
Already getting a lot of work due to ads in local parish mags showing trading standard logo. Even get stoped in the street about the van sticker. I dont like to be to busy normally but I can safely say my work load seems to have doubled from this time last year (so far).
People do seem more willing to call me now rather than replace their machine, most of the new customers are saying they called me due to t/s approved.
Shame we cant use it in the yellow pages.

paul

[Martin]

Re: Local Trading Standards Authority

streetlighter wrote:Shame we cant use it in the yellow pages.

Really? I didn’t know that 😯 Why not I wonder? I will ask them anyway 😕

Martin

[Author]

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