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Yesterday (23rd February) we received a report of a trader calling at properties in Kesgrave and Rushmere St Andrew, offering to carry out garden work, including cutting trees.
The two individuals were calling at doors, with no ID shown, driving a pick up van with no sign writing.
Trading Standards always advise residents to refrain from buying at the doorstep and not to buckle to pressure from salespeople offering supposedly one-off ‘buy it now’ low prices, or giving warning about your property.
Report all doorstep callers to us via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
Protect yourself, your family and neighbours from doorstep callers by ordering a FREE No Cold Calling sticker from us. Email us with your name and address and we'll pop one in the post - tradingstandards@suffolk.gov.uk
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Beware of rogue "Green Energy" companies that continue to target Suffolk residents.
Their current tactic, aimed at those that have solar panels installed, is to claim that the resident requires a voltage regulator. Some residents have been advised by the scammers that if the regulator is not installed there is a risk that the system could catch fire or explode.
These rogues change their ploys often to try and engage with residents. We have received reports of all the following methods:
- Informing the resident that their solar panel supplier has ceased trading and the panels installed may be dangerous.
- Advising the resident that new legislation requires them to have a device installed, and failure to install it would mean the emergency services would not attend if the solar panels caused a fire.
- Implying that they have taken over from the original supplier and are offering a “free health check”.
- Signing up residents to a "maintenance contracts", for as long as 20 years. In some instances, taking payment up-front for these contracts.
PREVENTION ADVICE
- Never sign on the spot and check the identity of the caller.
- Be wary of special offers or warnings about your home.
- Contact your original installer to confirm any information supplied about their current trading status.
- Never pay up front, and don't pay by cash. Pay with a cheque (which can be traced if necessary) or if the service or goods cost more than £100 then use a credit card as this offers extra protection.
- You have 14 days to cancel the agreement. If you cancel, any monies that you have paid should be returned to you.
- The trader must give you a written notice of your cancellation rights when you agree the contract. If the trader doesn't provide you with this information, they commit a criminal offence. The trader can only carry out work within this cancellation period if you have given your agreement in writing. Do not feel pressured into signing a document allowing the installation to be undertaken immediately.
If you have been contacted by a company that you have concerns about, contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133. |
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We are very proud to share the news that last week the High Sheriff for Suffolk, Major Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, awarded us with a High Sheriff’s Award.
Major Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton came to visit the team, starting his day with a trip to the Port of Felixstowe where he met with the Imports team tasked with intercepting potentially dangerous goods before these can enter the UK’s marketplace.
He then met with officers from across the Department that lead in many specialist areas to learn about the work we do to support local businesses, how we work to protect residents from scams and rogues, as well as the enforcement action that we are involved in.
Presenting the award to the service, Major Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton stated:
"Suffolk is extremely lucky to have such a professional and dedicated Trading Standards department".
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Warning over unsafe ‘Boxo Blend’ blenders after fatal fire.
Islington Council has issued a warning about unsafe ‘Boxo Blend’ kitchen blenders, after one of the devices caused a fatal flat fire in Haringey.
Islington’s Trading Standards officers believe that as many as 650 ‘Boxo Blend’ blenders may still be in use, having been sold or given away by Boxo Blend Ltd, a business registered in Islington, from 2020-2022.
The blenders are white, black, pink or blue on the top and bottom, with a transparent blending chamber. The ‘Boxo Blend’ logo is featured at the bottom of the product, underneath the power button. Anyone who has one of the blenders should dispose of it safely. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to return the device to the supplier, Boxo Blend Ltd, as the company is no longer trading and has been dissolved.
Islington Council was alerted by London Fire Brigade (LFB) as it investigated a fire that tragically led to the death of a man in Haringey, which they believed had been caused by a faulty blender.
The company had not carried out any safety checks on the items, assuming checks had been carried out by the Chinese manufacturer. After the fatal fire, the company did not fully co-operate with Trading Standards to recall the remaining blenders. The council issued legal proceedings.
Bashiru Anthony Blenman, one of the men who ran the company, pleaded guilty to two offences under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, one for having the unsafe blender for supply and one for of not informing the council where the blenders were when required to do so.
At Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 1 February 2023, Mr Blenman was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months, 150 hours of unpaid work, and was asked to make a contribution of £700 to costs plus a £128 victim’s surcharge. A forfeiture order for all seized blenders was also made.
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Tahira Foods Limited is recalling a number of products because there has been a breakdown in temperature control which makes these products unsafe to eat.
NB: Any of the products listed below sold at Morrisons, Coop, Sainsburys and/or Asda are not affected. Products sold at all other retailers should be returned.
Tahira Chilled Beef Sausage Hot and Spicy
Pack size: 500g and 8x500g
Batch code: All batches
Use by: All dates
Tahira Chilled Chicken Sausage Piri Piri
Pack size: 500g and 8x500g
Batch code: All batches
Use by: All dates
Tahira Chilled Chicken Sausage Tikka
Pack size: 500g and 8x500g
Batch code: All batches
Use by: All dates
Tahira Turkey Chorizo
Pack size: 80g and 12x80g
Batch code: All batches
Use by: All dates
Tahira Sliced Turkey Pizza Topping Salami
Pack size: 125g and 12x125g
Batch code: All batches
Use by: All dates
Tahira Sliced Poultry Mortadella with Paprika
Pack size: 200g and 8x200g
Batch code: All batches
Use by: All dates
Tahira Chilled Mini Chicken Sausage
Pack size: 400g and 6x400g
Batch code: All batches
Use by: All dates
Tahira Beef Salami
Pack size: 80g and 12x80g
Batch code: All batches
Use by: All dates
Tahira Nabulsi Cheese
Pack size: 250g and 8x250g
Batch code: All batches
Use by: All dates
If you have bought the above products do not eat them. Instead, return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.
Any of the products listed above sold at Morrisons, Coop Sainsburys and/or Asda are not affected and therefore should not be returned to stores, refunds will not be provided at these stores.
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If you need advice, or want to report a scam or rogue trader,
call us via 0808 223 1133. |
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