It is obvious that Trading Standards can have a great deal of things to look into, and it may be that anything which can be bought will be an issue for Trading Standards teams. However, it is obvious that there are things which crop up on a regular basis when it comes to being of interest to the Trading Standards. This means that the release of the Top 10 areas of work for Trading Standards teams should be of interest to many people and it may be that you have been bothered by some of these issues in the past.
The Top 10 issues for Trading Standards teams are:
- Second hand cars
- Home maintenance and improvements
- Furniture
- Large domestic appliances
- Glazing products and installations
- Food and drink
- Clothing
- Car repairs and servicing
- Professional services
- Personal computers, accessories and software
The fact that second hand cars come at the top of the list will be a surprise to no one. There have been plenty of problems and issues with second hand cars over the years and the fact that there is now an increasing number of options for buying and selling second hand cars, it stands to reason that this is a major issue for Trading Standards teams.
When it was just used car sales firms and private sales, it was bad enough with respect to dodgy deals and cars not being what they claimed to be, but there are many more issues for people to contend with now. Technology has increased the number of platforms that people can use and access to make sales or purchases of cars and technology has made it easier for conmen to hide the issues that their cars have. Anything which can make a car seem more attractive than what it actually is should be a big concern and this is definitely something that Trading Standards teams are kept busy with.
Cowboy Builders Cause a lot of Problems
It is interesting to note that the second issue on the list actually focuses on a service as opposed to a product. The long held reference to “cowboy builders” and other professionals suggests that this is not a new issue for people. When you hire a professional to carry out work at your home, you would like to think that they have the skills and experience to handle the job correctly, but they often don’t. There will be some people who are incompetent at the job they aim to do and there will be some people who have no intention of carrying out the work that is actually required.
This means that there will be many times when homeowners don’t receive the work that they hoped for, and again, this is why the services of Trading Standards teams are so important. The fact that Trading Standards can assist people who have suffered to receive satisfaction with respect to refunds and compensation is a great benefit but there is also the fact that Trading Standards teams can ensure that no customers in the future suffer in the same manner.
There is always a great deal to be said for the prevention being better than the cure, and in many ways this is exactly the sort of service that Trading Standards professionals offer.
Trading Standards Teams up and down the Country are Kept Busy
It is also easy to see why the Trading Standards up and down the country would be required to step in with respect to certain items or products. Furniture and white goods can have a number of issues and if customers aren’t satisfied with the condition of the products that they buy, they should have some the chance to make a complaint and receive satisfaction.
This is all without taking into account the growing number of fake products, which can also greatly impact on the overall level of satisfaction that a customer receives.
In the current economic climate, it is easy to see why so many people would turn to fake products or looking to provide substandard work in order to make money. This is why the role of Trading Standards teams remains very important but it is also why there is a need for experienced and qualified defence solicitors. It is important that people can be represented in the most effective manner and while there will not be a great deal of sympathy for people who carry out these crimes, they still deserve representation in the best manner.
Andrew Reilly is a freelance writer with a focus on news stories and consumer interest articles. He has been writing professionally for 9 years but has been writing for as long as he can care to remember. When Andrew isn’t sat behind a laptop or researching a story, he will be found watching a gig or a game of football.