Trading Standards

Takoda

stugib wrote: »

I didn't say he was confused, I was clarifying if he was asking about a particular part, given that most people's experience here will be with Consumer Direct rather than Trading Standards directly.

I would have thought it was OBVIOUS that we were distinguishing between TS and CD.

Neither of us mentioned CD. Only you did that.

Takoda

Tozer wrote: »

No - Trading Standards. I've not actually dealt with Consumer Direct in any real capacity.

In all occasions with Trading Standards, I've found them very easily fobbed off. I appreciate that they are probably under-resourced, but then so are a huge number of other departments.

Examples - counterfeit goods - prefer trademark holder to take action. Deceptive advertising - merely "warn" traders....and do not monitor compliance.

Website terms and conditions / failure to comply with DSR, SOGA, etc. - very little interest. They seem to adopt the position which the Police often raise, with things being "civil matters".

Great when acting for a businesses!

Agree totally.

stugib

Takoda wrote: »

I would have thought it was OBVIOUS that we were distinguishing between TS and CD.

Neither of us mentioned CD. Only you did that.

<sigh>

Tozer opened this with 'I often see on this thread references to "take things up with trading standards"' and asked for people's experiences of the advice they received.

I'm merely pointing out when most people on here 'take things up with trading standards' they're actually speaking to CD so the quality of the advice may differ.

dmg24

stugib wrote: »

I'm merely pointing out when most people on here 'take things up with trading standards' they're actually speaking to CD so the quality of the advice may differ.

How do you know this? Do the posters supply you with voice recordings? Now I am intrigued!

stugib

dmg24 wrote: »

How do you know this? Do the posters supply you with voice recordings? Now I am intrigued!

'kin'ell did everyone get up out the wrong side of the bed this morning? As I understand it CD is the customer-facing first point of contact. As someone posted the other day, they tried to ring TS and were directed to CD.

churchrat

I've used CD with issues over a key for a rented property. They gave us good advice and the problem was settled to our satisfaction.

I think with run-of-the-mill problems they are excellent--perhaps there are difficulties with more exoctic questions.?

bingo_bango

Quite a lot of what is being said may indeed be true in the area you live in, but please don't paint a picture of the whole service being so.

In order to understand the problems facing TSS (other than the aforementioned under resourcing, and the PPS shooting down what would appear to be cases with a serious prospect of conviction) I suggest you have a look at the LBRO website, and also read the Hampton and Macrory reviews. You may also want to read the enforcement concordat.

There are huge changes wanted by Government whereby we move towards a role which uses guidance as one of the main tools, and that is especially true in the current economic climate. Don't for one minute think that all TSO's are lazy, incompetent or indifferent. As with any industry, there are perhaps some people who aren't entirely suited to the role, but that does not mean everyone is.

bingo_bango

dmg24 wrote: »

Have you ever heard a certain phrase regarding teaching grandmother how to suck eggs?

Absolutely. But what relevance does that have to the post I made?

Or are you now going to tell me that everyone knew of the distinction between services?


Or are you just having a go at my deceased grandmother :eek:

Takoda

stugib wrote: »

'kin'ell did everyone get up out the wrong side of the bed this morning? As I understand it CD is the customer-facing first point of contact. As someone posted the other day, they tried to ring TS and were directed to CD.

Yeah and I think this is the root of the problem so far on this thread. Tozer and I have direct experience of TS and were not impressed.

YOU (from what you have posted so far here) are relying on second or third hand information from another poster.

Takoda

bingo_bango wrote: »

Quite a lot of what is being said may indeed be true in the area you live in, but please don't paint a picture of the whole service being so.

In order to understand the problems facing TSS (other than the aforementioned under resourcing, and the PPS shooting down what would appear to be cases with a serious prospect of conviction) I suggest you have a look at the LBRO website, and also read the Hampton and Macrory reviews. You may also want to read the enforcement concordat.

There are huge changes wanted by Government whereby we move towards a role which uses guidance as one of the main tools, and that is especially true in the current economic climate. Don't for one minute think that all TSO's are lazy, incompetent or indifferent. As with any industry, there are perhaps some people who aren't entirely suited to the role, but that does not mean everyone is.

People are affected by their experience with a particular service. I would not bother using them again based on mine. I have no wish at all to understand the problems faced by Trading Standards workers. :rolleyes:

I have equally low expectations of social workers based on my dealings with them in a work capacity.