NEWS: Salvage company in court for misleading customers The owner of a car spares company in the Forest of Dean has appeared in court for breaching consumer protection laws. Edward Fear, 23, trading as Direct 4x4 Salvage Ltd and No Fear MX at New Dunn Works Business Centre in Sling, Coleford, had breached legislation on a number of occasions since January 2012, Gloucester and Cheltenham County Court was told on 18th October. Gloucestershire County Council’s Trading Standards Service pursued the case after receiving a number of complaints by customers, ranging from parts not being delivered to vehicles and parts being falsely described. In one case, a customer subsequently found that a vehicle he had bought had previously been recorded as an insurance write-off, a fact that Mr Fear hadn’t mentioned. The defendant had given an undertaking at a previous hearing in April 2012 confirming that he would comply with the law. The court imposed an enforcement order on Mr Fear under the Enterprise Act 2002 requiring him to change various practices which had given rise to complaints. In particular, to ensure that descriptions were accurate and not misleading, that material information was not withheld from customers and that he should quickly respond to complaints and find a satisfactory resolution to them. The court agreed costs of £975 against him. Eddie Coventry, Head of Trading Standards, said: “The Enterprise Act gives Trading Standards authorities strong powers to seek court orders against businesses which breach certain consumer protection laws. If a trader fails to comply with a court order he will be in contempt of court and could face imprisonment.” Cllr Will Windsor-Clive, Gloucestershire County Council cabinet member for fire, planning and infrastructure, said: “Some of the customers who dealt with these companies understandably feel aggrieved by the service they received. I am pleased that Trading Standards officers have worked hard to ensure the owner should now think twice before providing the same service again.”
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 12:21:00 +0000
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