Trading Standards
The trading standards team works to protect consumers from scams and rogue traders operating within the Borough of Bexley.
Unfortunately, there are some traders who want to cheat you out of your money by knocking on your door unannounced and convince you that work needs doing to your home when it doesn't. They may say they are working in your area and have noticed that your drive, roof or something else needs urgent attention, that they have got some materials left over from another job or that they can carry out repairs straight away.
Although the Trading Standards Team works closely with the Police and other agencies to stop rogue traders, many of the reports we receive from the public come too late for us to locate the traders and recover money paid. The best way to tackle the problem is to turn them away at the door and say no to cold callers (see flyer on the right).
The Doorstep Guide shown on the right hand menu explains your rights when you agree to spend more than £35 with a trader in your home or on your doorstep. These rights apply even if you invite someone into your home.
Scams
Every year, the British public loses billions of pounds to scammers who bombard us with online, postal, door-to-door and telephone scams. The Metropolitan Police have produced "The Little Book of Big Scams" which is shown on the right hand menu, to provide information as a resource to assist in combating fraud and other economic crime, and to prevent you becoming a victim of crime.
Trading Standards Officers:
- visit traders to check that weighing and measuring equipment is accurate and that goods are priced and weighed correctly
- check the accuracy of advertisements for goods and services
- check that traders who sell fireworks or offer credit, are licensed to do so
- inspect and test goods offered for sale to check that they comply with safety requirements
- undertake special investigations into serious breaches of criminal legislation such as car fraud, doorstep crime and counterfeiting
Advice and information
Please see our link to Consumer advice (right hand menu).
There is also a link provided to the What Tradesman? scheme, which aims to help take the headache out of finding a reliable tradesman
Meanwhile, our Trading Standards - advice to businesses page (see left hand menu) provides information about weighing and measuring equipment, business names, the sale and labelling of fertilisers and animal feeding stuffs, auctions and weighbridge operators.
